Author: Submitted

There were three special recognitions at the Coffee County Board of Education’s February School Board Meeting. The meeting was held on Thursday, February 23rd, 2017. Leana Atkinson, daughter of David and Angie Atkinson, was recognized for winning a state title in the Floral Arranging Career Development Event. As a special touch, Leana prepared floral arrangements for the board members and Superintendent Dr. Morris Leis. Leana was recognized along with Spencer Highsmith, her agriculture teacher at GWC Freshman Campus, and Brad Riner, CTAE Director. John Watts was also recognized, as he recently won the 2016-2017 Class 6A State Wrestling Championship in his…

Belva Girtman Atkinson Lee died February 22, 2017 in Americus, Georgia. Born in Jeff Davis County, Georgia on January 3, 1919 to the late James Hendrix Girtman and Leona Brewer Girtman. Belva grew up in Snipesville, Georgia and later moved to Broxton, Georgia where she lived her adult life. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, JoAnn Atkinson Pope and George Edward Pope of Americus, Georgia; four grandchildren, Shara Lane Atkinson, Tom Byrd Atkinson III, Geoffrey Edward Pope, and Bradley Christopher Pope all of Atlanta; two step grandchildren, Michael Kennedy Flynn of New Jersey and Brian Patrick Flynn of…

Saving parents over $2 million in tuition and fees during the fiscal year 2016, Wiregrass Tech’s Move On When Ready Program (MOWR) is making a difference in the lives of area high school students. Students in the eleven counties Wiregrass serves earned over 12, 000 college credits during the 2015-2016 school year. Director of Recruitment and High School Services Brooke Jaramillo shared, “We are honored to partner with 22 high schools in our service area, along with local home school students to offer MOWR opportunities for their students. Each of our partners advocates for their students to get college credit…

Students at Westside Elementary School are rockin’, reading, and roaring in grades K-5! At the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year, Westside Elementary issued a challenge to all students in K-5. The challenge was to work collectively to read at least 25,000,000,000 words by the end of the school year. Each grade level was challenged to read a set number of words quarterly in order to participate in a full day of reading celebration. The students and staff have taken this challenge seriously and have been reading relentlessly at school and at home. During the day of reading celebration, students…

Firefighters Curtis Gasque and Scott Wiggins have been promoted to the rank of Captain in the Douglas Fire Department. As Captains, both firemen will command a shift at the DFD, as well as mentor and lead firefighters. “With their job knowledge, experience and training, these two new Captains will help lead the department into a positive future,” says Chief Wilson. For more information, please contact the Douglas Fire Department at 912-384-4815. Chief Larry Wilson congratulates Captain Scott Wiggins – Submitted

South Georgia State College’s Zaquavian Smith has been named the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association’s (GCAA) Division I Player of the Week for a fourth time this season. A 6’0” redshirt sophomore from Statesboro, Smith averaged 25.5 points, six rebounds, and five assists last week against Gordon State and Central Georgia Tech. He continues to lead the GCAA in scoring, averaging 19.6 points per game. He has also averaged 3.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game this season. Smith is currently in the top 10 in the GCAA in three-point shooting percentage (41.8 percent) and free throw percentage (70.4 percent). “I…

A Douglas, Georgia native, Sarah Cowart, was featured on HGTV’s hit reality show House Hunters. The State College transplant was part of the episode titled “Single Gal Seeks Single Family Home in Pennsylvania” which aired Feb. 20, 2017 at 8 P.M. “Being a part of House Hunters was a once in lifetime experience. I am thankful to be a part of a great show and appreciate the support of my family and friends,” states Sarah. The episode, which features Sarah, is about the young professional who is seeking her first home in the State College area. She is searching for…

Congratulations to Jarred Stevens for being selected as Coffee Middle School’s teacher of the month for the month of January. Mr. Stevens is one of the school’s 7th grade social studies teachers and is very deserving of this recognition. – Submitted

Elton Gregory Griffis, 52, of Douglas has been charged with one count of malice murder in the shooting death of 58-year-old Thomas Lamar Vining. Deputies responded to a residence off Ramblewood Rd. in the Green Acres community shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017 in reference to a report of criminal trespass. While officers were en route to the scene, they were informed Mr. Vining had been shot. He was discovered by deputies with a shotgun wound to his back and transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. As with all cases of this…

Friday afternoon, a Nicholls police officer hit the jackpot, so to speak, during a traffic stop. The officer initiated the stop after noticing the three occupants of the vehicle weren’t wearing their seatbelts. During the course of the stop, the officer requested additional units to assist. The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the members of the Douglas-Coffee County Drug Unit responded to the scene. Before officers could arrive, one of the occupants, Brandon Moore, fled the scene on foot. As other officers arrived to assist, the Nicholls police officer requested a drug detective to his location. Once on scene, the…