Author: Submitted

Zaquavian Smith led all scorers with 23 points, and the South Georgia State College Hawks survived a furious second half comeback by Central Georgia Tech to beat the Titans 77-69. The Hawks (18-6, 6-4) led 42-29 at halftime and extended their lead to 20 points in the second half only to watch it shrink to seven points with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Head coach Cory Baldwin credited his team’s offense as the key to the game. The Hawks shot 50 percent from the field (24-of-48), 50 percent from the three-point line (9-of-18), and 83 percent from…

The City of Douglas and Douglas Coffee County Chamber of Commerce have formed a relationship with Broadcast South, LLC and WDMG 97.9 to host a weekly community news show titled “Community Connection.” The show will consist of either a City of Douglas spokesperson or Chamber of Commerce spokesperson sharing news and information about what is going on in Douglas-Coffee County. The goal of the radio show will be to provide Douglas and Coffee County with the latest news, information and updates on community involvement. “We are thrilled that 97.9 WDMG have a desire to reach the community by opening up…

The Douglas Police Department will be starting a program in an effort to reduce the number of thefts committed in the City of Douglas. The program involves officers identifying targets that are desirable to criminals and notifying the owners of the property. “By implementing this new program, we hope to bring awareness to areas that could aid in criminal activities,” says Chief Gary Casteloes. “Our goal is to notify property owners so that they will take the preventative actions to help us keep our neighborhoods safe. We are asking for citizens to assist us in helping our efforts to prevent…

Douglas Fire Department Engineer Robert Beecher completed a grueling six day, 60 hour training course on Feb. 3 to earn the prestigious title of a certified Georgia Smoke Diver #982. After completing a qualification course, Beecher was accepted into the Georgia Smoke Diver program. The Georgia Smoke Diver program is a physically and mentally demanding class, which has an attrition rate of about 50%. Developed in 1978, the Georgia Smoke Diver program has only certified 986 firefighters. Fire Engineer Beecher is the first from Douglas Fire Department to earn this certification. “Beecher has spent numerous hours mentally preparing and training…

Douglas City Clerk Wynetta Bolder was elected to serve as the 2017 Georgia Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association (GMC/FOA) President on Feb. 6, 2017. After serving on numerous committees and serving as the president elect in 2016, Mrs. Bolder was unanimously elected to the position of president during the association’s February board meeting. The purpose of GMC/FOA is to promote professionalism in the Office of the Clerk and Finance Officer by attending educational programs, exchanging experiences and methods of handling problems, and encouraging each other to find solutions to these problems. The GMC/FOA Board has seventeen members who are…

In January 2017, Engineer Lee Clements, of the Douglas Fire Department, received Fire Instructor 1 certification from the Georgia Fire Academy. The Fire Instructor I course is designed to prepare candidates to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to conduct instruction from prepared materials. “I am proud to see Engineer Clements receive this certification,” says Fire Chief Larry Wilson. “Our firefighters are constantly training and motivating themselves to stay up to date and become better firemen so they can serve the citizens of Douglas and Coffee County to the best of their abilities.” Training in this course included the characteristics of…

The yearly Douglas Kiwanis Club tree/plant sale was held on Saturday, Feb. 4, in front of the old high school in Douglas. The trees and plants were obtained from the Wade Nursery, east of Alma, who graciously allowed us to use their truck for transportation. Club members were aided in the sale by members of the Coffee High School 4-H club and the Citizens Christian Academy Key club. The event was as usual a successful fund raising event. The Kiwanis Club greatly appreciates all those who helped and supported the sale, especially considering that it was a cold and windy…

Vyrlin Stone, age 75, of Douglas, GA passed away on Sunday, February 12, 2017, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. Mr. Stone was born on February 1, 1942, in Jeff Davis County, GA to the late Claude Stone, Sr. and Addie Wooten Stone. Survivors include: his three sons, Wendell (Nena) Stone of Ambrose, GA, Dewayne (Lydia) Stone of Douglas, GA, and Timmy (Dana) Stone of Broxton, GA; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brother, Claude (Connie) Stone, Jr. of Snipesville, GA; three sisters, Shirley (Johnnie) Caves of West Green, GA, Sandra (Lonnie) Moody of Hazlehurst, GA, and Linda (Larry)…

Roy Nipper, age 68, of Douglas, GA passed away on Saturday, February 11, 2017, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. Mr. Nipper was born on April 9, 1948, in Douglas, GA to the late Calvin Nipper and Letha Metts Nipper. Survivors include: his special friend, Patricia Browning of Douglas, GA; son, James (Candy) Hines of Douglas, GA; daughter, Ann Hines of Waycross, GA; granddaughter, Cordelia Hines of Waycross, GA; three brothers, Carlton Nipper of Leesburg, FL, David Nipper of Douglas, GA, and Carroll Nipper of Waycross, GA; sister, Gwenell Gronlund of Leesburg, FL; several nieces and nephews.…

Mrs. Linda Gail Dempsey Hudson, age 70, of Broxton, Ga. passed away peacefully Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. Mrs. Hudson was born April 29, 1946, and spent the majority of her early years in Norfolk, Va. Linda met her future husband, James Dallas Hudson (Jim), on a blind date initiated by her future father-in-law. At the time, Linda was working a civilian job at the Naval base in Norfolk, Va. where Jim and his father were stationed. Jim and Linda married in 1968 and settled in Georgia, Jim’s home state. The…