Local

Columbia School District Director of Transportation Daniel Taylor (from left), Clarence Tucker, School Board Member Narri Smith and Superintendent Keith Couey pose after Tucker was honored for saving a student’s life with CPR. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia School District Director of Transportation Daniel Taylor (from left), Clarence Tucker, School Board Member Narri Smith and Superintendent Keith Couey pose after Tucker was honored for saving a student’s life with CPR. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

School bus driver honored for saving life

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
During the season of giving, Columbia County School Board members acknowledged that the greatest gift is the gift of life, honoring a district bus driver who saved a student’s life last month. On the morning of Thursday, Nov.
The local FEMA center will be closing after discussions by multiple entities. (FILE)

The local FEMA center will be closing after discussions by multiple entities. (FILE)

Local FEMA center closing

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
The local FEMA help center will be closing next week. FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center in the old Lake City Reporter building in Lake City will be demobilized on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
Mike Ziegler (left) holds a wreath for the POW/MIA memorial as he is saluted by Robert Mixon during the local Wreaths Across America event in 2022. (FILE)

Mike Ziegler (left) holds a wreath for the POW/MIA memorial as he is saluted by Robert Mixon during the local Wreaths Across America event in 2022. (FILE)

‘Wreaths’ ceremony set to return

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Veterans from American Legion Post 57 will participate in a Wreaths Across American event in Lake City on National Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, paying homage to fallen veterans. The event will take place at noon in Olustee Park in downtown Lake City.
Former State Rep. Bobby Payne (top) speaks during the NFWUA meeting Wednesday in front of Leo Mobley, a board member. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Former State Rep. Bobby Payne (top) speaks during the NFWUA meeting Wednesday in front of Leo Mobley, a board member. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Utility group hiring ex-lawmaker consultant

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
The North Florida Water Utilities Authority has brought in some additional help while it continues to look for a director. During its meeting Wednesday, the NFWUA board unanimously approved hiring former State Rep. Bobby Payne as a consultant to put together a business plan for the Authority.

United Way challenged to raise $50K

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
The United Way of Suwannee Valley is facing a financially fun challenge to raise $50,000 within a week in order for a private donor to match the amount with his own contribution. During a United Way of Suwannee Valley Giving Tuesday event Dec.
Santa Claus and one of his elves welcome a pair of children at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Olustee Park Sunday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Santa Claus and one of his elves welcome a pair of children at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Olustee Park Sunday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Tree lighting ceremony draws hundreds to downtown Lake City

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
For several hundred people, this year’s Christmas holiday season officially began Sunday evening when they gathered in Olustee Park for the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
County crews and contractors have picked up roughly 247,000 cubic yards of debris from Hurricane Helene. (FILE)

County crews and contractors have picked up roughly 247,000 cubic yards of debris from Hurricane Helene. (FILE)

County’s Helene cleanup complete

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Additional federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Helene won’t be needed by Columbia County.
Anita Rembert, the CEO of Palms Medical Group, talks with the Lake Shore Hospital Authority board Monday about Palms’ proposal to operate an Authority-owned primary care clinic. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Anita Rembert, the CEO of Palms Medical Group, talks with the Lake Shore Hospital Authority board Monday about Palms’ proposal to operate an Authority-owned primary care clinic. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

LSHA moving ahead with Palms clinic

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
A primary care clinic could be coming to the Lake Shore Hospital campus. During its meeting Monday, the Lake Shore Hospital Authority trustees unanimously supported a proposal from Palms Medical Group in operating the health clinic, which would be owned by the Authority.
Lake Shore Hospital Authority Trustee Brandon Beil said Monday he couldn’t completely understand what the Columbia County Commission was doing in its push to fast track the potential disbanding of the hospital board. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Lake Shore Hospital Authority Trustee Brandon Beil said Monday he couldn’t completely understand what the Columbia County Commission was doing in its push to fast track the potential disbanding of the hospital board. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Hospital board questions county motives in push for dissolution

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
While the Columbia County Commission moves forward with plans to dissolve it, the Lake Shore Hospital Authority board aims to keep doing its job. At its meeting Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
Lake City Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Ret Tompkins (from left), Greg Sund, Daniel Dohrn, Trent Kreienheder, Dustin Alford and Chief Josh Wehinger are part of the newly formed honor guard. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Lake City Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Ret Tompkins (from left), Greg Sund, Daniel Dohrn, Trent Kreienheder, Dustin Alford and Chief Josh Wehinger are part of the newly formed honor guard. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

LCFD implementing honor guard

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
The Lake City Fire Department has recently added an honor guard to its ranks to help fire departments that are dealing with deaths and other tragedies. Lake City Fire Chief Josh Wehinger said forming an honor guard has been in the works for about two years.