Douglas County Sentinel

01/15/2025

Congratulations to former Alexander Cougars-Athletics track and field and cross country coach Brian Robinson on being inducted into the hall of fame.

Former Alexander High track and field and cross country coach Brian Robinson will be inducted into the state hall of fame for his success in two sports.

01/14/2025

Douglas County commissioners elected a new vice chair last week by the narrowest of margins.

Acting Vice-Chair and District 4 Commissioner Mark Alcarez was renamed chair by a 3-2 vote with District 1 Commissioner Henry Mitchell III and District 3 Commissioner Martin Raxton dissenting.

Last February, Alcarez was elected by a unanimous vote to fill the unexpired 2023-24 term of former Vice-Chair and District 3 Commissioner Tarenia Carthan following her resignation that month.

A lifelong resident of Douglas County, Alcarez was first elected to office in 2023 to serve the constituents of District 4. Before serving on the commission, he was an application concept designer, collaborating with Fortune 500 companies and overseeing all sales representatives in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Douglas County commissioners elected a new vice chair last week by the narrowest of margins.

01/14/2025

Douglasville native United States Air Force Capt. Brian Johnson was part of the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter.

Johnson was part of the Joint Ceremonial Honor Guard that stood watch as the public paid respect in honoring former Carter, a fellow Georgian and distinguished navy veteran, during the state funeral ceremonies in Atlanta.

The team supporting the state funeral is a small representation of the many men and women who serve our nation daily. As part of the Joint Ceremonial Honor Guard, Johnson’s team exemplified the discipline, precision and respect that define the United States military.

“It was pretty special being a part of the state funeral,” Johnson said. “This is what we drill on quarterly. We train for this.”

With the eyes of the nation and world focused on last week’s funeral, Johnson called it a “no fail” mission for the honor guard.

“It was a chance to honor our country and former president,” he said. “I’m extremely proud of that moment in my military career. You just have to lock in.”
A 2006 graduate of Douglas County High School, Johnson holds the prestigious position of director of operations in the United States Air Force Honor Guard, one of the most elite ceremonial organizations in the nation.

Douglasville native United States Air Force Capt. Brian Johnson was part of the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter.

01/14/2025

Ask a kid today who is on their lunchbox and you’ll most likely get a blank stare.

But, those who grew up in the 1970s and 80s will know exactly what you’re talking about. They’re the ones who took their lunches to school in shiny, metal cubes featuring their favorite movie, cartoon or TV stars as well as their beloved music idols.

Visitors to the Douglas County Museum of History and Art can enjoy a nice dose of nostalgia by visiting its lunchbox exhibit. The collection features 335 containers from the early 1900s through the 1980s.

“It waqs one of our first exhibits,” said museum Director Susanne Hudson. “When we ask people which is their favorite, a lot of them say the lunchboxes.”

The exhibit features some of the collection of longtime Douglasville resident Louise Robinson, the wife of Dr. Clark Robinson, one of the city’s top practitioners. Their daughter, Beth Johnson, then a member of the museum’s board of directors, agreed to loan the lunchboxes to the museum in honor of her mother.

“It was special to her to have her mother’s lunchboxes exhibited,” Hudson said. “She delighted in sharing her mother’s love of them with others.”

Lunch pails date back to around the 1880s, according to lunchbox.com, a website dedicated to everything boxy. At the time, children toted used metal tins in which their parents bought cookies, to***co and other items.

Ask a kid today who is on their lunchbox and you’ll most likely get a blank stare.

01/11/2025

Weather advisory!

‼️Morning Update from Douglas County EMA‼️

The National Weather Service Winter Storm Warning has expired.

Road conditions remain hazardous due to ice accumulation. The public is urged to avoid unnecessary travel to avoid risk.

Winds will be elevated somewhat, which may bring more problems with trees and powerlines coming down throughout the day.

DOT and Public Works Crews continue to monitor and treat roads and remove debris, as necessary.

Both the overnight warming center at First United Methodist and the 24-hour center at Deer Lick Park Gym remain open.

The Emergency Operations Center remains staffed with public safety personnel monitoring conditions and ready to respond to emergency calls, as needed.

01/10/2025

Douglasville police have identified the driver who led officers on a chase through busy streets before crashing into a menswear store last weekend.

John Sebastian Folks, 33, of Jonesboro is charged with fleeing police, obstruction and acquiring a license plate to conceal the identity of a vehicle. He also faces numerous traffic charges, including reckless driving, speeding and driving without a license or insurance.

Folks remained in jail Friday without bond.

According to arrest warrants, a Douglasville police officer tried to stop Fulks’ 2015 Dodge Dart around 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 3. The license tag on the vehicle was not assigned to Fulks, the warrants show.

Douglasville police have identified the driver who led officers on a chase through busy streets before crashing into a menswear store last weekend.

01/09/2025

Douglas County Georgia Schools will be closed on Friday.

