Author: Submitted

The Douglas Police Department is honoring officers during the week of May 15-21, 2017, and encourages citizens to say “Thank You” to the men and women who protect and serve the community as well as remember the fallen police officers throughout the country. As of today, Douglas has had only one police officer killed in the line of duty. Officer James Ira Ricketson was killed on September 9, 1920. “Monday was National Police Memorial Day, a day of remembrance to officers who have been killed in the line of duty,” says Police Chief Gary Casteloes. “We are here to keep…

Wednesday, University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley announced that the Board of Regents has approved the permanent appointment of Dr. Ingrid Thompson-Sellers as president of South Georgia State College (SGSC) in Douglas and Waycross. She has served as interim president since June 30, 2016. Former president Virginia Carson retired last year after eight years of leadership at SGSC. “Ingrid has done an incredible job leading South Georgia State,” said Wrigley. “She has strengthened ties with the south Georgia community and worked to ensure the health and growth of the college. We are thankful for her vision and commitment to…

The Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce staff members, Lisa Hodge and Mesha Davis and Chamber Board Chairman Stanley Lott attended Irwin County’s Annual Legislative Day in support of state officials Senator Tyler Harper, State Representative Clay Pirkle, and Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle.

A fight that began over cigarettes led to the arrest of a Coffee County man on battery and child cruelty charges Tuesday afternoon. Coffee County deputies responded to a residence off Burl Mill Road around 1 p.m., May 16, in reference to a possible domestic dispute in progress. When officers arrived, the 36-year-old female victim stated her and her boyfriend had gotten into a verbal altercation over cigarettes, which led to the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Edward Scott Nelson, grabbing her at the top of the chest area and shoving her. The victim added that a minor child was present…

Tuesday, May 16, the Alma Police Department’s Criminal Investigative Division arrested Lashirley White, 25 of Alma, for two counts of theft by taking. On April 28, 2017, and May 1, White, a contract worker for the Bacon County School System, allegedly entered a classroom and took $1,570, all of which were raised for extracurricular activities. To date, Alma police has recovered $537.42, $410 of which was discovered hidden in a trash receptacle in a girls’ restroom. The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Anyone with any information regarding this matter should contact the Alma Police Department.

Trey Griffin of Poulan and Heather Hall of Waycross won the 40-mile bike race at the 13th Annual Big Heart Charity Bike Ride, held on May 13, 2017 at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Forty-five cyclists took part in the event between the race and the various non-competitive ride options. The cyclists participated in one of the traditional 20, 40, 60, or 100 mile rides or the newest addition, the 40-mile race. At 8 am the racers led the event out of Douglas to Ambrose, Broxton and back to Douglas with the help of the Douglas Police Department and the Coffee…

Amber Bounds Photography Studio, along with several friends, family and business associates, celebrated the grand opening of their new studio now located at 3897 Bowens Mill Road in Quail Hollow Shopping Center. Pastor Kevin Bounds, Amber’s husband provided the invocation, Mayor Pro Tem Bob Moore, Lisa Hodge, Chamber of Commerce and Stanley Lott, Chamber Board Chairman and Georgia Department of Labor, were on hand to congratulate Amber for her continued growth and success in the field of photography and welcome the new studio to the City of Douglas.

The South Georgia State College Foundation is pleased to announce Luke Christian, Sherry Thomas, and Oscar Street will be honored as the Alumni of the Year at the An Evening of Opportunity Gala on Tuesday, May 23. Proceeds from the event will provide need-based scholarships for students at SGSC. Luke Christian, the Alumni of the Year recipient in the field of business, is a 1998 alumnus and Founder/CEO of Surcheros Franchising Corporation. Sherry Thomas, EVP of Patient Care Services at Coffee Regional Medical Center, is the honoree in the healthcare field and is a 1973 alumna. For the field of…

Two Berrien County men were jailed Monday on drug charges following a two-week investigation into the illegal purchase of prescription medications in Coffee County. Agents with the Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit conducted a traffic stop Monday and detained 59-year-old Marshall Fender and 69-year-old Jerry Thomas Brogdon, the subjects of the investigation. Fender and Brogdon were found to be in possession of 90 hydrocodone tablets, along with other crushed prescription pills and straws commonly used to inhale the crushed substance. Agents also recovered just over $1,880 in cash. Both men were arrested and transported to the Coffee County Jail. Each…

Deputies arrested a 44-year-old woman for terroristic threats Monday afternoon after posting an expletive-laden video to social media threatening kill multiple family members. Just after noon, May 15, deputies responded to a residence off Highway 158 West in reference to the incident. The complainants stated a member of their family, identified as Crystal Tyson, had posted a video to Facebook threatening to kill them. The victims showed deputies the video in question, which appeared to have been uploaded earlier the same day, and observed the suspect engage in a verbal tirade, mentioning several family members and stating, “I’m gonna kill…