Author: Submitted

Gary Merritt, age 57, of Douglas, GA passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at his residence following a brief illness. Mr. Merritt was born on January 11, 1958, in Broxton, GA to the late Myrtle Merritt. Survivors include: his wife, Tonnie Merritt of Douglas, GA; two sons, Gary Dewayne (Amy) Merritt of Douglas, GA and Jerry (Kendra) Merritt of Douglas, GA; six grandchildren, Mitchell (Amber) Adams of Douglas, GA, Jessica Adams of Douglas, GA, Kelsie (Jeff) Merritt of Thomasville, GA, Jordan (Danielle) Merritt of Douglas, GA, Kylee Merritt of Douglas, GA, and Gunner Merritt of Douglas, GA; four great…

The Satilla Regional Library System held its Douglas teen ‘Insurgent’ party and teen choice movie on Saturday, March 14, at the Douglas-Coffee County Public Library for teens ages 13-18. There was food, trivia, crafts, socializing with peers, and a teen choice movie! A pair of movie passes to Rockin’ 8 Cinemas was awarded by random drawing to Miss Laila Smith. Everyone who attended had a great time. If you missed that party or could not attend, we will be holding a Pearson Teen ‘Insurgent’ Party and teen choice movie on Friday, March 20, at the Pearson Public Library at 56…

Parent-Teacher Conference Day for the Coffee County School System will be held Tuesday, March 17. Students will be dismissed early that day. Lunch will be provided for students, and the school buses will run their regular routes. All parents or guardians are encouraged to attend, as report cards will be issued. If parents or guardians are unable to attend conference day, they may contact their child’s homeroom teacher to arrange another conference date. Otherwise, report cards will be given to students on Tuesday, March 24. The following Parent-Teacher Conference Day schedule will be observed: School Dismissal…

The chamber of commerce is hosting an information session featuring chamber travel opportunities for 2015 on Monday, March 16, at noon at the chamber office. Bring a sack lunch and enjoy the presentation as we learn about two trips offered by the chamber in 2015. The first is an October trip to Switzerland, Austria and Bavaria and the second is a November trip to the Tuscany region of Italy. The Switzerland trip is planned for October 21-30, 2015. The ten-day trip includes 12 meals (eight breakfasts and four dinners). The tour begins in Switzerland’s capital city of Bern. You will…

Once more, the South Georgia State College Hawks are one of the best junior college swim teams in the country. The Hawks swim team have finished fourth (women) and fifth (men) in the nation, respectively. Both teams just returned from the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship swim meet in Buffalo, New York. The women took fourth overall with 923.5 points, only 63.5 points behind third place but 407.5 points ahead of fifth. The men finished in fifth place with 798 points overall, only 62 points behind fourth place and 225 points ahead of sixth. These finishes come on…

Mr. Ralph Milburn Gourley, age 76, of Douglas passed away Tuesday morning, March 10, 2015, at the Coffee Regional Medical Center, following an extended illness. He was born April 30, 1938 to the late Cecil Milburn Gourley and the late Eva Bell Burch Gourley. Survivors include: His Wife: Clara Mae Rowell Gourley of Douglas, Ga.; 2 Sons: Greg (Heather) Gourley of Vidalia, Ga., Kyle (Courtney) Gourley of Eatonton, Ga.; 4 Grandchildren: Ben Gourley, and Ginny Gourley, both of Vidalia, Ga., Whitney Gourley, and Ally Brooke Gourley, both of Eatonton, Ga.; 1 Sister: Milblynn Rawlings of Stockbridge, Ga.; 2 Brothers: Ledoy…

Lonnie Edward Reliford, Sr., 66, of Broxton, GA passed away Sunday, March 8, 2015, at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Mr. Reliford was born May 7, 1948, in Douglas, GA to the late Clarence William Reliford and Willie Mae Harrell Reliford. Survivors include his wife, Marvie Louise Reliford of Broxton, GA; three sons, Lonnie Edward (Donna) Reliford, Jr., of Fitzgerald, GA, Charles Edward (Karen) Reliford of Douglas, GA, and Troy Reliford of Pearson, GA; three brothers, Tony Reliford of Broxton, GA, Bill Reliford of Douglas, GA, and Bennie Reliford of Pearson, GA; two sisters, Linda Stone of Pearson, GA and Mary…

The Bikes, Blues, and BBQ Festival will be held in Douglas on Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11. The Douglas BBQ Cook-Off is held in conjunction with the Bikes, Blues, and BBQ Festival, along with several activities including live entertainment, NAPA/Brooks Auto Car Show, motorcycle show, poker run, vintage aviation aircraft display, WWII Flight Training Museum tours, motorcycle road skills testing, general, food, arts & craft vendors and more. “We are thrilled to partner with Georgia BBQ Association again this year for the Douglas BBQ Cook-Off,” says Georgia Henderson, Public Information Department Director. “We are adding a ‘Cooking for…

Judy Artis, Director of the Boys and Girls Club, was the speaker at the Douglas Kiwanis Club meeting Tuesday at the Flyin’ Cowboy restaurant. Artis gave an update on the local Boys and Girls Club to include upcoming events and future plans. The Kiwanis club members enjoyed and appreciated her presentation. -Submitted bythe Douglas Kiwanis Club