Author: Submitted

Virginia Morgan, age 84, of Douglas, GA passed away on Monday, February 6, 2017, at her residence following an extended illness. Mrs. Morgan was born on March 21, 1932, in Douglas, GA to the late Earlie Nettles and Virgie Wright Nettles. Survivors include: her four daughters, Rhoda Kirkland of Douglas, GA, Thelma Anderson of Nicholls, GA, Deborah Lee of Bickley, GA, and Joan Morgan of Douglas, GA; son, Wesley “PeeWee” Morgan of Blackshear, GA; several grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sol “Bud” Morgan; daughter, Linda Nails; son, Frank Merritt; sister,…

Edna Ruth Smith, age 76, of Douglas, GA passed away on Sunday, February 5, 2017, at Clinch Health Care following an extended illness. Mrs. Smith was born on October 2, 1940, in Fitzgerald, GA to the late Carsey B. “Sheep” McDowell and Eva Ruth Ethridge McDowell. Survivors include: her daughter, Lynn (Jimmy) Purvis of Nashville, GA; two sons, Michael (Tammy) Smith and Scotty (Lynn) Smith both of Douglas, GA; six grandchildren, Bridgete (Mario) Peterson, Mack (Adrianna) Smith, Lindsey Purvis, Amber Smith, Brandon (Dawn) Purvis, and Austin Smith; great grandchild, Waylen Smith; two sisters, Yvonne Brickle of Hawthorne, FL and Sheila…

Joshua Dean “Josh” Courson, age 29, of Douglas, GA passed away on Sunday, February 5, 2017, at his residence following an extended illness. Mr. Courson was born on November 12, 1987, in Waycross, GA to Angela Thomas Jewell. Survivors include: his wife, Chelsea Strickland Courson of Douglas, GA; two daughters, Paisley Spires of Douglas, GA and Ella Courson of Douglas, GA; brother, Kaleb (Denise) Knight of Douglas, GA; mother, Angela Jewell of Nicholls, GA; grandparents, Dan and Linda Thomas of Nicholls, GA; two aunts, Marsha (Barton) Walker of Nicholls, GA and Dana (Ira Fails) Thomas of Bickley, GA; uncle, Kevin…

Westside Elementary is super proud of the students who represented our school in the District Elk’s Lodge Hoop Shoot contest held on Saturday, February 4, 2017. These students showed off their skills in shooting hoops in P.E. and were at the top of their games. We want to extend a special congratulations to Kensley Knight and Marquavious Bussey (pictured below) who won the District Elk’s Lodge Hoop Shoot contest in their age group and will go on to compete in Atlanta on February 25. Way To Go! – Submitted

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College held the Fall 2016 Commencement Exercises on Friday, December 16 at UGA Conference Center in Tifton, GA. The ceremony honored 298 students who were awarded their associate degree, diploma or technical certificate of credit as well as 154 GED® graduates. Among those graduating, the college awarded 53 degrees, 126 diplomas, and 347 technical certificates. Some students received technical certificates in multiple areas. Kathy Williams was among the graduates to walk across the stage. She received her Associates Degree in Paramedicine and is now employed by South Georgia Medical Center in the Mobile Emergency Services department. She…

First Baptist Church and GracePointe Church are serving as two of more than 350 churches around the world that will host Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation simultaneously on Friday, February 10, 2017. Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love for people with special needs, ages 14 and older. This worldwide movement is already set to take place next year in all 50 states and 10 countries around the world…and the numbers continue to grow! Every guest of Night to Shine enters this complimentary event on a red carpet complete with…

Scott Gillis, Career Academy principal, was the speaker at the Feb. 7 Douglas Kiwanis Club meeting at the Flyin’ Cowboy restaurant. He spoke about his 28 years in the local school system and the Career Academy at Wiregrass Technical College. The Kiwanis club members enjoyed and appreciated his presentation.

South Georgia State College is set to host a Homecoming Weekend on Friday, Feb. 10, and Saturday, Feb. 11, with several events planned for alumni, student-athletes, and Hawk fans from the campus and community. The weekend begins with a free concert in the Wellness Center gym on the Douglas campus of SGSC. Faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the community are invited to join us to hear Thomas Fountain. The doors open at 7 p.m. with the concert beginning at 8 p.m. Fountain was born and raised in the mountains of North Georgia and won the Georgia Country Male Artist of…

National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), will be celebrated from Feb. 6-10, 2017, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors within U.S. school systems and how students are different as a result of what school counselors do. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. School counselors are actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents; for working in a partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising…

The South Georgia State College Hawks baseball team defeated Tallahassee Community College (TCC) in their first home game of the season with a 5-4 decision. The Hawks were trailing by three until a big fifth inning driven by singles by Chandler Rogers and Cameron Coffey. Four runs came across the plate putting SGSC in the lead. TCC answered back with a single run in the top of the seventh to tie the score. The Hawks battled back in the bottom of the seventh to win the game when Chandler Rogers singled, driving in the winning run. SGSC’s Shawn Blue was…