Author: Submitted

The Diamond Kings 12U Elite baseball team based out of Thomasville, Georgia traveled to Omaha, Nebraska the week of June 20 to compete in the USSSA Omaha Champions Village Tournament. At this tournament, the players and coaches eat and sleep at The Village next to the fields that sit on 170 acres. The opening ceremonies began with an airplane flying over the Village and fields dropping men in parachutes onto the field, including 88-year-old retired US Air Force Instructor Leno Baney. Another jumper, retired US Army Master Sergeant Kenneth Bader, was carrying the American flag while the teams sang the…

Douglas-Coffee County is featured in the current issue of Business in Focus magazine, a national monthly publication that is presented by the Focus Media Group. The article, entitled “Growing Opportunities in Rural Georgia,” is featured in the June 2016 edition of the magazine. The magazine centers around business news and events, as well as featured articles on leading North American organizations and innovations. They have a broad audience with 363,100 copies of the magazine distributed monthly. Economic development is one of the main components to growing and expanding a community. Andrea Taylor, Executive Director of the Coffee County Economic Development…

Coffee County 4-H shotgun shooters Jordan Davis, Brice Grantham, Lance Ricketson, and Blake Tanner, along with coaches Richard Grantham and Clay Thomas, took it all at this years’ National 4-H Shotgun Match. The competition was held the week of June 27-July 1 in Grand Island, Nebraska. The team took first place in the sporting clay competition held Monday, June 28, with Brice Grantham taking High Individual as well. The skeet competition was held on Wednesday, and the team took third place in this contest falling behind Texas and Nebraska. The trap competition was held on Thursday, and the team tied…

Two types of caterpillars make webs in trees. The Eastern tent caterpillar makes webs in the forks of the branches. They are more of a problem early in the spring. The fall webworm makes their webs on the ends of the branches and is more prevalent in the late summer and fall. We are beginning to see some early signs of fall webworms now, and I would like to share this information written by Willie Chance, Retired UGA County Horticulture Agent. Fall webworms are the most visible since their webs are located on the end of the branches. Their webs…

Satilla Regional Library System welcomed Mr. Bill Packard of Magic Man Entertainment to the Douglas-Coffee County and Willacoochee Public Libraries Wednesday, June 29. Mr. Packard held a show called The Reading Games which included story telling using multimedia, magic tricks, and audience participation activities tied in with sports. There was an opportunity to pet a tortoise and hare after the show that tied in with the famous story by Aesop. Everyone in attendance had a great time! The next Summer Reading Program performance will be Mr. Al Poindexter doing a folk singing show on Wednesday, July 13, at the Douglas/Coffee…

Wiregrass Georgia Tech students recently attended the 52nd Annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference held in Louisville, KY June 20-24. More than 6,000 students competed in 100 different trade, technical and leadership fields. Students worked against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations such as electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting and culinary arts. All competitions are designed, run and judged with the help of industry, trade associations, and labor organizations, and test competencies are set using industry standards. Top student winners received gold, silver and bronze medallions. Many also received prizes such as tools…

Henry Loyd McKinnon, age 91, of Douglas, GA passed away on Tuesday, June 28, 2016, at his residence following an extended illness. Mr. McKinnon was born in Douglas, GA on March 2, 1925 to the late Dennis McKinnon and Annie Gillespie McKinnon. Mr. McKinnon was a WWII veteran of the US Army. Survivors include his wife, Sarah Louise Pridgen McKinnon of Douglas, GA; sister, Mozelle Fish of Douglas, GA; several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends Thursday, June 30, 2016 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m at Sims Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be held on Friday, July 1,…

The Board of Regents surprised Dr. Virginia Carson at its May 2016 meeting by designating her as President Emerita of South Georgia State College (SGSC). University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby recommended to the Board to grant this honor to Carson, and the motion passed unanimously. “I am very touched by the award you are giving me today. It means a lot to me and my College,” Carson told the Regents during the meeting. Carson successfully led the consolidation of South Georgia College and Waycross College into South Georgia State College and has seen it through a long-term strategy…

First responders are very aware of the vital need for blood donations in our community. In honor of these local public safety officials, Douglas is hosting the 3rd Annual Badges for Life blood drive Monday, July 11, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Central Square Complex. All donors will receive a ‘Badges for Life’ t-shirt, along with a wellness check-up of blood pressure, pulse, temperature and iron count, plus a cholesterol screening. Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. Photo ID is required. To learn more about the importance…