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Dr. Charles Hall laughs during his retirement celebration at Florida Gateway College in 2015. Hall, accompanied by his wife, Robin, had served as the college president for 18 years. (FILE)

Dr. Charles Hall laughs during his retirement celebration at Florida Gateway College in 2015. Hall, accompanied by his wife, Robin, had served as the college president for 18 years. (FILE)

Hall recalled for vision in leading college

TONY BRITT
Friday, February 21, 2025
A visionary educator, who was known for fostering personal relationships and who helped take the local community college to state college status, retired Florida Gateway College President Dr. Charles ‘Chuck’ Hall died on Thursday. Arrangements for Hall’s funeral were not finalized by press time.
Columbia County Commission Chairman Tim Murphy said the county would do everything it can to try to stop Live Local Act developments from occurring here. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Commission Chairman Tim Murphy said the county would do everything it can to try to stop Live Local Act developments from occurring here. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County: No tax break, but no 'say'

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, February 21, 2025
The Live Local Act should actually have been dubbed the Bypass Local Act according to Columbia County officials.

Rural bill includes ‘big win’ for area counties

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, February 21, 2025
A bill aimed at boosting Florida’s “rural renaissance” includes a “big win” for Columbia County. Filed by Sen. Corey Simon (R-Tallahassee) on Wednesday, the Rural Renaissance bill includes $197.4 million in increased funding for programs aimed at helping rural counties grow and develop.
Columbia County Attorney Joel Foreman said the county would be responsible for transaction costs in accepting property from the Lake Shore Hospital Authority. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Attorney Joel Foreman said the county would be responsible for transaction costs in accepting property from the Lake Shore Hospital Authority. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County accepts LSHA buildings, property

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, February 21, 2025
The Columbia County Commission is willing to accept property from the Lake Shore Hospital Authority. After the LSHA board approved donating its administrative building and records storage building as well as some vacant land and parking lots to the county at its Feb.
Columbia County Commissioner Rocky Ford said he wanted to discuss proposed RV park restrictions because they may be a ‘little overboard’ in places. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Commissioner Rocky Ford said he wanted to discuss proposed RV park restrictions because they may be a ‘little overboard’ in places. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Commission delays ‘significant’ RV park changes

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, February 21, 2025
“Significant” changes to Columbia County’s regulations on RV parks and campgrounds will wait another month.

Lake City man sentenced 10 years for selling meth

NEWS STAFF
Friday, February 21, 2025
A Lake City man will spend more than 10 years in federal prison for selling methamphetamine. Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan sentenced 52-year-old Jeremy Roldan to 10 years and four months for selling 50 grams or more of a substance or mixture containing methamphetamine, the U.S.
Debra Griffin speaks to the Lake City Council about saving the historic Club House on Lake Isabella at Tuesday’s meeting. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Debra Griffin speaks to the Lake City Council about saving the historic Club House on Lake Isabella at Tuesday’s meeting. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

City aims to save Club House

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
As Debra Griffin implored the Lake City Council to save the historic Club House on Lake Isabella, she asked for some audience interaction.
Michael Cavendish with Cavendish Partners told the Lake City Council that the payments to former City Manager Paul Dyal were ‘invalid.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Michael Cavendish with Cavendish Partners told the Lake City Council that the payments to former City Manager Paul Dyal were ‘invalid.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Council moving forward on Dyal severance

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
The Lake City Council is getting additional guidance before determining how to proceed with any attempt to possibly recoup severance pay made to its former city manager.

Armed teen runs, but can’t hide

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
A Lake City man ran Tuesday but was unable to hide from law enforcement. According to the Lake City Police Department, an armed 19-year-old Da’zarin Johnson fled from a vehicle Tuesday afternoon after a disturbance at Cedar Park Apartments.
Cameron Myers with Fox Lagoon speaks to the Lake City Council about his proposal to turn city-owned property into a ‘high-end’ tourist development. The council later authorized a study on the property to be used for its wastewater system instead of that project and a potential housing development. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Cameron Myers with Fox Lagoon speaks to the Lake City Council about his proposal to turn city-owned property into a ‘high-end’ tourist development. The council later authorized a study on the property to be used for its wastewater system instead of that project and a potential housing development. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

City dismisses projects for wastewater property

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
The City of Lake City is sitting on a gold mine with property planned for part of its wastewater system.