Douglas County Sentinel

07/01/2025

Please be advised, emergency crews are on the scene of a hazardous materials incident involving an ammonia leak at Gordon Food Service Distribution Center located at 1500 N. River Road at Riverside Parkway in

UPDATE: 5:52 p.m. 7/1/25

Emergency Crews have cleared the scene. Travel in the area has resumed.

UPDATE: 4:02 p.m. 7/1/25

The shelter-in-place order has been lifted. Emergency crews remain on scene. Please avoid the area until further notice.

UPDATE- 2:42 p.m. 7/1/25

Douglas County Emergency Management Agency officials have issued a shelter in place within a half mile radius of the incident location. Residents and businesses in the area are advised to close all doors and windows and turn off any outside ventilation.
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Please be advised, emergency crews are on the scene of a hazardous materials incident involving an ammonia leak at Gordon Food Service Distribution Center located at 1500 N. River Road at Riverside Parkway in Lithia Springs.

Please avoid the area until further notice.

06/30/2025

06/30/2025

A Douglasville man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Thursday for trafficking and ra**ng a 14-year-old girl while holding her against her will at a hotel three years ago.

Chief Superior Court Judge Cynthia Adams sentenced Anthony Santiago, 50, to three consecutive life terms plus 20 years for the attack, which happened April 23, 2022.

A Douglasville man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Thursday for trafficking and ra**ng a 14-year-old girl while holding her against her will at a

06/28/2025

Douglas County Georgia Schools had a good showing at the Jon Greenard Foundation 7v7 tournament.

06/27/2025

The parties in a civil lawsuit over injuries suffered by a 5-year-old girl last year when a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy opened fire during an attempted carjacking are working to settle the case outside of court.

Plaintiff Aaliyah Adams, the child’s mother, Deputy Thomas Samples and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office filed a joint motion Monday to halt legal proceedings. The motion states all parties have agreed to mediation and are scheduled to meet July 28.

The agreement lasts until Aug. 18.

Attorneys representing Adams filed the suit May 28, alleging Deputy Thomas Samples’ “recklessness and negligence” in previous incidents and his alleged failure of a fi****ms course made him unfit to be a deputy.

The parties in a civil lawsuit over injuries suffered by a 5-year-old girl last year when a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy opened fire during an attempted carjacking are working to

06/27/2025

A former Alexander High School football player caught dozens of charges after police say he used a fake bar code to obtain nearly $700 in gift cards at a local store.

Martell Bakari Varner, 24, of Winston, was arrested Thursday and charged with 14 counts each of theft by deception and first-degree forgery. He appeared at a bond hearing Friday morning, where Douglas County Chief Magistrate Judge Susan Camp set bail at $28,000.

Varner remained in jail Friday afternoon.

According to arrest warrants from the Douglasville Police Department, Varner scanned 14 gifts cards worth $50 each at Walmart on Concourse Parkway on June 18.

A former Alexander High School football player caught dozens of charges after police say he used a fake bar code to obtain nearly $700 in gift cards at a local

06/26/2025

Douglasville police have arrested two people in separate shoplifting cases after both tried to steal merchandise from different Walmart stores.

Shomari Benton, 45, of Lithonia, and Prysilla Mae Eidson, 25, of Carrollton each face a single shoplifting charge. Both were arrested Tuesday.

According to an arrest warrant from the Douglasville Police Department, Benton scanned several items at a self-checkout kiosk on May 6, then swiped a payment card that did not go through. He grabbed a receipt not related to his purchase and left the Thornton Road store with $595 worth of merchandise, investigators said.

Benton appeared Wednesday before Douglas County Chief Magistrate Judge Susan Camp, who set bail at $3,500.

On March 25, Eidson gathered $650 worth of items — including clothes, sporting goods, cosmetics and pet supplies — and left the Walmart on Concourse Parkway without paying, according to investigators.

Camp set bond for Eidson at $2,000.

06/26/2025

You’ll never too young to develop a love for reading.

At least that is what a new partnership between Wellstar Douglas Medical Center and the West Georgia Regional Library System believe.

Wellstar Douglas Medical Center and the West Georgia Regional Library System is putting books into the hands of the community’s youngest readers—starting at birth.

Launched in April, the initiative enrolls families in the nationally recognized 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, which encourages parents to read regularly to their children to build early literacy skills and foster a lifelong love of reading.

You’ll never too young to develop a love for reading.

06/26/2025

BOIL WATER ADVISORY LIFTED:

As of 12:40 a.m. on June 26, 2025, the Boil Water Advisory is officially lifted. Bacteriological test results from samples that were collected throughout the affected area yesterday have returned negative, thus confirming the water is safe to drink and meets all state and federal regulations.

With the advisory now lifted, we recommend the following to ensure optimal water quality in your home or business:

* Flush your plumbing- Run all cold water taps for at least 5 minutes.
* Flush appliances (ice makers, dishwashers, water dispensers) by following manufacturer instructions or run a few cycles.
* Replace water filters (any in pitchers, refrigerators, or under-sink systems).
* Throw out old ice. Discard ice made during the advisory and make a new batch.

06/25/2025

UPDATED BOIL WATER ADVISORY

06/25/2025

BOIL WATER ADVISORY UPDATE: The Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority is issuing an update to this advisory affecting the Lithia Springs, Georgia area. The repair to the water main in the Thornton Road area was completed overnight. Crews have flushed air out of the lines and collected bacteriological samples for testing, which require an 18-24-hour incubation. The Boil Water Advisory will remain in effect for the duration of today in the Lithia Springs area, specifically affecting northeastern and eastern Douglas County, including the vicinity of Thornton Road and Veterans Memorial Highway. Based on current sampling and testing timelines, the advisory is expected to be lifted early tomorrow morning, contingent upon satisfactory bacteriological test results in accordance with state and federal regulations.
Until then, to continue protecting the public from a potential health hazard, customers should continue using only boiled tap water or bottled water for:

• Drinking, cooking, or preparing food

• Brushing teeth or making baby formula

• Making ice or giving water to pets

To properly boil tap water for use, customers should:

• Heat water until bubbles come quickly from the bottom of the container

• Continue heating the water for one minute once it begins to boil

• Remove the water from the heat source and allow it to cool before use.

Laundry, dishwashing, and similar activities may continue as can be done without boiling tap water, if done properly. The complete CDC guidance can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/drinking/drinking-water-advisories/boil-wateradvisory.html.

06/24/2025

Today's Douglas County Georgia Schools Douglas Loves Literacy Summer Pop Up event has been canceled. The next event will be July 8.

Dear Readers:

Due to today's extreme heat advisory, the Douglas County School System has canceled today's Summer Reading event at Fowler Park. Keep reading and logging your minutes! We will see you at the next Douglas Loves Literacy Summer Pop Up event on July 8 at Deer Lick Park!