Author: Submitted

Coffee County sheriff’s deputies arrested local attorney Dewey Hayes, Jr., 62 of Douglas, Thursday morning on one charge of sexual battery. Hayes’ arrest stems from an April 2017 incident in which the victim alleged he purposely touched her in a sexual manner without her consent and made other unwelcomed advances.On Wednesday afternoon, Magistrate Judge Nathan Graham heard evidence from Hayes and the victim and determined sufficient probable cause existed in the case to warrant an arrest. Hayes turned himself in to Coffee County authorities Thursday morning and was booked into the Coffee County Jail. He was released just prior to…

Two local entrepreneurs, Enrique Rodriguez and Luis Ramirez, recently opened their own business, R & S Pallets located on Highway 441 North in Douglas. The Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new business on Tuesday, May 30. Both Enrique and Luis came to Douglas 20 years ago and have always dreamed of opening their own business. They met while working together and became good friends. Each day they would take their lunch breaks together and they came up with the idea of a pallet business. After much deliberation, they decided to take the plunge…

The annual Douglas Kiwanis Club Honors Night was held at the St. Andrews Anglican Church social hall on May 30th. Several local students were recognized and given awards. Jane Wills, CHS, Kade Moore, CCA, and Callie McKinnon, CCA, received Christian Leadership Awards. Not present but also receiving the Christian Leadership Award was Hunter Spivey, CHS. Kade Moore, CCA, received the Carroll A. Burch Award for his leadership at CCA this past year. Kade Moore was also presented a Key Club President’s Gavel as outgoing President of the CCA Key Club. Lauren Ashlyn Pridgen was sworn in as incoming President of the…

The Douglas Visitor Information Center hosted the monthly Magnolia Midlands Travel Association (MMTA) meeting in Douglas on May 18, 2017. As a special guest, City Commissioner Cindy McNeill was introduced to the tourism group. Commissioner McNeill extended a warm welcome to the members. Members were delighted to hear how much Commissioner McNeill supports tourism in Georgia. During the meeting, Lori Hennesy, GDEcD Tourism Project Manager showed members how to update information on www.ExploreGeorgia.org and how to list events so that they will stand out and be included in the Georgia Travel Guide.

The South Georgia State College Foundation Gala, “An Evening of Opportunity”, took place Tuesday, May 23rd, at SGSC’s Engram Hall, featuring a dinner and awards program. The event raised funds to support the SGSC Foundation’s student scholarships to help transform and enhance the lives of our student population. The Gala was attended by nearly 120 community supporters, SGSC faculty and staff, and scholarship recipients who came together to support this cause that will provide educational opportunities for those who may not be able to otherwise afford to attend college. Dinner music was provided by Ms. Alison Adcock, vocalist; Miss Anna…

Sunday evening, May 28, the Alma Police Department and the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office arrested Tiffany McCloud, 34 of Alma, on five outstanding arrest warrants for financial transaction card fraud. APD detectives have since learned McCloud fraudulently used the financial card of another to conduct 71 illegal financial transactions in Alma, for a total dollar amount of $6,405.68. APD will seek indictment on all transactions; McCloud is currently jailed at the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office.

A 32-year-old Douglas man faces multiple drug distribution, weapons, and other charges following two searches at the same residence that yielded the discovery of numerous controlled substances, firearms, and other drug-related paraphernalia. Detectives with the Douglas–Coffee Drug Unit, with assistance from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Douglas Police Department, executed a search warrant at 608 Ethel Street in Douglas around 2 p.m. last Friday, May 26. The found a large quantity of marijuana during the search, along with the recreational drug ecstasy, several firearms, and packaging materials. As a result of the search, authorities arrested Lonnie Lee Wright…

Back in January, Coffee County Junior and Senior 4-H members participated in the District Project Achievement at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center. During the weekend, Southeast District Junior and Senior 4-H members voted and elected their 2017-2018 Southeast District Junior and Senior 4-H Board of Directors. Coffee County had five young men and ladies elected to these two boards. On the Junior Board of Directors, Alexandra Rivero and Ishika Sadarangani were both elected to serve as vice-presidents and Amelia Crockett board member of the Junior 4-H Board of Directors and T.K. McIver was elected vice-president and Willie Spence board member…

Bethany Lambert of Charlton County was recently recognized as South Georgia State College’s (SGSC) 2016-2017 recipient of the Harry Dixon Scholarship by the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Georgia Foundation. Lambert is a 2014 graduate of Charlton Christian Academy in Folkston, Ga. After SGSC, Lambert plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education and hopes to be a health teacher in a local school system. The Harry Dixon Scholarship was established in 2000 by the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Georgia Foundation. According to a spokesman for the organization, the scholarship is a “suitable and lasting tribute…

A total of 738 South Georgia State College students have earned a spot on the 2017 spring Academic Honors List, according to an announcement by Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Robert Page; 204 students earned a spot on the President’s List, 216 on the Dean’s List, and 318 on the Academic Honors List. Students enrolled in 12 or more semester hours of study with a grade point average of 4.0 are placed on the President’s List for the semester. Students with a semester average of 3.5 to 3.9 on 12 or more semester hours of study are…