Author: Donna Wilcox

Five people are dead following a shooting at a residence in Douglas late Friday night, October 9, according to the Douglas Police Department. Officers responded to reports of gunfire at approximately 11 p.m. Upon arriving at the residence, authorities discovered five people who had suffered gunshot wounds. All five were pronounced dead. Local news outlet DouglasNow reports that the shooting occurred on Robin Lane in the Touchton Woods neighborhood and is being investigated as an apparent murder-suicide. According to that report, a man is believed to have fatally shot four other individuals before taking his own life. Police have confirmed…

It was a Homecoming night to celebrate in the Pinelands Thursday as the Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets delivered a commanding 37-0 shutout victory over Bacon County, combining a powerful rushing attack with a defense that kept the Raiders off the scoreboard all night. The Jackets piled up 311 yards of total offense, including 272 rushing yards, while limiting Bacon County to just 108 total yards. Jeff Davis also intercepted two passes and recorded a safety in the win. The defense made its presence known early. Bacon County’s opening possession ended in a safety with 10:07 remaining in the first quarter,…

Jeff Davis collected more hits than Coffee on Thursday, but the Jackets were unable to push a run across the plate in a 4-0 road loss in the last game of the regular season. Despite out-hitting Coffee 6-5, Jeff Davis struggled to turn those opportunities into runs. Ava Bohannon and Savanna Robinette led the Jackets offensively, collecting two hits apiece. Coffee took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning when Pridgen drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home the game’s first run. The Trojans added two more runs in the second on a single by Douglas, extending…

Scammers targeting older Americans are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and a Georgia case that resulted in a 14-year federal prison sentence this week offers a sobering reminder of why families should talk with elderly relatives and friends about financial fraud. A 90-year-old victim was allegedly convinced that their identity had been stolen and was being used for fraudulent activity. The people offering to help claimed to be federal agents. By the time the scheme was uncovered, federal prosecutors say the victim had lost nearly $887,000. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, members of the conspiracy…

NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — Two companies operating a data center and neighboring power plant in Georgia have been fined a combined $42,500 after state environmental regulators determined that equipment installation began before required construction permits were issued. The violations involved facilities near Covington in Newton County, approximately 40 miles east of Atlanta. According to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), the penalties were assessed against Serverfarm, which operates the data center, and VoltaGrid LLC, which operates the neighboring power-generating facility. The investigation began after state environmental regulators received a complaint on June 25, 2026. EPD inspectors visited the facilities on…

Thursday, October 8, 2026 | Morning Update Hurricane Isaias has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane in the Gulf of America, with the latest forecast indicating a possible landfall along the Florida Panhandle Friday night. Although the storm’s projected landfall is west of Jeff Davis County, residents across Southeast Georgia should prepare for the possibility of heavy rainfall, gusty winds, localized flooding and isolated tornadoes as tropical moisture moves into the region this weekend. According to the National Hurricane Center’s 5 a.m. Thursday advisory, Isaias had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and was moving east-northeast at approximately 9 mph.…

Tropical Storm Isaias is gaining strength in the Gulf of America, and communities across the Southeast are beginning to make preparations ahead of possible impacts later this week. Locally, Jeff Davis has already moved its homecoming football game against Bacon County from Friday night to Thursday night due to the potential for weather associated with the storm. As of the National Hurricane Center’s 1 p.m. CDT update Wednesday, Isaias had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving east-northeast at approximately 8 mph. NOAA Hurricane Hunters found the storm strengthening, with its central pressure falling to 997 millibars. Isaias…

Jeff Davis stayed within striking distance through five innings Tuesday, but Emanuel County Institute pulled away late to hand the Jackets a 6-1 road loss. The game remained scoreless through the first three innings before ECI pushed across the first run in the bottom of the fourth when Johnson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Jeff Davis answered in the top of the fifth. Ava Bohannon delivered a sacrifice fly to bring home the tying run and make it a 1-1 game. ECI responded in the bottom half of the inning, using RBI singles from Hillman, Johnson…

Georgia farmers, loggers, truckers and other diesel users are getting additional relief as Gov. Brian Kemp extends the state’s motor fuel tax suspension and temporarily waives state penalties associated with the use of dyed diesel on Georgia highways. Kemp signed an amended executive order Tuesday, Oct. 6, extending the suspension of Georgia’s motor fuel taxes through Nov. 5. The suspension had been scheduled to expire Oct. 29. Georgia’s motor fuel tax is normally 33.3 cents per gallon on gasoline and 37.3 cents per gallon on diesel, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue. The provision involving dyed diesel — often…

Katie was just 38 years old when breast cancer became part of her story. She had no lump. No pain. No symptoms. But with a family history of breast cancer and what she believes was a nudge from God, Katie asked her doctor for a mammogram. That one question changed her life. As we continue sharing local stories during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Katie shares her journey in her own words — hoping it encourages other women to know their family history, advocate for themselves and ask the questions that could make all the difference. I was 38 years old…