Local

Donald Hollingsworth (right) opened up Holly Electric 30 years ago with help from his family. His son, Donald II (left), is now an equal partner in the Lake City-based business. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Donald Hollingsworth (right) opened up Holly Electric 30 years ago with help from his family. His son, Donald II (left), is now an equal partner in the Lake City-based business. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Holly Electric celebrates 30th anniversary

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Three decades ago a local electrician started a business with a goal to provide a quality service and give back to the community.
The Gainesville Police Department honored 12 Columbia County deputies and six communication officers on Friday with Police Service Awards for their help in capturing a fleeing murder suspect last year. (COURTESY)

The Gainesville Police Department honored 12 Columbia County deputies and six communication officers on Friday with Police Service Awards for their help in capturing a fleeing murder suspect last year. (COURTESY)

Gainesville PD honors local deputies, dispatchers

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
A dozen Columbia County deputies and six more dispatchers have been honored for their help in capturing a fleeing Gainesville murder suspect last year.
Lake Shore Hospital Authority Trustee Jerry Bullard said he wanted to use the bid process to dispose of an 11.2-acre parcel on the eastern side of the downtown campus. (FILE)

Lake Shore Hospital Authority Trustee Jerry Bullard said he wanted to use the bid process to dispose of an 11.2-acre parcel on the eastern side of the downtown campus. (FILE)

LSHA looks for bids on property

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
The Lake Shore Hospital Authority is now accepting bids on land on the eastern edge of its downtown Lake City campus. During a brief meeting Monday night, the LSHA board unanimously approved to accept sealed bids for the next 30 days on 11.2 acres of land off NE Lake Drive.
Shanetha Anthony (from left) and Damarrick Hendon, look through Eastside Elementary School items that were pulled from a time capsule to the school’s final walkthrough on Thursday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Shanetha Anthony (from left) and Damarrick Hendon, look through Eastside Elementary School items that were pulled from a time capsule to the school’s final walkthrough on Thursday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Trip down memory lane: Former students enjoy time back at Eastside

TONY BRITT
Friday, June 6, 2025
Bulldozers and other heavy machinery were parked in several different spots around the Eastside Elementary School campus on Thursday afternoon, but people ignored the obvious signs of demolition on campus and headed to their old familiar spaces.
County Attorney Joel Foreman said the $565,789 settlement for the land acquisition was a good deal, noting eminent domain would wind up costing the county a lot more. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County Attorney Joel Foreman said the $565,789 settlement for the land acquisition was a good deal, noting eminent domain would wind up costing the county a lot more. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

$500K land acquisition sours county on paving dirt roads

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, June 6, 2025
Spending more than $500,000 to acquire property to convert dirt roads to paved ones was a “hard pill to swallow” for the Columbia County Commission. It’s one the commission doesn’t aim to have to do again.
Columbia County Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan updated the Rotary Club of Lake City on Thursday about this year’s hurricane season, which is expected to be above normal. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan updated the Rotary Club of Lake City on Thursday about this year’s hurricane season, which is expected to be above normal. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Morgan updates on active storm season expected

TONY BRITT
Friday, June 6, 2025
Columbia County was impacted by several hurricanes during active storms seasons in 2023 and again in 2024.
County Manager David Kraus said the county needs to work on improving its medical response, including on-scene time. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County Manager David Kraus said the county needs to work on improving its medical response, including on-scene time. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County could use grant to add firefighters/EMTs

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, June 6, 2025
Columbia County Fire Rescue and the Columbia County Commissioners are hoping to utilize grant funding to expand its fire and emergency response services.
Diana Duque (left), the administrator of health for Columbia County, talks to the Columbia County Commission about proposed fee increases for services at the health department Thursday. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Diana Duque (left), the administrator of health for Columbia County, talks to the Columbia County Commission about proposed fee increases for services at the health department Thursday. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

‘Minimal’ health department fee increases approved

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, June 6, 2025
The cost of services at the Columbia County Health Department is going up. The Columbia County Commission unanimously approved fee increases for the health department at its meeting Thursday morning. “These aren’t drastic fees,” Commissioner Kevin Parnell said.
Lake Shore Hospital Authority Director Dale Williams said the LSHA is serving as a go-between between Meridian Healthcare and the City of Lake City. (FILE)

Lake Shore Hospital Authority Director Dale Williams said the LSHA is serving as a go-between between Meridian Healthcare and the City of Lake City. (FILE)

City, Lake Shore still working through zoning dispute

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, June 6, 2025
The City of Lake City and the Lake Shore Hospital Authority are once again trying to negotiate a peaceful resolution to zoning issues on the Lake Shore campus. The two entities recently exchanged emails, with LSHA Attorney Todd Kennon initiating contact on May 15.