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Satilla Regional Library System held its Bookmark Art Contest Winners’ Ceremony on Saturday, October 16, at the Douglas-Coffee County Public Library. This contest was held from Tuesday, September 6, 2016 through Friday, September 30, 2016. Participants in Atkinson and Coffee Counties drew a bookmark with the theme, “Turn the Page…” and submitted it to any Satilla Regional Library branch in person. The Wiregrass Artists’ Guild judged the bookmarks for the contest. Mr. Mark Cole, Director opened the ceremony by welcoming the winners and their families. He introduced himself and Miss Julie Macomber, Children’s and Young Adult Librarian. He thanked everyone…

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced today the promotion of Nelly Miles as the Director of the Office of Public Affairs. Miles will be responsible for disseminating information to the media and the public. In this role, she will also serve as a liasion between the agency and Georgia’s legislature. Miles has been employed with the agency for seventeen (17) years and has held previous positions as the Deputy Director of the Office of Public Affairs, Forensic Chemistry Manager, Forensic Chemistry Assistant Manager, and Forensic Chemist. Miles has held previous memberships in the Southern Association of Forensic Scientists…

Charles Derek Wiggins, age 51, of Douglas, Ga passed away on Saturday, October 15, 2016, following a auto accident. Mr. Wiggins was born on December 4, 1964, in Douglas, Ga to Maxine Youmans Wiggins Stokes and the late John Willie Wiggins. Survivors include: his mother and stepfather, Maxine and Dennis Stokes of Douglas, Ga; brother, Jimmy (Terri) Wiggins of Douglas, Ga; sister-in-law, Betty Wiggins of Douglas, Ga; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, John Willie Wiggins and two brothers, Steve Wiggins and Gary Wiggins. The family will receive friends Monday, October 17, 2016 from…

James Turk, age 50, of Ambrose, Ga passed away on Saturday, October 15, 2016, at Emory University Hospital following an extended illness. Mr. Turk was born on February 17, 1966, in Plant City, Fl to Grace Horton Turk Rycroft and the late Morris Alexander Turk. Survivors include: his wife, Pam Turk of Ambrose, Ga; two sons, Jay Turk and Elijah Turk both of Ambrose, Ga; mother, Grace Rycroft of Fitzgerald, Ga; sister, Camille Turk (Allen) Ethridge of Fitzgerald, Ga; step brother, John Rycroft, Jr. of Fitzgerald, Ga; step sister, Andrea Sutton of Fitzgerald, Ga; nephew, Ben Harper of Fitzgerald, Ga;…

Cummings “Brother” Smith, age 82, of Broxton, Ga passed away on Friday, October 14, 2016, at his residence following an extended illness. Mr. Smith was born on March 1, 1934, in Broxton, Ga to the late Hoke Smith and Gussie Cummings Smith. Survivors include: his wife, Jane Smith of Broxton, Ga; two sons, Mike (June) Smith and Darrell (Debra) Smith both of Broxton, Ga; daughter, Felicia Smith of Broxton, Ga; four grandchildren, D.J. (Page) Smith of Wray, Ga, John (Tara) Smith of Broxton, Ga, Cliffy (Alexa) Smith of Broxton, Ga, and Mark Smith of Broxton, Ga; six great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Sam…

Satilla Riverkeeper and friends invite the public to a watershed-wide “Satilla Rivers Alive” cleanup on Oct. 22 at the following locations: – South Georgia State College, Douglas 31533 (Coffee Co.); – Jamestown Landing: Jamestown Road, Waycross 31503(Ware Co.);- FFA Camp Landing: Turkey Ridge Road, Patterson 31557 (Pierce Co.); – U.S. 301 Landing: ~14 US-301, Nahunta 31553 (Brantley Co.); – Ava Strickland Lightsey Landing: US 82 Bridge, Atkinson 31553 (Brantley Co.); – Burnt Fort Landing: GA 252 Bridge, White Oak 31568 (Charlton Co.); – St. Andrews Picnic Area: Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island, 31527 (Glynn Co.) Participants can register at each of…

Sara Harper, age 92, of Ambrose, Ga passed away on Thursday, October 13, 2016, at her residence following an extended illness. Mrs. Harper was born on September 15, 1924, in Ocilla, Ga to the late Elisha Paulk and Rebecca Harper Paulk. Survivors include: her son, Jerry P. (Lou) Harper of Ambrose, Ga; two daughters, Glenda R. (Buddy) Lee of Douglas, Ga and Dianne (Roy) Moore of Ambrose, Ga; nine grandchildren, Jan Hatfield, Kim Amos, Gary E. Vickers, Jeffrey P. Harper, Deena Chamberlain, Ben Lott, Jessica Barber, John Moore, and Jason Moore; several great-grandchildren; several great-great children; several nieces and nephews.…

Thurman Gillis, age 80, of Douglas, Ga passed away on Thursday, October 13, 2016, at South Georgia Medical Center following a brief illness. Mr. Gillis was born on November 3, 1935, in Douglas, Ga to the late Randall Lee Gillis and Gladys Davis Gillis. Survivors include: his wife, Gloria Gillis of Douglas, Ga; three daughters, Angie (Billy) Beasley of Douglas, Ga, Gail (Ron) Harris of Atlanta, Ga, and Melissa (Ken) Lott of Douglas, Ga; three grandchildren, Levi Beasley, Graham Lott, and Kolton Lott; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives. The family will receive friends Saturday, October 15, 2016 from…

4-H FUNDRAISER PICK UP I would like to remind our 4-H members who took part in the Coca-Cola and Krispy Kreme fundraisers of your pick up dates. The donuts will be here for you to pick up and deliver to your customers on Friday, October 21. We usually have them ready for pick up around 11 or 11:30 a.m. The Coca-Cola pick up will be on Thursday, November 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. Please put these dates on your calendars so that you don’t forget. 4-H CLUB MEETINGS 4-H members, don’t forget that we will have your in-school 4-H…

Today, I would like to report the importance of agriculture to our local economy. According to the 2015 Georgia Farm Income Survey, Coffee County ranks 10th in Georgia in 2015 Farm Income. Our 2015 total gross value was $260, 726,988, which was a decrease of about $11 million from the 2014 report. This was mostly due to low commodity prices and weather related harvest losses. Our 2015 farm income by commodity and gross farm values are as follows: Commodity Gross Farm Value Agritourism $ 12,500Beef Cows $10,571,544Blackberries …