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South Georgia State College students attended Catalyst, Phi Theta Kappa’s Annual Convention held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, TN, along with approximately four thousand students, advisors, and administrators from all over the world during the three-day event. Amy Hancock, Phi Theta Kappa advisor, accompanied SGSC students Zac Elz from the Kappa Sigma chapter of the Douglas Campus and Mark Freeman of the Alpha Rho Omega of the Waycross Campus. SGSC’s Alpha Rho Omega Chapter president and Regional Vice President, Mark Freeman, represented the Georgia Region by joining the other Georgia regional officers on stage during the opening ceremony.…

A Bacon County jury convicted Daniel Byrd today of vehicular homicide in the 1st degree and DUI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ian Sansot with Chief Judge Dwayne Gillis presiding over the proceedings. The evidence presented at trial showed that on the night of August 4, 2015, Byrd, who was driving a 2011 Dodge Ram truck on Highway 32 in Bacon County, “blacked out” and crossed the center line into oncoming traffic. His truck then drove over the 2005 Toyota Camry that was being driven by 24 year old Jamie Holden. The weight of the truck crushed Ms.…

A member of South Georgia State College’s men’s basketball team has been selected as an NJCAA All-American for the third consecutive season. Zaquavian Smith, a 6’0” redshirt sophomore from Statesboro, Ga., was a second team NJCAA All-American selection for 2016-2017. He joins Tyrone Sam (second team; 2015-2016) and Jovante’ Spivey (first team; 2014-2015) as NJCAA All-American selections. Reco Lewis, who played for the former Waycross College, was an honorable mention selection in 2010-2011. “It’s an honor to be named second team All-American,” said Smith. “Junior college basketball has prepared me more for life than anything. Without my team and the…

Commander Bart McCulloch, Douglas Police Department, spoke at the Douglas Kiwanis Club meeting of Tuesday the 18th of April at the Flyin’ Cowboy restaurant. He briefed the members on the Citizens Police Academy, the Citizens on Patrol program and firearms classes for women. The Kiwanis club members enjoyed and appreciated his presentation.

A man wanted for allegedly wrecking the home of his live-in girlfriend earlier this month was located and jailed Wednesday morning and faces additional felony and misdemeanor charges in relation to a 2012 incident. Coffee County deputies responded to a domestic dispute on April 11. The 24-year-old victim stated the offender, 21-year-old Justin Kane Vining, became irate during a verbal altercation between the two, shattered a mirror, slung wax throughout the home, and kicked in the front door. Deputies attempted to contact Vining at the time of the report, but were unsuccessful. They obtained photographic evidence of the damage and…

Last week, the Alma Police Department reported that two individuals allegedly passed counterfeit $50 in Alma. The two subjects were Dena Marie Fogle-Crider, a white female, and Yakeatha Johnson, a black female. Monday, June 17, officers in Alma arrested Johnson on the forgery warrant and charged her with forgery in the first degree. Fogle-Crider remains at large and anyone with any information regarding her whereabouts should contact the Alma Police Department at (912) 632-8751.

Area veterans in need of assistance can visit Del Parisella at the Veteran Service Office in Douglas at 70 Lockwood Drive (Georgia Department of Labor building). Parisella provides information concerning eligibility for federal and or state benefits and filing claims for these benefits. The Douglas office is open from 9 a. m. to 4:30 p. m., Monday through Friday. No appointment necessary, all veterans and widowed spouses of veterans are seen on a walk in basis. Veterans benefits are not awarded automatically, they must be applied for. For more information, please call (912) 389-4898.

A 29-year-old Coffee County man faces domestic violence, child cruelty, and other charges following an incident that occurred Monday morning in Ambrose. Shortly after 9 a.m., Coffee County sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence off Palmetto Road in reference to a female who had been beaten by her live-in boyfriend. The 33-year-old victim stated the assailant, identified as Jeremy D. Brinson, had struck her several times following a verbal altercation. Deputies observed multiple superficial injuries to the victim’s neck, head, arms, and feet and obtained photographic documentation. The incident was also witnessed by a minor child. The victim was transported…

South Georgia State College is pleased to announce that its annual commencement ceremonies will take place on Friday, May 5. The Douglas Campus ceremony will take place at 8:30 a.m. followed by the Waycross Campus ceremony later that evening at 7:00 p.m. The Douglas Campus ceremony will be held on the lawn in front of Peterson Hall. In the case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to the Wellness Center Gymnasium. Please be advised that West College Park Drive on the Douglas Campus will be closed on May 5 from 7 a.m. until noon. The Waycross Campus ceremony…

Adam Smith of Douglas has been appointed as a District Supervisor to the Altamaha Soil and Water Conservation District. He succeeds Garland Thompson of Douglas, who has served in the same capacity since 1974. The Altamaha Soil and Water Conservation District covers over 1.4 million acres in Coffee, Bacon, Appling, Jeff Davis, and Telfair counties. The district has two supervisors from each county. One is appointed by the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission and one who is elected by registered voters from the county in which they reside. The Board of Supervisors provides leadership in making the most effective…