Fitzgerald, GA

Jimmy Thurman, who was indicted on one count of aggravated battery in 2019, has now received two additional charges for an assault he allegedly committed in 2017. Thurman was arrested on October 12, 2017, following a reported assault that occurred on October 7, 2017, on David Zanders of Douglas. Two years later, a Coffee County grand jury indicted Thurman on the charge, which accused him of "maliciously causing bodily harm to David Zanders by punching him in the face and breaking bones in the jaw, rendering his jaw temporarily useless."

Yesterday, Albany was 1° shy of a record high. It was the warmest day since July 1st, 2012. Valdosta got to 102°, its warmest day in 3 years. Tifton got to 101, its warmest day in 11 years (or June 15th, 2011). Moultrie got to 100 degrees for the first time since June 7th, 2011.

PITTS, Ga. - State investigators said a man has been arrested after a two-month investigation by a drug task force.a. Jimmy Lee Clack, Jr., 46, was arrested on June 17 for trafficking methamphetamine and possession of heroin. Investigators determined Clack was distributing methamphetamine from his home in Pitts, Georgia. The...

Former Willacoochee mayor, Atkinson County commissioner, and South Georgia’s biggest champion Marion “Lace” Futch, age 83, passed away Friday morning, June 17, 2022, in Savannah following a brief illness. Lace, as he was known to all, was a lifelong resident of Willacoochee, Georgia. He was born October...

PITTS — On Friday, June 17, 2022, the GBI Southwestern Regional Drug Enforcement Office and Wilcox County Sheriff’s Office arrested 46-year-old Jimmy Lee Clack Jr. on accusations of trafficking methamphetamine and possession of heroin. The GBI, Wilcox County Sheriff’s Office, Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office and Crisp County...

The City of Douglas, First National Bank of Coffee County, and other partners will host the 2022 Freedom Fest celebration on Monday, July 4. The Independence Day celebration will be held at JC Adams Municipal Park - Jardine Stadium. The gates will open at 5 P.M. and stadium seating will be provided.

A local 20-year-old is now facing serious charges after he allegedly assaulted his mother by hitting her with a silver pot approximately 30 times and choking her for several minutes. The suspect, Tydarius Lester of Douglas, referred to himself as "the God and the Devil" during the reported attack. According...

There are a number of Fourth of July events across the WALB viewing area to mark Independence Day this year. The City of Albany will have its Independence Day celebration and fireworks event at Veterans Park Amphitheatre in downtown Albany. The concert begins at 5:30 p.m. There will be performances by Larry Malloy at 6 p.m., Riley Anderson at 7 p.m. and G&S Experience at 8 p.m. The fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.

Every child dreams of making it big one day. Every kid in the world has at one point or another had visions of grandeur and of them becoming the next big star. For a Willacoochee native, that dream is coming true. Willacoochee and Atkinson County were represented in a big...

TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) - A Tifton man was sentenced to over a decade in prison for trafficking heroin from Atlanta to south Georgia, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia. Joshua Gannon Deanda, 24, was sentenced to over 12 years in prison. In November...

A Tifton man who led police on a high-speed chase has been sentenced to prison for trafficking heroin to south central Georgia. 24-year-old Joshua Gannon Deanda, was sentenced to twelve and a half years in prison resulting from his role actively trafficking large quantities of heroin into South Central Georgia from sources in metro Atlanta. Deanda was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson on June 21 after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin.

VALDOSTA, Ga. (WRBL) — A man from Tifton, Georgia, was sentenced to twelve and a half years in prison for his role in trafficking heroine from metro Atlanta to South Georgia. Joshua Gannon Deanda, 24, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin. He was sentenced to 150 months on June 21. In October of […]

PEARSON – A GBI investigation into numerous armed robberies of multiple Hispanics resulted in two arrests. The GBI has arrested and charged Ashton Hamilton, 18, of Pearson, GA, with Armed Robbery and Mica’enya Jordan, 19, of Douglas, GA, with Criminal Attempt to Commit Armed Robbery. Roderick Hillman, 17, of Douglas, GA, was also charged with Armed Robbery and is wanted. On Tuesday, June 14, 2022, the Pearson Police Department requested the GBI investigate numerous armed robberies that had occurred over the course of at least a month.

PEARSON – A Douglas man has been arrested and charged by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with Felony Murder. The GBI has arrested and charged Marcus Hunt, 43, of Douglas, Georgia, with Felony Murder and Aggravated Assault. On Wednesday, June 15, 2022, the Pearson Police Department requested the GBI to conduct a death investigation.

TIFTON—Break out the red, white, and blue on July 2 when visitors can celebrate their patriotic pride at the Wiregrass Freedom Festival at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Georgia Museum of Agriculture. Ride the 1914 Vulcan Steam Train into the Historic Village and enjoy numerous entertaining games and contests...

LAKELAND – The GBI are investigation a shooting death and the aggravated assault of three men who were shot at while traveling on Hwy 221 in Lanier County. The GBI Douglas Regional Office was requested by the Lanier County Sheriff’s Office to conduct a death and aggravated assault investigation.

On Father's Day (June 19), Jennifer Nettles opened up to fans about a personal family loss that she recently went through: Her father died just over a month ago. "I'm often private about certain sacred pieces of my life and I share them as, and if, I am ready," the singer shared on social media, explaining why she waited to share the news. "My daddy, Beamon Nettles, died last month on May 14."

One of the suspects who allegedly committed numerous armed robberies in Atkinson County, 18-year-old Ashton Zane Hamilton, has now received additional charges in Douglas in connection to a similar local burglary that occurred this month. DouglasNow has also learned Hamilton has a history with local law enforcement, having been arrested numerous times over the last year and was on probation at the time of his arrest.