Author: Submitted

Douglas Mayor Tony Paulk recently signed a proclamation declaring Fire Prevention Week as Oct. 9 – 15, 2016. This year’s Fire Prevention Week message is “Don’t Wait, Check the Date – Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.” Pictured above are (front row) Ginelle Faison, Gizelle Faison, Mayor Tony Paulk and Interim Fire Chief Bryson Lott, (back row) Driver Engineer Rex Harper, Lt. Brantley Anderson, Firefighter Kiera Mobley, Capt. Dale Merritt, Firefighter Kleif Bussey, and Driver Engineer Dana Carver. – Submitted

At the regularly scheduled Douglas City Commission meeting on Monday, September 26, Mayor Tony Paulk, Commissioner Cindy McNeill, along with the South Georgia BBQ & Outdoor Festival (SGBOF) Motorcycle Committee, presented the Childhood Cancer Awareness Group of Coffee County with a donation of $701.00. The donation came from proceeds of the 50/50 Draw which was held during the South Georgia BBQ & Outdoor Festival on September 9 & 10, 2016. “At the beginning of planning meetings for the motorcycle events during the South Georgia BBQ & Outdoor Festival, the Motorcycle Committee wanted to contribute back to our community,” says Pattie…

The Douglas Fire Department will be at the Community Health and Wellness Day on October 1, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Central Square Complex. The Fire Department will be offering fire safety information and encouraging citizens to participate in the Vial of Life program. The Vial of Life program is a smart way to have medical information on hand during emergencies. “The first thing an emergency responder needs to know is the medical information of the person being treated,” says Interim Fire Chief,Bryson Lott. “Senior citizens and persons who need life-saving medical prescriptions need to have a…

Indian Creek Cardinals showed their love and support for children who battle childhood cancer on Friday, September 23, by having some very special visitors! A HUGE thank-you to Katie Smeltzer Rucker, Carol Smith, our ICE parents, and Coach Bennett for making this day such a special one as we brought awareness to childhood cancer and celebrated life at Indian Creek. We would like for children everywhere who battle cancer every day, including some of our very own Cardinals, to know that you are not in this alone. ICE will battle with you until there is a cure! – Submitted

The City of Douglas, Douglas Coffee County Chamber of Commerce, and the Coffee County Commission are proud to announce the Marshals for the 53rd Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade. Douglas Police Department Chief Gary Casteloes and Coffee County Sheriff Doyle Wooten will represent their agencies as the Grand Marshals for the parade, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Coffee County Courthouse on December 3. “Peace On Earth, the theme for this year’s parade, is the wish that many have for peace and unity of mankind throughout the world,” says Mayor Tony L. Paulk. “Our local law enforcement…

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Coffee Middle School has participated in a number of activities. Many of our faculty and students recently dressed in their favorite superhero shirts and accessories on Super Hero Day. It was great fun, and we enjoyed showing our support of finding a cure for childhood cancer. – Submitted

The Douglas Visitor Information Center (Ashley-Slater House) will offer everyone a chance to kickoff Halloween with two ghost tours as an October promotion. The tours will be held Tuesday, October 18, at 6:30 and 7: 15 p.m. at the historic Ashley-Slater House located at 211 S. Gaskin Avenue. Tickets are $5 per person and must be purchased in advance. Tours are limited to 30 people per tour. Participants will experience a candle lit, night-time tour based on the history of the house. After each tour, light refreshments will be served. Each person will be entered for door prizes. Participants will…

Mrs. Sandra Veal Newell, age 63, of Broxton passed away Sunday morning, September 25, 2016, at the Medical Center of Central Georgia, in Macon, following an extended illness. She was born July 6, 1953 to the late Roy Lee Veal, Sr. and the late Mildred Graves Veal. Survivors include: Her Husband: Rev. Jerry Newell of Broxton, Ga.; 1 Daughter: Michelle (Byron) Yawn of Jacksonville, Ga.; 1 Son: Jeremy (Autumn) Newell of Vidalia, Ga.; 2 Sisters: Ann Dora Merritt of Douglas, Ga., and Brenda (Rev. Dewayne) Atkinson of Cairo, Ga.; 2 Brothers: Edward (Kim) Veal of Fitzgerald, Ga., and Glynn (Jo…

Greetings to the citizens of Douglas. I, Mayor Tony L. Paulk, would like to invite you to read this article, known as my Mayor’s Monthly Minutes. The purpose of these frequent articles is to give my perspective, as mayor, of services, initiatives, and issues of our local government. This month, I would like to start with a quote by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which is “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward”. Challenges spawn from complacency…