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By: Kevin Tatum, County Extension Coordinator Over 250 people gathered at the First Baptist Church in Douglas on Monday evening, May 8, 2017, to recognize active Coffee County 4-H members and volunteers during the Annual 4-H Honors Night Program. 4‑H members were presented awards for their participation in District Project Achievement (DPA), Poultry Judging, livestock shows, target sports, and community service projects. The evening began with Anna Grace Grantham performing some violin music accompanied by her mother, Greta Grantham, on the piano. Willie Spence also sang a song as the Grantham’s provided the music. Recipients of the Outstanding 4-H Member…

Gracie Myers, a student at Coffee Middle School, successfully auditioned and was selected for the Georgia Music Educators Association All-State Band and All-State Chorus. She is the first Coffee Middle School student to ever be selected for either of the two very prestigious groups. For the All-State Chorus, she passed two auditions and was among the 400 selected out of the 2,700 auditioning 7th and 8th grade students in the state. She traveled to Athens Feb. 23-25 where she attended rehearsals that ended with the final concert at the Classic Center. For the All-State Band, she auditioned at both the district and state levels competing with well…

A 22-year-old Douglas man was charged with methamphetamine possession late Monday night after deputies discovered him napping in his car. Coffee County deputies responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area of Oak Park Street just prior to midnight, May 22. Upon arriving in the area, authorities spotted a black 2004 Jeep Cherokee parked near the roadway and observed an individual later identified as Kenneth Weldon reclined in the vehicle with his head propped against the window. Deputies approached the vehicle, woke Weldon from his slumber, and requested him to exit. A small clear bag containing suspected…

A Douglas man has been arrested in Alma on suspicion of burglary. Tuesday, May 23, 2017, the Alma Police Department’s Criminal Investigative Division arrested Christopher Dean Dyal, 32 of Douglas, for the burglary of a home where Dyal is accused of taking property with an estimated value of $17,000. Dyal was also wanted for an outstanding probation violation warrant in Coffee County. He remains jailed as the investigation continues.

Wilton “Winkey” Taylor, age 71, of Nicholls, GA passed away on Friday, May 19, 2017, at his residence following an extended illness. Mr. Taylor was born on January 12, 1946, in Douglas, GA to the late William Tift Taylor and Mattie Music Taylor. Survivors include: his wife, Mary Frances Taylor of Nicholls, GA; two sons, Bobby Taylor of Douglas, GA and Sherman Taylor of Nicholls, GA; two daughters, Debra McClendon of West Green, GA and Theresa Salyer of Ft. Ogden, FL; three step daughters, Judy Moody of Douglas, GA, Annette Nipper of Wilsonville, GA, and Fran Adams of Wilsonville, GA;…

Robert “Bob” Eugene Harless, age 83, passed away on May 17, 2017 after a short illness. He was born December 19, 1933 to the late Walter and Louise Harless in Gauley Bridge, West Virginia. He attended Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK. He then flew for Southern Airways in Atlanta before moving to Hazlehurst where he was a corporate pilot for Cook & Company for 12 years. He went on to become the owner of Harless Aviation as well as the operator of the Douglas Municipal Airport. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jacqueline, daughter-in-law, Paula and brother,…

Ruth Johnson Hodge, age 90, of Douglas, Ga., passed away on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at Southern Senior Living following an extended illness. Mrs. Hodge was born on November 21, 1926, in Douglas, Ga., to the late Henry Woods and Sarah Ann Anderson Woods. Survivors include: Her daughter, Julie Johnson Harper of Douglas, Ga.; three sisters, Roy Lee Nance of Augusta, Ga., Nita Williams of Lilburn, Ga., and Wilma Sutton of Nashville, Ga.; five grandchildren, April Adams, Matt Harper, Bruce Johnson, Andy Johnson, and Rachel Courson; ten great-grandchildren, Bailey Adams, Morgan Adams, Presley Adams, Laney Harper, Logan Harper, Austin Courson…

John Day and Tonya Guthrie of the Douglas Rotary Club presented a check for $1,000 to Sherri Berry, Principal and Dr. Patti Morris, Literacy Coach at Coffee Middle School. The money will be used to provide rewards for students who achieve goals in reading.

First Academy is pleased to recognize those students in 1st-6th grade who have earned academic honors for the fourth quarter of the 2016-17 school year. Students are recognized for outstanding academic achievement by being on the Honor Roll or Headmaster’s List. To qualify for the Honor Roll, a student must maintain an average of 90 or above per academic subject. To qualify for the Headmaster’s List, a student must maintain an average of 95 or above per academic subject. Biblical comprehension is included as an academic subject beginning in the second grade. Honor Roll First grade: Chloe Bratcher, Alyssa Drew,…

Beverly Johns recently attended the Council of Probate Court Judges Spring Conference. This conference is sponsored by the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education and was held at the Marriott Macon Center for Continuing Education in Macon. The judges attended judicial training courses. Course topics this year included: Evidentiary Matters in Probate Court; Various Pauper’s Issues; Fiduciary Law Update; Structured Settlements; Medicaid Petitions of Adults and Minors and Appeals in Article 6 vs. Non-Article 6 courts. . ICJE has a Certificate Program for Probate Judges to become certified. Judge Johns was in attendance along with several other Judges to start her…