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Douglas County Sentinel, 8501 Bowden Street, Douglasville, GA (2026)

06/17/2026

City of Douglasville - Government officials have announced a three-show fall concert series featuring an Earth, Wind & Fire tribute band, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Marsha Ambrosius and country music star Jo Dee Messina.
The series begins Aug. 8 with September in the Park, followed by Ambrosius on Sept. 12 and Messina on Oct. 10. The shows will be held at the GreyStone Amphitheater at the Douglasville Town Green.
All concerts are free, but registration is required and limited to two tickets per person.

Douglasville officials have announced a three-show fall concert series featuring an Earth, Wind & Fire tribute band, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Marsha Ambrosius and country music star Jo Dee Messina.

06/17/2026

Getting an item before the Douglas County Commission may be easier than commissioners thought.During Tuesday's work session, county attorney L'Erin Wiggins told commissioners that county ordinance requires only one commissioner to sponsor an agenda.

Getting an item before the Douglas County Commission may be easier than commissioners thought.

06/16/2026

A Douglas County couple already facing charges in an alleged fraud operation now are accused of murder in the death of an Atlanta man whose body was found in Dog River Reservoir last month.

Mario Andre Barker, 46, and Brittany Amber Baker, 42, were charged Monday with murder in the death of Jamal Parker, 37, of Atlanta, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators have not disclosed how Parker was killed or what evidence led to the murder charges.

Parker's body was discovered May 15 by workers assisting with an expansion project at Dog Creek Reservoir near Georgia Highway 166 in southeastern Douglas County. Sheriff's officials said the body had to be identified through DNA analysis conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

A Douglas County couple already facing charges in an alleged fraud operation now are accused of murder in the death of an Atlanta man whose body was found in Dog

06/15/2026

There is no disputing the impact that Douglasville native Elana Meyers Taylor has had on sports, especially the involvement of women in sports.

It comes as no surprise that she would be honored for her influence.

The six-time Olympic medalist was named to the list of The 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026 by Time magazine.

There is no disputing the impact that Douglasville native Elana Meyers Taylor has had on sports, especially the involvement of women in sports.

06/15/2026

The Douglasville Police Department is reporting an uptick in crimes involving valuable items being stolen from vehicles.

In some instances, the vehicles were not locked, according to Police Chief Dr. Gary E. Sparks.

“I know people don’t want to lock their cars because they fear thieves will bust out their windows, but we see suspects going from car to car pulling on door handles to see if they are unlocked, and in many cases, they are,” Sparks said.

Sparks calls it a crime of opportunity. The criminal spots a valuable item and takes it, whether it’s a laptop, gun, purse, or wallet, all items that are commonly stolen, according to Sparks.

“Let’s stop the opportunity, by taking your items inside,” he said.

Entering auto crimes can happen anywhere - at the mall, grocery store, church, or any other public place, as well as apartment complexes and subdivisions, Sparks added.

The Douglasville Police Department is reporting an uptick in crimes involving valuable items being stolen from vehicles.

06/12/2026

A Lithia Springs man was arrested Thursday after he violated a court order that he not have contact with a victim while free on bond from a previous battery case.

Ryan Phillip Bowens, 28, is charged with aggravated stalking in the latest incident. He made his first court appearance Friday where he was ordered held without bond.

According to arrest warrants from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Bowen texted the victim and placed a GPS tracker on her vehicle, both violations of an earlier court order that he not have contact with her.

A Lithia Springs man was arrested Thursday after he violated a court order that he not have contact with a victim while free on bond from a previous battery case.

06/12/2026

Douglasville officials have identified nearly $38.4 million in road, sidewalk and intersection projects that could be funded if voters approve a proposed countywide transportation sales tax in November.

City Council members are set to consider the projects Monday after reviewing the list during a work session Thursday.

If approved by voters, the new 1-cent Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax is projected to raise $160 million over six years. Those funds would be divided among Douglas County and the cities of Douglasville, Villa Rica and Austell.

The county would receive $113.4 million, while Douglasville would net $38.4 million. Villa Rica and Austell would receive $8.5 million and $810,000, respectively.

Douglas County currently does not have a transportation sales tax. Residents will vote on the proposed tax during the Nov. 3 general election.

Douglasville officials have identified nearly $38.4 million in road, sidewalk and intersection projects that could be funded if voters approve a proposed countywide transportation sales tax in November.

06/12/2026

Douglasville officials are set to consider a 10-year, $7 million contract Monday that would provide tasers, body and dash cameras and other equipment for the city’s police officers.

The agreement with Axon Enterprise combines taser and camera services already received by the city.

It adds a virtual reality training system, storage capacity and drones in a deal that will save the city nearly more than a half million dollars over the life of the agreement versus buying the services separately, according to Deputy Chief J.R. Davidson.
The contract includes free software updates plus extended warranties for hardware and software. Police officials will have the option of cancelling the contract at the end of each year.

The city’s current contract with Axon is set to expire at the end of the month.

Douglasville officials are set to consider a 10-year, $7 million contract Monday that would provide tasers, body and dash cameras and other equipment for the city’s police officers.

06/12/2026

A Douglas County mother was indicted Wednesday on child cruelty charges after police said she left her six children home alone in unsanitary conditions, including a 1-year-old who had no food and was seen eating insects.

Sherry Magby, 37, faces six counts of cruelty to children after being arrested April 2. Douglas County Chief Superior Court Judge Cynthia Adams not only denied her bond Wednesday but also revoked her bond from an earlier case in which she is accused of attacking her son.

According to arrest warrants from the Douglasville Police Department, Magby left her children — ranging in age from 1 to 10 — alone for more than 12 hours on March 29. Neighbors told police Magby often left her children at home without supervision, according to a report from television station WSB.

Douglasville police Det. Andre Futch testified during bond hearing about the conditions inside the home. He said he was called to the residence shortly after midnight after someone reported a dead child there.

When he arrived, he found the body of 1-year-old Jacob Stanton.

Stanton's 10-year-old brother told police Stanton had been sick and that he had put NyQuil in his bottle with milk, according to Futch. He said the brother also told police that Stanton did not have food.
Douglasville police continue to investigate Stanton’s death. No charges have been filed in that case.

A Douglas County mother was indicted Wednesday on child cruelty charges after police said she left her six children home alone in unsanitary conditions, including a 1-year-old who had no

06/10/2026

Douglas County Coroner Renee Godwin acknowledged Tuesday that at least some of her deputies managed cases without first being sworn into office as required by state law.

Godwin told the Georgia Coroners Training Council at its monthly meeting that some of her deputies operated without taking an oath from a superior court judge.
Godwin told council members that she and all of her deputies have since taken the oath of office after she learned of the requirement.

During Tuesday’s meeting, council members questioned Godwin about several possible violations, including claims that she allowed an uncertified deputy coroner to manage death cases. The council also asked about possible overstaffing and pay scales.
Godwin said she did not have records documenting compensation paid by her office for death investigations. Council members gave her 10 days to provide those records.

Douglas County Coroner Renee Godwin acknowledged Tuesday that at least some of her deputies managed cases without first being sworn into office as required by state law.

Douglas County Sentinel

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