Local

Columbia County Commission Chairman Tim Murphy (left) and Commissioner Rocky Ford (right) engage in a back-and-forth shouting match during Thursday’s meeting over the sale of the wastewater treatment plant at the North Florida Mega Industrial Park to the City of Lake City. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Roger Little (far right), Eastside principal, addresses the audience during the school’s open house event on Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

All of Columbia County, as well as Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette counties, are in exceptional drought. (U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR)

Columbia County Economic Development Advisory Board member Jeff Simmons said that he wants to negotiate the contract with Retail Strategies to iron out some details. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City police officer Greg Burnsed salutes pictures of fallen first responders after placing a flower in honor of them at last year’s Public Safety Memorial. (FILE)

Columbia County Planner Seth Lane said he’d prefer people call to get advice on what they can do on property before they buy it than tell them it can’t be built on after the fact. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Third grade students at Niblack Elementary practice measuring by making their own trail mix through the nutrition lessons taught by UF/IFAS Extension Columbia County during PE classes at the school. (COURTESY UF/IFAS EXTENSION COLUMBIA COUNTY)