Author: Submitted

Instructors at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College have nominated 25 of their students for the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) competition, according to Lydia Hubert, coordinator for the college’s GOAL program. These nominations come from the college’s four campuses: Ben Hill-Irwin, Coffee, Cook, and Valdosta, and this year the nominees include two sets of siblings. GOAL, a statewide program of the Technical College System of Georgia, honors excellence in academics and leadership among the state’s technical college students. GOAL winners are selected at each of the state’s 22 technical colleges, as well as, one Board of Regents college with a…

One home room from each grade level that had the highest percentage of attendance for the month of September was rewarded with a Dairy Queen ice cream party. Students and their teachers enjoyed ice cream along with all the toppings. Special thanks to Dairy Queen of Douglas for donating the ice cream. The home room winners are: 6th grade Mag White, 7th grade Nichole Harper, and 8th grade Sandra Hudson

Editor: As a young farmer, I know a lot can change in eight years. You can finish high school and college. You can begin a career, decide where to live, and start a family. Georgians under the age of 26 have only known one governor since they became eligible to vote. A lot has changed in agriculture during the past eight years. Farmers and agribusinesses are using advanced technology to grow our food and get it safely on your plates. Many rural communities across our state don’t have access to reliable broadband, so farmers and agribusiness owners often…

Remember Hurricane Irma from a year ago? There’s another storm on the way and it’s following a very similar path. Hurricane Michael is on the way and Coffee County emergency officials are bracing for an Irma-like impact. Local officials are meeting with Georgia Emergency Management Agency personnel this morning for the latest updates. After that meeting, they will make decisions regarding school closures, curfews, shelters, and the like. At Monday night’s city commission meeting, Larry NeSmith, local Red Cross coordinator, announced that there were no plans to open a shelter at the time. The Red Cross would, however, be…

Most lawbreakers try to stay as far away from the police as possible. Perrell Jadon Kelly, 31, of Alma, isn’t like most alleged criminals. According to a press release from the Alma Police Department, Kelly was arrested on Thursday, Oct. 4, and charged with two counts of burglary second degree. Apparently, Kelly allegedly attempted to break into a marked police car while it was parked at the home of an off-duty police officer. His plan did not work out very well and he was arrested. Kelly was taken without incident and transported to the Bacon County Jail. The…

Kevin Tatum, County Extension Coordinator Each year, 4-H members, volunteer leaders, and Extension staff members celebrate National 4-H Week during the first full week of October. This year, 4-H Week is October 7-13. Currently, there are approximately 1,273 4-H members in Coffee County. These 4-H members can participate in events such as Project Achievement, livestock shows, judging events, target sports, community service activities, and much more. 4-H is open to students in grades 4 through 12. In Coffee County, we offer 4-H to public school, private school, and home schooled students through 57 different club meetings. Public school…

Lisa Rogers, 48, of Woodstock, passed away on October 3, 2018. Lisa was born on January 16, 1970 in Atlanta. She is a graduate of Crestwood High School. Lisa was a loving and doting grandmother. Lisa was an avid football fan and was loyal to the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington State Huskies. She was very kind, loving and fun to be around. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. Lisa leaves behind her son, John Metcalf and his wife, Lindsay; daughters, Nikita Rogers and her husband, Jonathan and Chelli Brown and her husband, Mark; grandchildren, Liana,…

Mr. Omer Carl Peterson, Sr., age 88 of Madison, Fla., formerly of Douglas, passed away early Saturday morning, October 6, 2018 at Lake Park of Madison Rehab following a short illness. Mr. Peterson was born November 27, 1929 to the late Carlie Peterson and the late Carrie Cannon Peterson. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Anna Ruth Hand Peterson, and a brother, Earl Peterson. Mr. Peterson had previously worked as a salesman at Western Auto for 30 years and he had also been a salesman and repairman for Singer Sewing Machine Company. He…

Mrs. Vera Emma Pearson Aldridge, age 82 of Douglas, passed away Saturday evening, October 6, 2018 at her residence following an extended illness. Mrs. Aldridge was born July 5, 1936 to the late Melvin Pearson and the late Lovie Dixon Pearson. Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ruben Isam Aldridge, and a daughter, Joyce Ann Aldridge. Mrs. Aldridge, a native of Mershon, was retired from Milliken and Company where she had worked on the heat set line for many years. She was a faithful member of Harvest Time Church of God. Survivors…

Mrs. Willie Mae Carver Sears, age 85, of Douglas, passed away on Friday, October 5, 2018, at Vista Park Nursing Home. Mrs. Sears was born on February 24, 1933, in Jacksonville, Fla., to the late William Joshua Carver and Liphomia Carver. Survivors include: Daughter Cynthia Vickers of Douglas; Son James Bryan Sears, Jr. of Douglas; Sister Ivy Ruth Murray of Jacksonville, Fla.; Nephews B. J. Carver and Billy Carver, both of Jacksonville, Fla.; Grandchildren Scott Snipes of Atlanta, Eric Snipes of Douglas, Austin Snipes of San Francisco, J. D. Sears of Thomasville, and Will Sears of Douglas; and Great-grandchildren Case…