Author: Submitted

Julie Macomber was the speaker at the Douglas Kiwanis Club meeting of Tuesday, Sept. 29, at the Flyin’ Cowboy restaurant. Julie spoke about “The Big Band Era : 1935-1945,” a paper written by her late grandfather, Charles Rudibaugh, Jr., who was a Kiwanian in Ohio for over 60 years. The program covered the greats like Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Jimmy Dorsey, and Benny Goodman among many others. Her grandfather was a small part of the big band era, playing lead trumpet in a regimental dance band in S.W Mississippi at Camp Vandorn during World War II. After the war, he…

The Satilla Regional Library System held its bookmark art contest winners’ ceremony on Saturday, October 10, at the Douglas-Coffee County Public Library. The contest was held from September 8 through October 2. Participants in Atkinson and Coffee Counties drew a bookmark with the theme “Why Reading Is Fun!” 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 for coming…

As part of Parent/Teacher/Student Conference Day on October 12, parents at Westside Elementary School had the opportunity to learn about TeleHealth and sign their child up for this school-based collaborative healthcare center. TeleHealth connects children to medical care while they remain at school. For more information on how to sign up your school-aged child for these services, please contact your school nurse or the telemedicine coordinator at (912)389-6732. – Submitted

The Douglas Visitor Information Center (Ashley-Slater House) will offer everyone a chance to kickoff Halloween with two candlelight ghost tours as an October promotion. The tours will be held Thursday, October 22 at 6:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. at the historic Ashley-Slater House located at 211 S. Gaskin Avenue. Tour fee is $5 per person, and participants will experience a candlelit, nighttime tour based on the history of the house. Refreshments will also be served. Each person will be entered for door prizes, and participants will have the chance to win two free park passes to Wild Adventures that will…

Ms. Linda Fern Ray Ellis, age 72, of Douglas passed away Wednesday evening, October 7, 2015, at the Coffee Regional Medical Center, following a brief illness. She was born April 24, 1943 to the late Lonnie Escol Ray and the late Ocie Durrance Ray. Ms. Ellis, a native of Wayne County, was a retired bookkeeper with Pilgrim Pride. She had previously been an employee of TG&Y. She was also preceded in death by a Sister, Lucille Rooks. Ms. Ellis was a member of the Eastside Baptist Church. Survivors include: 2 Daughters: Penny (Stephen) Adams ; and Debbie (Mike) Sears, all…

Martha Courson, age 51, of Douglas, GA passed away on Sunday, October 11, 2015, at her residence following an extended illness. Ms. Courson was born on May 7, 1964, in Douglas, GA to the late Clint Cornelius Courson and Betty Anne Tillman Courson. Survivors include: her daughter, Courtney Lauren Sears of Macon, GA; sister Nancy J. Courson of Douglas, GA; grandson, Kason Sears of Macon, GA; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Graveside Service will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Douglas…

Myrtle Louise Hayes, age 89, of Callahan, FL passed away on Saturday, October 10, 2015, at Community Hospice Riverside Center, Jacksonville, FL following an extended illness. Mrs. Hayes was born on September 13, 1926, in Wrightsville, GA to the late John Marion Ely and Jessie Mae Tapley Ely. Survivors include: her four sons, Robert Irvin Sprinkle of Douglas, GA, Elton Steptoe of Callahan, FL, John Daniel Malone of Briceville, FL, and Jimmy Wayne Malone of Jacksonville, FL; two brothers, J.L. Ely of Fitzgerald, GA and Merle Ely of Waycross, GA; several grandchildren; several great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. She…

Don Edward Adams, Jr., aka L’il Don, 30, and Ashleigh Brooke Johnson, 28, both from Douglas, were indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with conspiring to traffic oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance. Both defendants have appeared for their arraignments before United States Magistrate Judge R. Stan Baker in the federal courthouse in Waycross and were ordered to remain detained pending a trial or other disposition. If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Ed Tarver emphasized that the indictment is only an…

Mr. Nelson Royal, age 91, of Douglas, passed away on Friday, October 09, 2015 at Oxton Place of Douglas following an extended illness. Mr. Nelson was born on July 18,1924 in Atkinson County, GA to the late Harlow and Rilsa McDonald Royal. Mr. Royal spent his first 25 years as a farmer, raising corn, peanuts, cotton, tobacco, cattle, hogs and working turpentine. After that he worked with an electrical contractor wiring homes and businesses in Coffee County. In 1969 he began work for Kaiser in charge of maintenance. When Fabwell bought Kaiser in 1982 he continued to work as a…

Oleta Carter Walker, age 93, of Nicholls, GA passed away on Thursday, October 8, 2015, at her residence following an extended illness. Mrs. Walker was born on December 1, 1921, in Douglas, GA to the late Warren Carter and Viola Kight Carter. Survivors include: her two sons, Tom Walker and Ronnie Edison (Betty) Walker both of Nicholls, GA; four daughters, Shirley Ann Butts of Douglas, GA, Jeri Dewayne Williams of Nicholls, GA, Janice (Carl) Barnett of Douglas, GA, and Deleta (Nathan) Henderson of Nicholls, GA; brother, Max Carter of Douglas, GA; sister, Geraldine Kirkland of Douglas, GA; grandchildren, Eddie Butts,…