01/09/2025

The Douglas County Georgia Schools have rescheduled Friday's HB 581 public hearing due to inclement weather. The public meeting, which is being held to discuss the district's decision to opt out of the homestead tax exemption, will take place Monday, Jan. 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the DCSS Central Office located at 11490 Veterans Memorial Highway.

01/09/2025

Move over Google. Here comes Amazon.

Douglas County officials announced Tuesday plans by Amazon Web Services to build a $5 billion campus, marking the largest investment ever made in the county. The campus is expected to create more than 250 new jobs with an average salary of $75,000.

“If this goes through, this would represent Douglas County’s largest investment ever and would be Douglas County’s largest single taxpayer,” Chris Pumphrey, president of Elevate Douglas Economic Partnership, told the Douglas County Commission.

Commissioners voted unanimously to include the project in the county’s tax incentive program with a 15-year plan.

Move over Google. Here comes Amazon.

01/09/2025

Winston residents will have to wait another month to learn the fate of a data center planned in their community.

At a joint meeting Tuesday, the Douglas County Commission and the county’s Planning and Zoning Board tabled discussion a second time on zoning and permit requests from TC Atlanta Development after the company submitted last-minute changes to its application.

“The staff does not have time to fully review and provide feedback,” said Planning and Zoning Manager Allison Duncan. “The community has not been given proper notice that there has been a change.”

Last month, the two boards held a public hearing on the developer’s requests.

Winston residents will have to wait another month to learn the fate of a data center planned in their community.

01/09/2025

Douglas County commissioners approved changes in the county’s streetlight policy Tuesday, a day after saying they needed more time to study the issue.

The commission approved a resolution setting charges for residential and commercial streetlights. The measure also allows the tax commissioner to collect those charges on annual property tax bills and keep a small percentage to cover the costs of doing so.

The fact that tax bills are being mailed led to the expedited vote, according to District 2 Commissioner Whitney Kenner Jones.

“There was no time for extra research,” she said. “We’re going to go ahead and maintain the status quo. That will give us time to review and see if that is the appropriate way to collect the charges.”

Douglas County commissioners approved changes in the county’s streetlight policy Tuesday, a day after saying they needed more time to study the issue.

01/08/2025

Road closure.

🚨UPDATE: (1/9/2025) ROAD REOPENED

Repairs have been made and Mason Creek Road has reopened.

‼️Please be advised, Mason Creek Road at Post Road is temporarily closed due to a gas leak.

Emergency crews have responded to the scene. Expect delays if traveling in the area or select an alternate route, if possible.

Stay tuned for additional updates.

01/08/2025

Stay tune for updates.

The Douglas County School System prioritizes the safety and well-being of its students, families of our students, and staff. We are closely monitoring the potential for inclement weather conditions throughout the week. If conditions require adjustments such as delays, early dismissals, or closures, we will promptly notify you through our school communication channels. These updates will be provided through School Messenger, Remind, or by text.

Thank you for your understanding as we prioritize the safety and well being of our school community.

El Sistema Escolar del Condado de Douglas tiene como prioridad la seguridad y el bienestar de sus estudiantes, las familias de nuestros estudiantes y el personal. Estamos vigilando de cerca la posibilidad de que haya condiciones climáticas adversas durante toda la semana. Si las condiciones requieren ajustes como retrasos, despidos anticipados o cierres, le notificaremos rápidamente a través de nuestros canales de comunicación escolar. Estas actualizaciones se proporcionarán a través de School Messenger, Remind o por texto.

Gracias por su comprensión mientras priorizamos la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestra comunidad escolar.

01/06/2025

The founder of a local ministry recently crossed an impressive threshold.

Just before the end of the year, The Cross 123 Ministry, created by Douglas County resident Ron Watson, distributed its millionth aluminum cross.

“It’s been unbelievable,” said Watson, who has become known by many as the Cross Man. “We hit a number I never believed we’d hit.”

“I’m just blown away,” he added. “I truly am.”

Watson never leaves home without filling his pockets with the shiny miniatures. He places them into people’s hands during conversations and always leaves a few on restaurant tables where he’s enjoyed a meal. You can find jars filled with them in about 50 local businesses.

The founder of a local ministry recently crossed an impressive threshold.

01/04/2025

American Legion Jeepers Meeting this Sunday at noon. Show up and support a great organization.
David Padgett

01/03/2025

Please help welcome Douglas County's newest resident. Wellstar Douglas Medical Center announced its first baby of 2025 with the birth of Ja'Lonnie Jorjiana Taplin early Wednesday morning. Douglasville couple Tyra Crosby and Fabian Taplin Jr., welcomed their daughter into the world at 3:35 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Baby Ja’Lonnie weighed six pounds, 8.8 ounces and was 20 inches.

01/03/2025

Community Bingo Extended thru 1/31/25
Shop & Win!

12/29/2024

We extend our condolences to the Carter family.

Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president who served one term and went on to become a globe-trotting elder statesman and humanitarian icon, has died. He was 100.

Read more: https://cnn.it/3Pf8Wk3