Local

Lake City native Adam Sanders will be back in his hometown for a free concert as part of the second Downtown Showdown BBQ Cook-off next weekend. (COURTESY)

Lake City native Adam Sanders will be back in his hometown for a free concert as part of the second Downtown Showdown BBQ Cook-off next weekend. (COURTESY)

Sanders concert, people’s choice heats up Showdown

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Downtown Showdown BBQ Cook-off organizers have cooked up something new for the contest’s return. The barbecue contest, which will bring in around two dozen professional teams, will also have a new contest this year.
Branford High’s Wren Wilkerson was awarded a $16,000 annual scholarship from Faulkner University President Mitch Henry for her performance in the Zon/Lads to Leaders public speaking contest. (COURTESY)

Branford High’s Wren Wilkerson was awarded a $16,000 annual scholarship from Faulkner University President Mitch Henry for her performance in the Zon/Lads to Leaders public speaking contest. (COURTESY)

Branford High student earns scholarship to Faulkner University

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, November 2, 2024
BRANFORD — A Branford High student’s success in a speaking contest earned her a college scholarship. Wren Wilkerson traveled last month to Montgomery, Ala., to participate in the Zorn/Lads to Leaders Faulkner University public speaking contest where she was one of six finalists.
Karri Miles (from left), a DOT employee, interacts with Jaxson Trowell, five months, and his grandmother, Candace Starling, during the DOT’s trunk or treat event on Thursday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Karri Miles (from left), a DOT employee, interacts with Jaxson Trowell, five months, and his grandmother, Candace Starling, during the DOT’s trunk or treat event on Thursday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

DOT Trunk or Treat attracts crowd

TONY BRITT
Saturday, November 2, 2024
A record turnout caused the Florida Department of Transportation to speed up. FDOT launched its third annual trunk or treat event at the District 2 office early Thursday night as the costume-clad crowd arrived ahead of time too. “It was supposed to start at 6 p.m.
Robert Stuart (from left), Christopher Costello and Rick Fortney helped build 22 new beds for Columbia County children who don’t have one. (COURTESY)

Robert Stuart (from left), Christopher Costello and Rick Fortney helped build 22 new beds for Columbia County children who don’t have one. (COURTESY)

Sleep in Heavenly Peace build produces 22 beds for children

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Nearly two dozen children in Columbia County will have a bed to sleep in thanks to a donation from a Lake City attorney. Last weekend, the Lake City Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which is chartered through First Methodist Church, conducted its latest bed build as volunteers assembled 22 beds.
Columbia County Assistant County Manager Kevin Kirby (left) explains the need for an amended contract with storm cleanup contractors during an emergency county commission meeting Thursday morning. Commissioners unanimously approved the measure. Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan is in the background. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Assistant County Manager Kevin Kirby (left) explains the need for an amended contract with storm cleanup contractors during an emergency county commission meeting Thursday morning. Commissioners unanimously approved the measure. Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan is in the background. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Storm debris cleanup contract amended to pay more per cubic yard

TODD WILSON
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Storm debris contractors in Columbia County will earn more money per load removed from roadsides and have incentives to move faster each day after the agreement between contractors and the county was amended Thursday morning. Contractors now will earn $14.
De’Mari Jackson (from left), Mya Villar and Parker Spin, are all smiles while riding the carousel Tuesday morning at the Florida Gateway Fair. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

De’Mari Jackson (from left), Mya Villar and Parker Spin, are all smiles while riding the carousel Tuesday morning at the Florida Gateway Fair. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Students enjoy Fair Day

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
The Florida Gateway Fair is a smile generator. On Tuesday morning, it produced some of the biggest smiles of the year when roughly 250 Columbia School District ESE students and adults from special needs services were treated to a day at the fair.
Contractor crews working for Ceres, and contracted with Columbia County to assist with the cleanup of storm debris following Hurricane Helene, pick up stacked debris in the right of way along NW Winding Way on the county’s west side last weekend. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Contractor crews working for Ceres, and contracted with Columbia County to assist with the cleanup of storm debris following Hurricane Helene, pick up stacked debris in the right of way along NW Winding Way on the county’s west side last weekend. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

County ‘rocking and rolling’ on debris

TODD WILSON
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Debris pickup in Columbia County and Lake City continues at a methodical pace with county and city crews slowly making a dent in the brush piles stacked nearly everywhere.

Votes are counted with or without ‘ding’

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Don’t get caught up with the “ding” when casting your ballot, according to local election officials. The Image Cast Evolution machines — the vote tabulating machines — used by the Columbia County Supervisor of Elections office make an audible “ding” after one page of the ballot is submitted.
Columbia County voters wait in line last week at the Supervisor of Elections office to cast their ballots during early voting for the general election. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County voters wait in line last week at the Supervisor of Elections office to cast their ballots during early voting for the general election. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Voter turnout nears 50% in Columbia

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
After 10 days of early voting, nearly half of the eligible voters in Columbia County have cast a ballot. On Wednesday afternoon when the Reporter went to press, the Columbia County Supervisor of Elections website reported 20,818 voters had voted in the upcoming general election.