Local

Nick Patel (left), Lake City Hotels Chief Operating Officer, the management company and owner of TownePlace Suites by Marriott, addresses the audience during Tuesday afternoon’s grand opening ceremony for the hotel. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Nick Patel (left), Lake City Hotels Chief Operating Officer, the management company and owner of TownePlace Suites by Marriott, addresses the audience during Tuesday afternoon’s grand opening ceremony for the hotel. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

TownePlace’s ‘suite’ opening

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Lake City’s newest extended stay hotel extended its hospitality to the entire community Tuesday during a grand opening event.
Lake Shore Hospital Board Trustee Lory Chancy said Tuesday that she thinks the agreement with Palms Medical Group to run a health clinic is ‘extraordinary’ and ‘wonderful.’ (FILE)

Lake Shore Hospital Board Trustee Lory Chancy said Tuesday that she thinks the agreement with Palms Medical Group to run a health clinic is ‘extraordinary’ and ‘wonderful.’ (FILE)

Lake Shore approves Palms pact for clinic

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
A health clinic is coming to the downtown Lake Shore Hospital Authority campus. During a special meeting Tuesday, the LSHA board unanimously approved a construction and operation agreement with Palms Medical Group to run an Authority-owned clinic in the former physical therapy building.
Don Kennedy, a Lake Shore Hospital Authority trustee, said he doesn’t want to hear of any interest from the City of Lake City in LSHA property until after the zoning conflict over the main hospital building has been resolved. (FILE)

Don Kennedy, a Lake Shore Hospital Authority trustee, said he doesn’t want to hear of any interest from the City of Lake City in LSHA property until after the zoning conflict over the main hospital building has been resolved. (FILE)

City interested in Authority property? Trustees don’t want to hear about it

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
The City of Lake City may have interest in various Lake Shore Hospital Authority properties, but the LSHA board wants to hear nothing about it. At least for now.
Columbia County Fire Rescue Capt. Jessica Islam, the community paramedic for the department, inventories medical supplies that she utilizes while working with local patients. The program, which launched less than a year ago, has served more than 120 patients and has a waiting list. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Fire Rescue Capt. Jessica Islam, the community paramedic for the department, inventories medical supplies that she utilizes while working with local patients. The program, which launched less than a year ago, has served more than 120 patients and has a waiting list. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Community paramedic program making impact

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Columbia County Fire Rescue has implemented a program where area residents can have their primary medical needs addressed without having to utilize emergency medical services or 911.
Lake City’s Lindsey Langston is competing in the Maxim Cover Girl Competition, advancing to the semifinal round of online voting. (COURTESY)

Lake City’s Lindsey Langston is competing in the Maxim Cover Girl Competition, advancing to the semifinal round of online voting. (COURTESY)

Eyeing Maxim cover: Lake City’s Langston competing for cover girl title

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Already known as Miss United States, Lake City’s Lindsey Langston is hoping to add the title of Maxim cover girl to her resume. Langston is currently competing in a semifinal round of the Maxim Cover Girl Competition. The semifinal round, which is based on online public voting at https://vip.
Lake City Manager Don Rosenthal speaks during Monday’s meeting after earlier having to be restrained from confronting Sylvester Warren. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Manager Don Rosenthal speaks during Monday’s meeting after earlier having to be restrained from confronting Sylvester Warren. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Manager nearly boils over in heated meeting

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
A testy exchange between an outspoken resident and the Lake City Council nearly concluded with a physical confrontation. Instead, the evening ended with an apology and several statements of disappointment.

Young resigns as city’s growth director

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
The Lake City Growth Management Department will be looking for a new administrator after its director submitted his resignation. David Young, the head of the Growth Management Department, officially submitted his resignation from the position on Friday in a letter to City Manager Don Rosenthal.
Alexa DeMarco (standing left) and Tracy Lock (standing right) help Cyrilla Matthews, 4, and Atlas Matthews, 5, during the workshop. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Alexa DeMarco (standing left) and Tracy Lock (standing right) help Cyrilla Matthews, 4, and Atlas Matthews, 5, during the workshop. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Library helps students become Gene-iuses

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Whether a person has freckles or can bend their tongue like a taco, not to mention the color of their hair or eyes are all components of the genes they inherited from their parents.
Lake City Councilman Ricky Jernigan apologized Monday for offending Florida Gateway College staff over previous comments regarding its enrollment. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Councilman Ricky Jernigan apologized Monday for offending Florida Gateway College staff over previous comments regarding its enrollment. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Jernigan apologizes for offending FGC staff

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Following comments made at the Lake City Council’s March 10 meeting regarding his alma mater, Councilman Ricky Jernigan offered apologies to Florida Gateway College on Monday.