Author: Submitted

The Mayor and City Commission presented Mrs. Robbie Ingram and the Roper family with the award from Georgia Municipal Association naming the late Johnnie Lee Roper, Jr. to the GMA Hall of Fame.

Chris Rozier and Dean Willard of the Sheriff’s Department along with their drug dog gave the program at the Douglas Kiwanis Club meeting on Tuesday, July 25 at the Flyin’ Cowboy restaurant. Officer Rozier spoke about the drug problem in Coffee County and the K-9 unit. He and Officer Willard with their drug dog demonstrated how a K-9 unit works to find drugs. The Kiwanis club members enjoyed and appreciated their presentation.

On September 5, 2017, the City of Douglas Public Information Department will begin to accept registrations for the 54th Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade. The parade theme will be “A Starry Night.” The annual parade will be on Saturday, December 2, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. “We chose a theme this year with hopes to see how everyone envisions a starry night,” says Georgia Henderson, Public Information Director. “We encourage everyone to look outside the box to create floats with lots of lights and unique designs that create a memorable “Starry Night” for everyone to enjoy and love. We would…

The City of Douglas is making improvements to the airport as well as the historic WWII Airbase at the airport. Approximately 165 trees on the historic airport property have been removed due to past weather/storm damage and disease. Contractor Burns Timber, LLC began removing the trees in early July and has completed the removal of these trees. Many of the trees were leaning dangerously beside the old WWII barracks and other structures on the historic air base. Working together with the Airbase Preservation & Development Committee (APDC), the City hopes to restore the existing structures at the airbase. APDC was…

The City of Douglas and Transwaste are offering residential Junk Drop-Off Days, once a month, to help citizens get rid of the excess trash. The upcoming date will be Saturday, August 5, 2017, at the City Pole Yard located at Pearl Avenue from 8 a.m.-noon. Drop off dates will be the first Saturday of each month. Remaining drop-off dates for 2017 are as follows: September 2, October 7, November 4, and December 2, 2017. Each month, on residential Community Junk Drop-Off Days, a dumpster will be placed the City Pole Yard located on Pearl Avenue to offer residents a way…

Douglas is proud to host its first National Night Out Against Crime along with the Summer Beach Bash and FREE concert by gospel rapper “B-Shoc” on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, during the hours of 4-9 p.m. The concert featuring “B-Shoc” will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Central Square Gym. Bryan Edmonds, aka B-SHOC, was raised in a Christian home in Toccoa, GA. He gave his life to Jesus at a very young age. B-SHOC spent most of his childhood with a tennis racquet in his hand. He attended Garner Webb University on a tennis scholarship. At GWU, he was named All…

Hiram Hilliard, Jr., age 74, of Broxton, Ga. passed away on Friday, July 21, 2017, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. Mr. Hilliard was born on August 16, 1942, in Douglas, Ga. to the late Hiram Hilliard, Sr. and Ruby Burch Hilliard. Survivors include: his daughters: Karen Hernandez and Marilyn Torres both of Douglas, Ga.; sons: Ralph Hilliard of Homeland, Ga. and Jimmy Hilliard of Brunswick, Ga.; brother, Larry Hilliard of Douglas, Ga.; ten grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his wife, Susie Mae Hilliard and a sister,…

Jerome Pridgen, age 64, of Broxton, Ga. passed away on Friday, July 21, 2017, at his residence following an extended illness. Mr. Pridgen was born on March 18, 1953, in Douglas, Ga. to the late Josh Frances Pridgen and Kathleen Austin Pridgen. Survivors include: his wife, Sylvia Pridgen of Broxton, Ga.; son, Joshua Jerome (Glenda) Pridgen of Broxton, Ga; daughters: Amanda (Pat) Pridgen Wilson of Newnan, Ga. and Sandy (Timothy) Hutchison of Nicholls, Ga.; brother, Wesley Pridgen of Broxton, Ga.; sisters: Judy Chaney of Broxton, Ga. and Vickie Pridgen of Douglas, Ga.; grandchildren: Katlin Pridgen, Addison Pridgen, Logan Rodriguez, Angela…

Amanda Caroline Burch, age 41, of Nicholls, Ga. passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. Mrs. Burch was born on March 14, 1976, in Douglas, Ga. to Gloria Jean Taft Hurlbert and the late Danny Conrad Hurlbert. Survivors include: her husband, Robert Burch of Nicholls, Ga.; daughters: Carrie Savannah Burch and Isabella Burch both of Douglas, Ga.; sons: Mark (Brittany O’Berry) Burch, Timothy Burch, Austin Burch all of Douglas, Ga.; stepson, Jerome Burch of Nicholls, Ga.; grandchildren: Lexis Burch and Chloe Burch both of Douglas, Ga.; mother, Gloria Hurlbert of Douglas,…

Mr. Kirby Albert Royals, age 66, of Pearson, GA passed away Saturday morning, July 22, 2017, at his residence following an extended illness. He was born December 16, 1950 to the late Kirby Frank Royals and the late Ruth Graham Royals. Mr. Royals, a native of Mangham, LA, had been the superintendent for Coffee County Gin for 19 Years. He was Baptist by Faith. Survivors include: his wife of 43 years, Betty Jane Glass Royals of Pearson, GA; son, Jimmy Ray (Vicki) Davis of Mangham, LA; daughters: Rachael Delaine (Bryan) Strickland of Douglas, GA and Amanda Gabrielle (Ronnie) Lozell of…