Author: Submitted

Every year, Coffee County schools compete in the Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition whose purpose is to encourage students to develop enthusiasm for and expertise in their writing. Eastside submitted one author from each grade level to compete. Congratulations to these winners who will represent Eastside at the County competition: K: Nellie Jump—Mrs. Kirkland’s class 1st: Jada Tanner—Mrs. Douberly’s class 2nd: Weston Brown—Mrs. Evan’s class 3rd: Kali Brigmond—Mrs. Drew’s class 4th: Lauren Moore—Mrs. Ricketson’s class 5th: Jessie Hutcheson—Mrs. Lindsey’s class

Satilla Regional Library System will be holding teen ‘Insurgent’ parties on Saturday, March 14 from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Douglas-Coffee County Public Library in the large meeting room and Friday, March 20 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Pearson Public Library in the multipurpose room. These ‘Insurgent’ teen parties are based off the young adult book, ‘Insurgent’ by Veronica Roth, which is book two of the ‘Divergent’ book series that is being released in theatres as a major motion picture on Friday, March 20. There will be a vote on a teen movie to watch,…

Andrea Taylor, Chamber of Commerce, was the speaker at the Douglas Kiwanis Club meeting of Tuesday at the Flyin’ Cowboy restaurant. Andrea explained what the Chamber of Commerce is and what it does. She also spoke about the Economic Development Authority to include the latest economic news. The Kiwanis club members enjoyed and appreciated her presentation. – Submitted copy

The No. 18 South Georgia State College Hawks utilized a balanced scoring attack Tuesday night and punched their ticket to the GCAA semifinals with an 88-84 win over the Central Georgia Tech Titans. Jovante’ Spivey led the Hawks (26-5, 15-4) with 18 points, two assists, and three steals. Cody Helgeland and Daniel Peace each had 15 points, with Peace dishing out 13 assists. DeAundray Rhett had 14 points and four rebounds, and JeVaughn Sanchez finished with 11 points. The win didn’t come easy as the Titans hit seven three-pointers in the first half and made a furious comeback in the…

A 2011 Atkinson County High School graduate and Douglas native is serving on one of the world’s largest warships, the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush. Seaman Recruit Andrew Williams is a yeoman aboard the Norfolk-based ship, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and one of only ten operational aircraft carriers in the Navy today. Named in honor of former President George H.W. Bush, the carrier is longer than 3 football fields, at nearly 1,100 feet long. The ship is 252 feet wide and weighs more than 100,000 tons. Two nuclear reactors can push the ship through the water…

Coffee County Great Promise Partnership (GPP) students joined youth from all over the state of Georgia for Leadership Day at the Capitol on Monday, February 23, in Atlanta. Leadership Day, sponsored by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), is an opportunity for leaders from across Georgia to come together, share best practices, and identify ways to improve leadership efforts in Georgia. The students enjoyed speeches from Secretary of State Brian Kemp, Jamie Jordan of the Georgia Department of Economic Development Workforce Division, and Mike Beatty, President and CEO of Great Promise Partnership. Youth also had the opportunity to tour Georgia’s…

West Green Elementary’s first grade students enjoyed watching the play “Pinocchio” at South Georgia State College on Friday, February 27. Thank you to the Coffee Alliance for the Arts for sponsoring this wonderful event! -Submitted by West Green Elementary School

Mr. Lewis Gary Harper, age 66, passed away Thursday morning, February 26, 2015, at his residence following an extended illness. He was born to the late Lewis Jackson Harper and the late Janell Taylor Harper. Survivors include: His Wife: Dionne Carter Harper of Douglas, Ga.; Children: Denise (Marvin) McIver of Wray, Ga., Candi H. (Tom) Pridgen of Pridgen, Ga., and Kristi Harper of Douglas, Ga.; 2 Sisters: Audrey Taylor of Gloucester Point, Virginia, and Sue (Ronnie) Crews of Nahunta, Ga.; 6 Grandchildren: Mitchell McIver, and McKayla McIver, both of Wray, Ga., Jolie Pridgen, and Jed Pridgen, both of Pridgen, Ga.,…

Mr. Paul David Taft, age 68, of Douglas passed away Wednesday evening, Feb. 25, 2015, at his residence following an extended illness. He was born May 5, 1946 to the late William Taft and the late Stella Mae Stone Taft. Survivors include: His Children: Vicki Renee Braddy (Antonio) Cruz, Paul Davy (Donna) Taft, and Deserae Taft, all of Douglas, Ga.; 1 Sister: Sue Sheffield of Fitzgerald, Ga.; Grandchildren: Matthew Perez of Brunswick, Ga.,Shelbi Giddens, Shawn Taft, Cheyenne Taft, and Brandon Taft, all of Douglas, Ga., Brittney Alexandra of Lax, Ga., and Amanda Wilson of Colorado. Several Nieces, Nephews, Friends, and…

David Richard Crews, age 54, of Douglas, GA passed away on Monday, February 23, 2015, at South Georgia Medical Center following a brief illness. Mr. Crews was born on July 31, 1960, in Douglas, GA to Barbara Graham Ward and the late Shelton Corbett Crews. Survivors include: his two sons, Eric Crews of Monticello, GA and Curtis “Kipp” Crews of Monticello, GA; daughter, Laken Amanda Crews of Douglas, GA; mother, Barbara Graham Ward of Douglas, GA; two brothers, Vance Crews of Douglas, GA and Jimmy Crews of Alapaha, GA; stepmother, Johnnie Mae Crews of Douglas, GA; two step brothers, Ray…