Author: Submitted

During the fall of the year, you may see students and faculty members of South Georgia State College walking along the creek areas on the west side of Douglas with trash bags in hand. If so, they were participating with the Satilla Riverkeeper and friends at a watershed wide Rivers Alive Satilla River Cleanup. The groups worked with Kevin Davis, project manager for the company that manages the city’s water treatment plant and Ryne Nimmo, regional environment planner from Valdosta. Approximately thirty students participated in the event. This event was conducted to help remedy the chronic trash problems on the…

This year George Washington Carver Freshman Campus (GWCFC) introduced a course that was brand new to its students, Journalism. In this particular class, students learn a multitude of skills concerning camera angles, video editing, and tools used in all fields journalism. One of the main projects the students in Journalism work on is their weekly news show, and they also create scrolling announcements and website articles for GWCFC. Additionally, they help create videos to help with classroom instruction. Coffee Now Productions is not only GWCFC’s very first news show, but it is also a substantial way for anyone wishing to…

Luke Christian, CEO/Founder of Ranchero’s Fresh Grill, has announced that beginning November 14, 2016, Ranchero’s restaurants in Douglas, Waycross and Tifton will be changing their name to Surcheros Fresh Grill. Ranchero’s Fresh Grill first opened in Douglas in 2007. The build-your-own style Tex-Mex restaurant quickly gained popularity. Therefore, in 2008, Christian opened a second location in Waycross. Then, in 2012, a third location in Tifton. With the desire to grow and branch out to more areas, the decision was made to begin franchising. Franchising would mean moving into not just rural South Georgia, but nationwide. Because of this, it was…

Mr. Clayton Mitchell Taft, age 55, passed away Monday morning, November 7, 2016, at his residence following an extended illness. Mr. Taft was born July 8, 1961 to the late Clayton Edward Taft and the late Dorothy Jean Anderson Taft. Survivors include: His Wife, Judy Boatwright Taft of Douglas, GA; 1 Daughter, Katrina Marie Stevens of Douglas, Ga; 1 Son, Clayton M. (Bubba) and wife, Alyssa Taft of Douglas, GA; 2 Grandsons, Hunter Stevens and Grayson Taft, both of Douglas, GA; 3 Brothers, Jerome Taft and Ferrell Taft, both of Douglas, GA and Whelan (Sharon) Taft of West Green, GA;…

Barbara Ann Elizabeth East, age 72, of Douglas, Ga. passed away on Monday, November 7, 2016, at residence following an extended illness. Mrs. East was born on November 3, 1944, in Douglas, Ga. to the late William Green Morris and Susie Cato Morris. Survivors include: her three sons, Timothy Gray and wife Maribel of Douglas, Ga., Herbert Earl Gray, Jr. and wife Shastina of Douglas, Ga., and Tony Dykes of Douglas, Ga.; two daughters, Deborah Dykes of Douglas, Ga. and Brittany Francis Spivey and husband Michael of Hampton, Ga.; eleven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives.…

Zaire Cook’s basket with 6.6 seconds left in overtime lifted South Georgia State College to an 81-80 win Monday night against Middle Georgia Prep. In a game atmosphere that resembled a midseason conference matchup, the Hawks (2-0) had a nine-point lead with two minutes remaining in regulation and watched their lead shrink to three over the next 1:20. Following a shot clock violation by the Hawks, Middle Georgia Prep hit a three-pointer with 2.6 seconds left to tie the game (73-73) and force overtime. Trailing 80-79 in the extra period, the Hawks forced a turnover with 34.2 seconds left, which…

The South Georgia State College swim team held their first home meet last Saturday at the Douglas Campus Wellness Center Pool. SGSC’s women took first place in the three team competition over Thomas University and Lagrange College while the men placed second to Thomas. Leading the women was Jessica Dunton of Carrollton, GA with three first places in the 400 individual medley and both the 100 and 200 butterfly events. Also winning events for the women were Nikki Daley of Warner Robins, GA in the 50 and 100 freestyle, Madison Elliott of Macon, GA in the 100 and 200 breast…

Gordon “Bug” Lewis, Jr., age 82, of Douglas, Ga. passed away on Saturday, November 5, 2016, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. Mr. Lewis was born on September 5, 1934, in Hazlehurst, Ga. to the late Gordon Lewis, Sr. and Nettie Smith Lewis. Survivors include: his wife, Magdalene Morgan Lewis of Douglas, Ga.; son, Gordon Dewayne (Bridgette) Lewis of Douglas, Ga.; four daughters, Vicki Lewis of West Green, Ga, Sharon Lewis of West Green, Ga., Shirley Stone of West Green, Ga., and Jennifer Lewis of Douglas, Ga.; brother, John Lewis of Douglas, Ga., two sisters, Jean Carol…

South Georgia State College’s Coordinator of Application Development Suzie Brown was named Silver Finalist at the University System of Georgia Chancellor’s Service Excellence Awards on Tuesday, October 25. The award was presented by Chancellor Hank Huckaby during a ceremony at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. Brown’s project entitled, “A Ticket to Service Excellence in Technology” won in the Outstanding Service Excellence Efficiency and Effectiveness Improvement Initiative category. As part of the College’s Informational and Instructional Technology department, she was placed at the helm of creating a new system to make it easier to submit technology support requests in…

Hurst and Hurst CPAs, LLC is proud to be a sponsor of REACH Georgia which recently awarded five Coffee Middle School eighth grade students with $10,000 scholarships for college. This year’s recipients are Emily Grace Boykin, Mackenzie Danielle Conway, D’ojhene Monique Echols, Koco Amani Holland, and Aaliyah A’miracle Ringold. These scholars are paired with a mentor and an academic coach through high school. Upon graduation from high school, scholars are awarded up to a $10,000 scholarship to be used at a Georgia HOPE-eligible college. The goal of REACH (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen) is to find academically promising students who…