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Columbia County Sheriff-Elect Wallace Kitchings said his top goal when he takes office in January is to make Columbia County a safer place to live. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Sheriff-Elect Wallace Kitchings said his top goal when he takes office in January is to make Columbia County a safer place to live. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

New sheriff Kitchings aims to make county safer, develop leaders

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, December 27, 2024
The new year will bring Columbia County a new sheriff with some new goals and ideas. Wallace Kitchings, who was elected the county’s new sheriff in August, said he isn’t trying to change the world when he officially takes office January 7 following his January 6 swearing in.
Rocky the Elf is pictured with Evangeline and Rowan McKenna during the special Christmas parade organized for Evangeline, who has been battling cancer for five years. (MONJA SLATER/Lake City Reporter)

Rocky the Elf is pictured with Evangeline and Rowan McKenna during the special Christmas parade organized for Evangeline, who has been battling cancer for five years. (MONJA SLATER/Lake City Reporter)

Spirit shines bright with parade for Evangeline

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, December 27, 2024
LIVE OAK — The offer of a small, uplifting gift turned into a huge display of Christmas spirit.
A sign outside the Lake City Big Lots store declares it is ‘closing.’ The Lake City location is expected to remain open for a few more months until the inventory is all sold. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

A sign outside the Lake City Big Lots store declares it is ‘closing.’ The Lake City location is expected to remain open for a few more months until the inventory is all sold. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Big Lots going out of business

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 27, 2024
While the sale of a major retailer is currently on hold, its Lake City location is still planning on going out of business soon. Its prices reflect that as well.
Rocky the Elf (Berry Raulerson) and Mann look out from the roof of Walt’s Live Oak Ford last weekend. (MONJA SLATER/Lake City Reporter)

Rocky the Elf (Berry Raulerson) and Mann look out from the roof of Walt’s Live Oak Ford last weekend. (MONJA SLATER/Lake City Reporter)

Rocky raises more than $6K on Walt’s roof

TONY BRITT
Friday, December 27, 2024
The alter ego of a Suwannee County school resource deputy was able to pull the community together to collect donations and financial contributions for local children.
Kimberly Belcher (from left), Santa, and John Cole pack a bag with toys during the Kids Feeding Kids Grinch Christmas event on Sunday evening. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Kimberly Belcher (from left), Santa, and John Cole pack a bag with toys during the Kids Feeding Kids Grinch Christmas event on Sunday evening. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

The Grinch that gave Christmas

TONY BRITT
Monday, December 23, 2024
There’s no magic like Christmas magic. What other time of the year would children willingly give up their Sunday afternoon to be in line at school?
Trudie Johns gets a hug from Joseph Simmons, who portrayed Santa Claus on Sunday afternoon when members of the Our Community Cares Coalition visited residents at The Canopy at Harper Lake. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Trudie Johns gets a hug from Joseph Simmons, who portrayed Santa Claus on Sunday afternoon when members of the Our Community Cares Coalition visited residents at The Canopy at Harper Lake. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Our Community Cares shares Christmas spirit

TONY BRITT
Monday, December 23, 2024
The Christmas spirit is contagious where laughter, fellowship and goodwill toward others exemplify the holiday season.
Honored for their work with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in 2024 at the agency’s annual Christmas party and awards ceremony were Lt. Ronnie Daniels (from left), Dale Tanksley (Detention Officer of the Year), Hope Crawford (Non-Sworn Employee of the Year), Sheriff Mark Hunter, Jennier Cason (Detective of the Year) and Michael Rooney (Deputy of the Year). Not pictured are Skip Bunner (Volunteer of the Year) and Cathy Davis, who also were recognized. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

Honored for their work with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in 2024 at the agency’s annual Christmas party and awards ceremony were Lt. Ronnie Daniels (from left), Dale Tanksley (Detention Officer of the Year), Hope Crawford (Non-Sworn Employee of the Year), Sheriff Mark Hunter, Jennier Cason (Detective of the Year) and Michael Rooney (Deputy of the Year). Not pictured are Skip Bunner (Volunteer of the Year) and Cathy Davis, who also were recognized. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

CCSO honors top employees

NEWS STAFF
Monday, December 23, 2024
Several members of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office were honored last week for their work throughout the past year.
Tyler Hilton, a sushi chef at The Tavern, rolls up some sushi Friday afternoon as part of the Ribs and Rolls lunch special. Among that lunch menu is the Cowboy Roll, which is made with brisket, cream cheese, barbecue sauce and green Sriracha and then is deep fried. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Tyler Hilton, a sushi chef at The Tavern, rolls up some sushi Friday afternoon as part of the Ribs and Rolls lunch special. Among that lunch menu is the Cowboy Roll, which is made with brisket, cream cheese, barbecue sauce and green Sriracha and then is deep fried. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Tavern ‘rolls’ out lunch

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, December 20, 2024
The latest lunch craze has rolled into downtown Lake City. The Tavern recently unveiled its new lunch special, Ribs and Rolls. While the reception has admittedly been somewhat modest, according to general manager Riley Robbins, there haven’t been any complaints so far of the new offerings, either.

Reporter marks 150 years of continuous publication

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 20, 2024
This week, the Lake City Reporter embarks on a year-long journey marking the newspaper’s 150th year of being in business serving readers and the business community in Lake City and Columbia County. The Reporter was founded in late 1874 by C.A.