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Coffee County Schools and the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority (EDA) recently attended the Foundational Leadership & Entrepreneurial Experience (FLEX) Implementation Workshop. This workshop marks the official launch of their participation in the program for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. The Implementation Workshop, held on August 8 in Tifton, Georgia, was designed to equip communities with the foundational knowledge and tools needed to run a successful program. Throughout the workshop, attendees engaged in hands-on activities, interactive sessions, and discussions led by Georgia FLEX Executive Director, Melissa Dark. FLEX is a unique, community-driven initiative that brings together…

At this month’s Veterans Park Committee Meeting, the Committee presented a $250 check to Wreaths Across America. Ed Coleman, Veterans Park Committee Chair, presented the check to Debra Woods, Commander American Legion Post 515. Others present were Jerome Loving, American Legion Post 515 and Coffee County Wreaths Across America Coordinator, and Dr Carl McDonald, Veterans Park Committee Vice Chair. On December 14, more than two million veterans’ wreaths will be placed across local, national and military cemeteries as well as veterans’ memorials and historic sites. Watch for wreaths to be placed at the Fallen Soldier Statue and 63rd Flying Training…

A Tattnall County man awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to operating a business that tampered with government-mandated emissions controls on commercial logging equipment. Justin Taylor, 30, of Collins, Ga., pled guilty in U.S. District Court to an Information charging him with Conspiracy to Tamper with a Monitoring Device, and Fraud and False Statement, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea subjects Taylor to a possible statutory sentence of up to five years in prison and substantial financial penalties, followed by a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no…

Nurses in South Georgia now have a new opportunity to hone their skills. South Georgia State College and Memorial Satilla Health held a grand opening for the School of Nursing’s state-of-the-art simulation lab Tuesday in Waycross. The lab opened just as nursing students arrived on campus for the new semester. This cutting-edge facility provides students with an immersive learning environment that closely replicates real-world clinical settings with the use of AI-integrated manikins, advanced medical equipment, and realistic patient care scenarios. Students gain hands-on experience in a variety of clinical situations in a safe and controlled environment. Memorial Satilla Health donated…

To enhance the academy model and further the success of Coffee High’s mission, the Coffee County School System partnered with seven local organizations this summer, allowing teachers to gain hands-on experience from various sectors of the community’s business and governmental organizations. Funded by a federal grant to support rural education, this externship provides a week-long opportunity for teachers to enrich their classroom instruction through real-world applications of the academic content they teach. Now in its third year, the program has received positive feedback not only from teachers and staff but also from the participating businesses. In 2024, Ms. Gwendolyn Cooper,…

South Georgia State College (SGSC) made a $61.9 million impact on the regional economy and was responsible for more than 651 jobs locally during fiscal year 2023. SGSC’s Interim President Dr. Greg Tanner shared, “The economic impact study from the University System of Georgia Board of Regents highlights the vital role an organization plays in the regional economy. By sharing this information, we underscore South Georgia State College’s essential contributions to developing the future workforce and community leaders. This study reaffirms what we’ve always known: SGSC is a driving force behind workforce and economic development, adding tax revenue, and enhancing…

The GBI has arrested Gene “Buster” Cauley, age 61, of Coffee County and Jennifer Amy Clark, age 47, of Coffee County, following a search warrant executed on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, in Douglas, GA, for violations of Georgia’s gambling laws. The GBI’s Commercial Gambling Unit, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, and the Georgia Lottery Corporation executed the search warrants at Swamp Dawg’s Bait, Tackle and Bow, and Bella’s Thrifts and Gift, which are all located on the 600 block of E. Baker Hwy. in Douglas, GA. Cauley was charged with Operating Unlicensed COAMS (Felony), Commercial Gambling (Felony), Possession…

Douglas City Clerk Wynetta Bolder has been selected by the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA)Board of Directors to serve on the Children and Youth Advisory Council for the 2024-2025 period. The Children and Youth Advisory Council was established in 2019 to support municipal officials in Georgia and across the country. These officials have increasingly acknowledged that investing in children and youth is crucial for a city’s quality of life and future economic prosperity. There is also a growing understanding that city leaders can and should take a key role in uniting various stakeholders to address workforce development and other important issues…

South Georgia State College’s Dr. Jaime Carter, Dean and Professor of Nursing, and Kasey Strickland, Chair of Nursing and Health Sciences and Associate Professor of Nursing, recently attended the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) Immersive Experience – Nursing Education Excellence through Accreditation conference. The program focused on providing a critical analysis of the ACEN Standards and Criteria for nursing education excellence. According to the ACEN website, the event offered hands-on engagement in developing strategies to ensure compliance with the ACEN Accreditation Standards and best practices in assessment and evaluation for the betterment of the nursing education program. Topics…

The City of Douglas encourages citizens to attend or join various city committees and boards. The Ethics Committee currently has vacant positions. If you are interested in volunteering for any of these boards, please call (912) 389-3405 or visit www.cityofdouglasga.gov. The following is a list of August 2024 City of Douglas Boards and Committees meetings. For additional information about any City of Douglas Committee/Board, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (912) 389-3405.