Author: Submitted

Throughout the history of South Georgia State College (SGSC), athletics has figured prominently into the fabric of our institution. Our athletic heritage is a diverse combination of people, places, venues and moments, and we are fortunate to have enjoyed such a rich tradition of athletic excellence. In an effort to pay tribute to the many talented athletes and coaches as well as program milestones of our athletic programs, nine individuals are being inducted into the class of 2018 SGSC Athletic Hall of Fame. Mr. Peter Bragan, Jr. (1969-71) of Jacksonville, Florida for baseball; the late Mr. Terry Childers (1965-67 and…

During the hot summer months, South Georgians appreciate the comfort of air conditioning. One of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College’s Air Conditioning students on the Coffee Campus was recently recognized by Whitehead Industrial Hardware of Valdosta. Angelique Tucker and her instructor Scott Watson traveled to Valdosta for the ceremony. Tucker was among four students from Wiregrass who were recognized. Steven George Shively (Industrial Systems Technology), Aaron Player (Automotive Technology), Morgan Davis (Welding) and Angelique received the Distinguished Tradesmen Award presented by Whitehead Industrial Hardware. Each student was presented with a plaque and a $250 store credit to purchase tools for their…

By Kevin Tatum 4-H HONORS NIGHT PROGRAM Over 200 people gathered at the First Baptist Church in Douglas on Monday, May 7, to recognize active Coffee County 4-H members and volunteers during the Annual 4-H Honors Night Program. 4‑H members were presented awards for their participation in District Project Achievement (DPA), Poultry Judging, livestock shows, target sports, and community service projects. Recipients of the Outstanding 4-H Member of the Year awards were also announced. Recipients of this coveted award included: Cloverleaf – Natalie Newell and Glenn O’Steen; Junior – Ashton Ates, Ishika Sadarangani, and Sariah Wells; and Senior –TaKyla Robinson,…

A man currently serving a probation sentence for marijuana and cocaine possession is back behind bars after law enforcement discovered quantities of cocaine, marijuana, and suspected ecstasy tablets during a traffic stop Saturday night. Douglas police officers stopped Preston Pernell Fields, 45 of Douglas, around 9 p.m., May 19, for a broken headlight. Officers discovered cocaine and marijuana inside the vehicle and requested the Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU) to respond. DCDU agents uncovered over three ounces of marijuana during the investigation, along with approximately seven grams of cocaine and several pieces of ecstasy tablets. Fields was arrested at the scene…

University of Georgia senior Keegan McGovern earned Southeastern Conference Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors as well as being named First Team All-SEC, the league announced Monday. McGovern was one of four Bulldogs to receive SEC honors as voted on by the league coaches. Georgia junior designated hitter Michael Curry and junior first baseman Adam Sasser were named Second Team All-SEC while catcher Mason Meadows earned a spot on the All Freshman SEC squad. McGovern, a 6-2, 220-pound native of Willacoochee, Ga., is the first Bulldog since Gordon Beckham in 2008 to be named the SEC Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. An annual member of the…

On Monday, May 14, 2018, during the regularly scheduled City Commission meeting, the Mayor and Commission recognized Douglas Fire Department Firefighter William Thompson. Firefighter Thompson recently completed his certification at the GPSTC Training facility in Forsyth, Georgia.

At the regular City Commission meeting on Monday, May 14, 2018, community members and South Georgia State College students were recognized for their participation in the Great American Cleanup (GAC). GAC was held on Saturday, April 28, 2018 and focused on teaming up to clean up Douglas. During the 2.5 hour cleanup, participants picked up over 20 bags of trash in the S. Gaskin and Pinecrest Drive areas of town. The City of Douglas says “THANK YOU”, to GAC volunteers and sponsors; South Georgia State College and ESG, Operations, for helping with the event.

Get ready to COOL off this summer with the annual Summer Beach Bash on June 5, 2018! The Beach Bash will be held from 4– 8 p.m. in the vacant lot adjacent to City Hall on 441S in downtown Douglas. With over 1,500 participants, this is the perfect time for community partners to market their summer programs, vacation bible school or new business. “We are hoping to attract more visitors to the downtown area,” says Pattie Merritt, Main Street Coordinator. “We are looking for more community organizations to join us this year. The Summer Beach Bash is always lots of…

The City of Douglas is preparing to implement Utility Hawk, a customer friendly portal for utility customers to track their utility usage in their homes and businesses. Douglas utility customers will be able to create a free account and receive real-time information on their utilities. “We are happy to offer this service to our customers,” says Mike Hudson, City of Douglas Utilities Director. “Once we complete the testing phase of the equipment, we will offer this service to all our customers. This is going to be a great tool to save our customers money and at the same time allow…

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common circulatory condition that, if left untreated, can increase risk of potentially deadly side effects. Often presenting little to no outward symptoms, PAD can last for years and often go undiagnosed until severe symptoms develop and the disease is progressed. This is why it’s important to understand the early warning signs and discuss with your doctor. A vascular disease, PAD is the build-up of plaque in arteries outside of the heart, including the neck, kidneys, abdomen, pelvis and legs. This build-up of plaque causes the blood vessels to narrow, reducing blood flow to the…