Author: Submitted

City of Douglas elected officials announce an upcoming Chat N Chew listening session with constituents. Residents of Ward 2 and Ward 3 are invited to attend a Chat N’ Chew session with elected officials on Monday, December 17, 2018, at 6 pm at Roundtree Center located at 801 S. Gaskin Avenue. Commissioner Kentaiwon Durham (Ward 2) and Commissioner Olivia Pearson (Ward 3) are hosting the event. Citizens are encouraged to come out and learn more about local government and to voice concerns for the city. The purpose of Chat N’ Chew is to provide positive interaction between residents, and…

The Waycross Judicial Circuit has a new assistant district attorney. Jasmine Kelley has been sworn in as a new ADA. Kelley hails originally from Birmingham, Alabama. She attained her bachelor’s degree in political science from Clark Atlanta University and later graduated from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. She was admitted to the Bar earlier this year in July. Kelley looks forward to prosecuting criminal cases in Coffee County.

A long–time supporter of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College was recognized at the Technical College System of Georgia Conference in Savannah for his support and contributions to the college. Sidney Morris was named the TCSG’s Volunteer of the Year. In addition, locally owned and operated Ace Electric was a nominee for TCSG’s Benefactor of the Year award. Sidney Morris was a founding member of the Valdosta Technical Institute Foundation in 1988. Thirty years later, he continues to be a driving force and key supporter of the Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Foundation South Board of Trustees. Morris is a committed annual donor…

Coffee Middle School’s Christmas tree decorating contest winners have been announced. All of the trees are beautiful and make CMS look so festive. The winners are: Technology Penguin (Grand Prize), Mrs. Green’s Red Hat tree, Cluster 6A, Cheer, Trojan Pride, FCA, Elf Tree in front office, Snowman in media center, and Mickey and Minnie. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all who participated.

The Coffee County School System will be conducting a Substitute Teacher Workshop on Wednesday, January 9, 2019, 8:00 AM – noon at the Board of Education office, 1311 South Peterson Avenue. If you are interested in working as a substitute teacher, stop by the Board of Education office, between the hours of 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and pick up an application packet beginning Tuesday, December 4. The school system does offer flexible hours, a daily rate of pay, selection of schools and levels, along with opportunities leading to full-time employment with the school system. All interested applicants…

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Commercial Truck Driving Instructor Tommy Ponsell, received the 2019 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction, also known as Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year Award. The Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction is awarded annually. This award is designed to recognize and honor technical college instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership in their fields. Instructors are nominated for the Rick Perkins Award by their peers. Competition among instructors occurs at the college, regional, and state levels. Four finalists participated in the interviews. They were: Toby Heard (Auto…

The City of Douglas is currently seeking three volunteers to fill vacancies on the Downtown Development Authority. Anyone desiring to serve on D.D.A. must meet the following stipulations: the volunteer must be a taxpayer residing in the municipal corporation for which the authority is created; must be the owner or operator of a business located within the downtown development area and is a taxpayer residing in the county in which is located the municipal corporation for which the authority is created; or the volunteer must have a combination of the qualifications specified in paragraphs one and two of this…

Officers are investigating a shooting that took place early Tuesday morning. Around 4 a.m., 911 received a call that a male subject had been shot at 330 Poplar Street in the Oak Park community. The victim had been shot twice in the upper thigh/hip area, according to the 911 call. Officers responded along with EMS. The victim was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center where he was taken to a trauma center via helicopter. This is at least the third shooting reported in Douglas-Coffee County since Sunday, Oct. 28. That night, a shooting took place at Rockin’ Roll…

At the regular Commission meeting on Monday, November 26, 2018, Mayor Tony Paulk and the City Commission formally recognized the Coffee High School Marching Band as the 2018 Christmas Parade marshal. According to Mayor Paulk, “Our city is very proud of how the Coffee High School Marching Band has represented this community, as the band won first place in Class 2A Band Category at the Sound of Silver Band Competition with an outstanding score of 92.00. As a result of hard work and dedication, the band received Superior ratings in all categories including Drum Major, Auxiliary, Percussion, and Overall…

Rev. Bob Pierce, age 74, of Axson, went to his heavenly home on Friday evening at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Bob was born on March 20, 1944 in Valdosta, the son of the late Wilmont Candler Pierce and Helen Baskin Pierce. He was a Lanier County native, raised in Ray City Baptist Church, licensed to preach by FBC Valdosta and ordained by Ray City Baptist Church. He was a graduate of Lanier County High School and Valdosta State (College) University where he was a brother in the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, president of the college Baptist Student Union where…