Author: Submitted

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…

South Georgia State College’s men’s basketball team remains undefeated through five games after sweeping the 11th annual Applebee’s Okefenokee Classic this past weekend in Waycross. The Hawks (5-0) held on to defeat Denmark Tech 81-77 Friday night and mounted a second half comeback Saturday afternoon to beat St. Petersburg Community College 74-69. The Hawks trailed St. Petersburg 42-31 after the first 20 minutes, making only 32 percent of their field goals, a total of four three-pointers, and shooting less than 50 percent from the free throw line. The St. Petersburg lead grew to as many as 15 points in the…

From November 8-10, 2024, over 1,900 attendees from 146 schools across Georgia gathered for an unforgettable weekend at the annual Georgia TSA Fall Leadership Conference, themed ‘Lights! Camera! Lead!’ This event brought together students and advisors for a spectacular experience focused on leadership development, communication, and team-building skills. Throughout the weekend, participants engaged in leadership development workshops, and informative technical sessions that explored what it truly means to lead and succeed in a technical world. The conference featured several signature events, including the VEX Robotics Tournament, the annual Armada Cardboard Boat Race, and The Island Video Contest. Participants also had the opportunity…

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is seeking information from the public that will aid in the investigation into the death of 25-year-old Devin Jeter, of Scottsdale, GA. Jeter’s body was found in the Ocmulgee River near Lumber City, GA. On November 11, 2024, at about 12:55 p.m., a local fisherman discovered a body at a boat landing along the Ocmulgee River. Responding to the discovery, Telfair County Sheriff Sim Davidson requested GBI assistance in the investigation. The deceased was soon identified as Jeter, who had been reported missing by his family to the Atlanta Police Department three days earlier on…

The City of Douglas, in partnership with action pact, Coffee County Commission, and Coffee County Board of Education (CCBOE) held the ribbon cutting for the Head Start and Early Head Start Expansion Project and Dedication of the Sandra “Gail” Johnson Building on Thursday, November 7, 2024. With the completion of the expansion project, the Coffee County Head Start program is now poised to meet the growing educational and nutritional needs of children in the community. The ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony included remarks from community leaders, including representatives from action pact, the City of Douglas, CCOBE, and the Coffee County Commission. The…

The World War II Flight Training Museum, 63rd Preservation Society, the WWII Flight Training Base Committee, and the City of Douglas invite the public to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Cadet Park and Major Charles J. Loring, Jr. Memorial on Friday, November 22, 2024, 10:00 a.m., at 1 Airport Circle. The ceremony will be held on the historic 63rd Army Air Force Contract Pilot School (Primary), grounds to honor the approximately 5,000-7,000 cadets who trained at the base during World War II from 1941-1944. The new memorial in the park will be dedicated to Major Charles J. Loring, Jr., who…

The Coffee County School System has announced that it has earned Cognia Systems Accreditation. Cognia is a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers. “Accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides the Coffee County Schools a nationally recognized mark of quality for our school system,” shared Dr. Morris Leis, “It demonstrates to our community our commitment to excellence, our willingness to enact meaningful change based on evaluation and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.” Cognia recognizes schools and…