Author: Submitted

With cooler weather approaching and fun, fall activities taking place, the Douglas Fire Department would like to remind parents and children of some fire safety tips. Young children, preschool age and kindergartners, are more likely to start fires by playing with matches or lighters. Parents should educate young children because young children are naturally curious about fire. Young children who start fires by playing with matches and/or lighters are more likely to die in the fire. Young children are more likely to start fires inside the home, while teenagers are more likely to start a fire outside. The following tips…

Downtown Holiday Open House will be held in downtown Douglas on Sunday, November 19, 2017. Holiday Open House is celebrated each year, the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving and gives shoppers an early glimpse of what to expect in home decorations and accents for the holidays as well as an opportunity to preview wonderful gift selections. “We would like to invite everyone to take advantage of this great event to start their holiday shopping season,” says Pattie Merritt, Main Street Coordinator. “Many merchants have participated for the past 24 years by opening their doors on this particular Sunday, for shoppers and…

Citizens in Douglas and Coffee County are invited to start a season of giving by participating in the Coffee County Community Toy Drive. The City of Douglas, along with many local community agencies, is hosting a Community Toy Drive for boys and girls ages 12 and under. The Toy Drive will begin during the Community Holiday Spectacular, which will be held on Saturday, November 18, beginning at 5 p.m. “We have approximately 500 youth in our community who are on toy lists with local agencies,” says Mayor Tony Paulk. “We need our community to support this Community Toy Drive. Local…

The City of Douglas Public Information Department continues to accept registration for the 54th Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade. The Parade theme is “A Starry Night.” The annual parade will be on Saturday, December 2, 2017, at 6 p.m. The Parade Marshal is Ms. Sharnae Pegues, the Southeast Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year. “We chose a theme this year with hopes to see how everyone envisions a Starry Night,” says Terrell Jacobs, City Manager. “We would love to see more involvement from our churches, industries and local businesses. We encourage everyone to look outside the box…

To kick-off the Holiday Season, the City of Douglas, along with many local community agencies, are hosting a community wide musical celebration and toy drive. The Community Thanksgiving Spectacular will be held on Saturday, November 18, beginning at 5 p.m. A combination of events will take place downtown beginning at the Martin Centre with a community musical and toy drive at 5 p.m., followed by a Tree Lighting Ceremony at Atkinson Plaza. “This event is a collaborative event with community agencies to kick-off our holiday season,” says Mayor Paulk. “We need our community to support this event. Everyone is invited…

The City of Douglas Police Department introduces new community program, Coffee with a Cop. Douglas citizens are invited to pull up a chair and grab a cup of coffee on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at McDonalds on South Peterson Avenue from 8 to 9 a.m..Coffee with a Cop will provide a unique opportunity for citizens to ask questions and learn more about the Police Department’s work in Douglas. The majority of contact law enforcement has with the public happens during emergencies, or emotional situations. Those situations are not always the most effective times for building relationships with the community. Also, some community members feel that it…

By Ethan Mitchell and Sarah E. Braswell On Saturday, September 23, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Center of the Waycross campus of South Georgia State College (SGSC) took a large group of students to participate in Museum Day Live! at Jacksonville’s Museum of Science and History (MOSH). Museum Day Live!, also called National Museum Day, is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian Magazine. On this day, hundreds of museums across the country open their doors to the public free-of-charge. Smithsonian describes its event as a “celebration of boundless curiosity,” and SGSC’s students certainly found much to be curious…

Mrs. Ruth Stone, age 86, of Nicholls, GA passed away on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at Fitzgerald Life Care. Mrs. Stone was born on March 19, 1931, in Pearson, GA to the late Jackson Stone and Leomi McDonald Stone. Survivors include; her daughters: Mollie her husband Tallie Purvis of Douglas, Ga., Patricia Crews of Douglas, Ga., Kathleen Anderson of Summerville, Ga.; sons: Elias “Dick” and his wife Joan Stone of Nicholls, Ga., Frank and his wife Tammy Stone of Springfield, Ga., Richard Stone of Douglas, Ga., Perry Stone, Jr., of Nicholls, Ga..; sisters: Vicey Peters of Nicholls, Ga., Lois Thornton…

Jerry Luther Kight, age 68, of Broxton, Ga. passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2017, at Residence. Mr. Kight was born on June 26, 1949, in Hazlehurst, Ga. to the late Luther and Christine Kight. Survivors include: his wife, Brenda Atkinson Kight of Broxton, Ga.; daughter, Angela and her husband Bruce Edwards of Douglas, Ga.; sons: Stacy Wayne Kight of Denton, Ga. and DeRan and his wife Paula Kight of Cape Carteret, NC.; brothers: Wayne Kight of Snipesville, Ga. and Charles “Punkin” and his wife Mary Kight of Snipesville, Ga.; grandchildren: MacKenzie Caroline Taylor and Reuben Abbott Kight; and several…

Mrs. Tracy L Smith, age 54, of Douglas, Ga., passed away on Friday, November 3, 2017, at her Residence. Mrs. Smith was born on September 18, 1963, in Douglas, Georgia to the late John Clyde “J. C.” Rucker, Jr. and Louise Spivey Rucker. She was survived by: husband, Daniel ‘Danny” Smith of Douglas, Ga.,; daughters: Holly and her husband Matt McCallum of Douglas, Ga., Dana and her husband Jason Dunn of Douglas, Ga.; sons: Jamaine and his wife Lynn Gieger of Douglas, Ga., Brent and his wife Marnie Smith of Douglas, Ga.; sister, Beverly Rucker of Douglas, Ga.; brothers: Clyde…