Author: Submitted

The Coffee County Adult Education program of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College now offers free English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) classes. ELS classes help improve one’s skills in speaking, comprehending, reading, or writing the English language. Classes are designed for those beginning to learn English or those wanting to improve their English-speaking skills. The Coffee County Adult Education program is located at 706 West Baker Highway in Douglas, and ESL classes are offered Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.- Noon. and Monday/Thursday 5-8 p.m. Call 229-468-2263 for more information or visit www.wiregrass.edu/adulted.

A Bacon County man was jailed on suspicion of methamphetamine distribution and other charges after leading Coffee County drug agents on a high-speed chase last week that ended in Alma. The Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit attempted to detain 32-year-old Devin Dante Grady during an investigation in the area of Mark Mobley Rd. on Aug. 14. Grady fled the scene in his vehicle, and a pursuit ensued. Grady eventually led authorities to a residence on Bluebell Dr. in Alma, where he exited his vehicle and surrendered without incident. Drug agents recovered an amount of suspected methamphetamine from the floorboard of the suspect’s car.…

By: Kevin Tatum GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AND CONTESTS It’s almost fair time! And that means it’s time to think about entering the many contests and events available to 4-H’ers at the Georgia National Fair in Perry. The dates for the fair are October 4-14, but the entry deadline for Coffee County 4‑H’ers is 4 PM on Wednesday, September 12. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE PROCESSED! Contests for 4-H members include: Computer Graphic Design, Decorated Agricultural Products, Recycling, Terrarium/Dish Garden, Family Scarecrow Building Contest, Instant Camera Photography, Public Speaking, Variety Show, Family Seed Art, Cotton Boll Speech, Family…

Sheriff Doyle Wooten, Sgt. Michael Vickers (Drug Unit Commander) and Chief Deputy Fred Cole, were the speakers at the Douglas Kiwanis Club meeting of Tuesday, August 7, 2018, at the Flyin’ Cowboy restaurant. They spoke about their various duties and responsibilities. The Kiwanis Club members enjoyed and appreciated their presentation. Don Dilley was the speaker at the Douglas Kiwanis Club meeting of Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at the Flyin’ Cowboy restaurant. He spoke about the Prison Yoga Project which seeks to help prisoners deal with the traumas they have experienced in their lives. He also spoke about the Adverse Childhood…

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College President Dr. Tina K. Anderson is pleased to announce the Summer Semester President’s List and Dean’s List. The President’s List includes outstanding students who were enrolled full-time for 12 credit hours or more and achieved a grade point average of 3.8 or higher on a 4.0 scale during Summer Semester 2018. The following students are on the President’s List for Summer Semester 2018 and are listed in Coffee County: Landon Courson, Jerry Gaultney, Anthony Jackson, John Jones, Chasidy Merritt, Patricia Merritt, Bobby Miles, Kedrion Scott, Tommy Smith, and Katie Taylor. Wiregrass would like to also recognize…

South Georgia State College (SGSC) officially celebrated the start of the 2018-2019 school year at Convocation on August 6 on the Douglas Campus. Convocation is an annual tradition that gathers the faculty and staff from all SGSC campuses and instructional sites to spotlight the successes and plans of the College for the coming year and to welcome new employees. Ryan Sconyers, director of human resources, opened the program with the introduction of the new faculty and staff. He then presented the employee service awards. Celebrating 25 years of service was Scott Thigpen, professor of nursing. Celebrating 20 years of service…

The City of Douglas has been alerted by Georgia DOT that a portion of South Gaskin Avenue is scheduled to close to through traffic Aug. 27 for removal of an old culvert, part of the widening of the Douglas perimeter road (U.S. 221/SR 135). Drivers will not be able to access Gaskin Avenue from the perimeter road/Bowens Mill Road. Traffic will detour to Old Axson Road and then to Pine Street. Local traffic can access Gaskin from Pine Street, but no through traffic will be allowed. The detour is permitted for 30 calendar days. A contractor installed a new culvert…

Coffee County sheriff’s investigators have arrested a 19-year-old man on aggravated assault and firearms charges following a shooting that occurred Sunday in the Oak Park community. Deputies were dispatched to Coffee Regional Medical Center on Aug. 12, 2018, in reference to a victim with multiple gunshot wounds. The victim, a 26-year-old male, identified the shooter as Victor Badillo. He stated that Badillo approached him while he was walking in the Oak Park area, got out of his vehicle, and shot him. Another witness at the hospital corroborated the victim’s statement. Following further investigation into the incident, detectives located and arrested…

Mrs. Elvina Delk Murray, age 86 of Douglas, GA passed away Sunday night, August 12, 2018, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following a short illness. Mrs. Murray was born November 15, 1931, to the late Robert Fulton Delk and the late Kate Kirkland Delk. Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Murray, one daughter, Eloise Murray and one brother, Robert Delk. Mrs. Murray, a native of Clinch County, was a homemaker. She was an active member of New Hope Baptist Church, where she had been a Sunday School teacher and the Training Union Director.…

Alvin Craig Harper, age 59, of Fitzgerald, Georgia passed away on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia following an extended illness. Mr. Harper was born on February 8, 1959, in Douglas, Georgia the son of the late Alvin Harper and Arlo Carver Harper. He worked as an electrician with Fleetwood Mobile Homes. Survivors include: daughter, Michelle Harper of Willacoochee, GA; son, Christopher Harper and wife Brooke of Fitzgerald, GA; grandchildren: Hunter White, Taylor Adams, Draven Harper and Phoenix Fletcher; sister, Linda Kaye Paulk of Douglas, GA. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 18, 2018,…