Author: Submitted

The Douglas-Coffee County Veterans Park Committee will host its annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony on Friday, December 6, 2024, at 10 AM at Cadet Park, located at 1 Airport Circle. World War II Veterans will be recognized at the ceremony. School groups and the public are invited to attend to learn more about Douglas’ role during World War II. The WWII Flight Training Museum will be open for school groups and visitors to view the exhibits and learn more about the history of World War II and how Douglas played a major role in training WWII pilots. National Pearl…

The Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Sid Cottingham is the 2024 Grand Marshal for the 60th Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade. Come wave and enjoy the sights and sounds of the holidays as participants ride down Peterson Avenue on Friday, December 13 beginning at 7pm. “Celebrating 60 Years of Christmas in Coffee,” this year’s theme, comes from Everleigh Smith, daughter of Kasie Smith, of Broxton. The theme and grand marshal are chosen by the Chamber Board of Directors. Sid Cottingham has worked behind the scenes for the past 45 years making Douglas and Coffee County…

By Abbie O’Steen Jack Lingenfelter, a life-long native of Coffee County and 2023 graduate of Coffee High School, was recently named as a national officer for the Future Farmers of America Organization at the annual National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Lingenfelter is the first person from Coffee County to be chosen for this prestigious position. Each year the FFA selects a team of six officers to represent the national organization. Each state can only elect one person to represent their state as they go through the vigorous interview process in hopes of being selected as a national…

On Friday, November 22, 2024, the World War II Flight Training Museum, the 63rd Preservation Society, the WWII Flight Training Base Committee, and the City of Douglas held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Cadet Park and the Loring Memorial. This event commemorated the 72nd anniversary of Major Charles J. Loring Jr.’s heroic actions and included the dedication of a memorial in his honor. Many family members of Charles Loring, along with several distinguished guests, were present at the well-attended event. Tim Oliver, WWII Flight Training Museum Docent, was the master of ceremonies for the program. Mayor Tony Paulk welcomed everyone…

Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced today that unemployment rates increased in nearly all regions of the state during October, except for the Three Rivers Regional Commission. “While most regions across Georgia experienced a slight uptick in unemployment, our state continues to lead the way with an unemployment rate well below the national average,” said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. “As job growth slows across the nation, Georgia’s resilience shines through—driven by commonsense policies that prioritize opportunity, growth, and a workforce ready to lead. This stability proves that Georgia’s economy is built not just to withstand challenges but to thrive for generations…

Following the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)’s investigation into Georgia’s state prisons, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff urged the State to swiftly improve conditions in Georgia prisons, which the DOJ found were “unconstitutional.” Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock urged Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) Commissioner Tyrone Oliver to promptly address the deeply concerning findings in the DOJ’s report last month on Georgia’s state prison system, which found conditions in Georgia’s prisons “violate the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution.” The DOJ’s investigation of Georgia’s state-operated prisons found that “the State of Georgia engages in a pattern or practice of violating incarcerated persons’ constitutional…

The annual Cup of Coffee VEX Robotics tournament showcased cutting-edge innovation and problem-solving by pushing the boundaries of design, programming, and teamwork. Students from six schools competed in the all-day event for a variety of awards and hopefully an invitation to the state championships in February. Jerry Hill, Coffee High School Robotics advisor stated, “We were excited to see our teams compete and channel their creativity and technical skills into real-world applications. Events like these inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists, and innovators.” This tournament is an opportunity for the community to witness firsthand the transformative potential of STEM education…

The process of rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene continues. There are several groups coming to the community to help with the ongoing recovery effort. And some are already here. Hope for Coffee was birthed through a partnership with The Hope Initiative (THI), a Christian nonprofit that provides spiritual and material aid to those impacted by natural disasters. After God led this team to Douglas, Hope for Coffee began as a community-based church initiative to support future community recovery needs with THI serving as a mentoring agency. The first volunteer mission team, under the leadership of Hope for Coffee,…

The Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce hosted a jubilant “lasso cutting” ceremony on Monday, November 18, celebrating the much-anticipated grand opening of Longhorn Steakhouse in Douglas Square. As a key player in this thriving retail and dining development, Longhorn’s arrival represents years of collaborative efforts and a shared vision among local leadership and economic stakeholders. The ceremony, led by Ben Floyd, Board Chair of the Chamber of Commerce, began with a warm welcome and words of excitement for this new partnership. Rueben Speight of Greater Destiny International Ministries blessed the occasion with a prayer for the success of the restaurant…

ONE Compelling Picture has released a movie trailer for their second film this year called Because You Answered. The production company filmed the movie on location in Douglas, Broxton, and Alma over the summer throughout June and July. Earlier last month, ONE Compelling Picture released the trailer of Redwood, which was filmed in Douglas and Broxton in the summer of 2023. The production company is slated to release both Redwood, Because You Answered, and a third movie called When Eyes Can’t See in early 2025. Release and premiere information will be announced later this year. Producers worked together alongside the…