Author: Submitted

High School, Sports, Clubs and College for this Busy Teen Life for this Irwin County High School junior has been a little busy this year. Abigail Blanchett is learning early how to balance life – while she’s in high school. Not only is she active in high school activities, but she is also a college student at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. Abigail decided to take college classes through the Move on When Ready (MOWR) program at Wiregrass because she saw it as a great opportunity to get ahead. “I wanted to get a year of college out of the way…

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office was honored to recently receive dozens of “thank you” notes from students at First Academy. K-9 officers, handlers, and the dog, Boo, visited the school last week to give students and faculty a demonstration of the activities involved with the county’s K-9 unit. The students’ notes were greatly appreciated, as well as their thoughts and prayers. Local educational institutions and other organizations interested in having a K-9 demonstration at their school or business are encouraged to contact Coffee County K-9 Officer Chris Rozar at (912) 384-4227.

The City of Douglas Fire Department will begin testing fire hydrants on Monday, May 22, 2017 and testing will continue through Friday, May 26, 2017. Hydrant testing will start at 9 p.m. each night when there is minimum traffic and continue until 4 a.m. The areas of Douglas affected will be south of Ward Street and West of Highway 441 South. During hydrant testing, water may become cloudy or rust colored. If this occurs, customers should run the water until it runs clear, especially prior to washing clothes or cooking. This will clear the water line of any rust that…

Tristan Gillis is the 2017 recipient of the Coffee Regional Medical Center (CRMC) Auxiliary Pink Ladies Scholarship winner. She is a practical nursing (LPN) student at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and is set to graduate December 2017. Gillis realized she wanted to make a difference in the lives of others when she encountered wonderful and caring nurses during her grandmother’s illness. It was the compassion and professionalism these nurses displayed that inspired and encouraged her to go to college for nursing. “My grandmother’s nurses were the kind of nurses I strive to be and to be able to give what…

By Kevin Tatum Shotgun Benefit Tournament Some members of the senior 4-H shotgun team competed in the 15th Annual Champions of Hope Benefit Tournament at Green Lakes Hunting Club in Ocilla on April 22, 2017. The benefit shoot is hosted to by Ruth’s Cottage and the Patticake House each year. Barron Thomas and Huntington Smith each busted 94 out of 100 targets. It was a great day of practice for all the shooters. The 4-H shotgun team is comprised of senior and junior team will compete in the 4-H State Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays Competition coming up on May…

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is hosting a fun and educational camp this summer. The Coffee Campus will be hosting a Cosmo Camp for Kids, June 6 – 8. The Cosmetology Department is hosting the camp for students in grades second to eighth. Students will perform manicures, pedicures, and more. They will get to create nail art while learning proper sanitation measures. The camp will be held on the Coffee Campus from 8:00 a.m. until noon. Registration is $40 which includes materials, snacks, t-shirt and pizza party. For students interested in welding, the campus is offering a camp for grades fifth…

Three candidates have qualified to run for the Ward 1 city commission seat left vacant by the passing of Johnnie Lee Roper on March 20 of this year. Those individuals are former commissioner Richard Hutchinson, Edwin Taylor, and Cheryl Cunningham. The election will take place on Tuesday, June 20. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Central Square Complex, 200 S. Madison Avenue. Citizens who are not sure which city ward they are registered to vote in should contact the Elections Office at 912-384-7018. Qualifying for the Special Election was held on Monday, April 24 –…

Coffee County sheriff’s authorities made a quick arrest and recovered numerous stolen items in a burglary incident reported Sunday. Just after 6 a.m. on May 7, deputies responded to a residence on Greenfield Circle in reference to a burglary. The victim stated that someone had broken into his home and stolen a number of items some time between 2 p.m. the previous day and 6 a.m. the day of the report. A detective from the Coffee County Criminal Investigations Division was notified and responded to the location. An investigation at the scene determined that entry had been gained through the…

Two Wiregrass employees were recently honored for their dedication, hard work and leadership skills by the faculty and staff of the college. Wiregrass employees annually nominate a staff member and a supervisor for their exemplary performance on the job. The nominations are narrowed down by a committee and the finalists are interviewed by a panel of judges to decide who will be honored. Roxanne Gay, Institutional Effectiveness Specialist, was awarded the sixth annual James A. Bridges Vanguard Award for the staff member of the year. Roxanne is described by her peers devoted and dedicated employee who works hard and efficiently. …