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Lake City Councilman James Carter said Monday night that he didn’t think it was the right time to raise taxes on city property owners. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Councilman James Carter said Monday night that he didn’t think it was the right time to raise taxes on city property owners. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Council rejects 11.91% tax hike

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Lake City property owners won’t see an 11.91% tax hike after all. During its final budget hearing Monday night, the Lake City Council voted against the proposed tax increase by a 3-2 vote with Mayor Stephen Witt and Councilman Ricky Jernigan supporting the hike.
The Gateway Art Gallery is accepting entries — like this painting by Barbara Hunter — Thursday for its second Precious Pet Portrait contest. (COURTESY GATEWAY ART GALLERY)

The Gateway Art Gallery is accepting entries — like this painting by Barbara Hunter — Thursday for its second Precious Pet Portrait contest. (COURTESY GATEWAY ART GALLERY)

Gallery pet portrait contest entries due

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Do you have the greatest portrait of your precious pet? In its second Precious Pet Portrait Contest, the Gateway Art Gallery is receiving entries on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Any member, adult or child, of the Art League of North Florida, may enter with no fees.
Bernice Presley stands up during the Lake City Council’s discussion about rescinding the name of a portion of NE Railroad Street to NE Presley Lane to honor her family’s positive impact on the community. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Bernice Presley stands up during the Lake City Council’s discussion about rescinding the name of a portion of NE Railroad Street to NE Presley Lane to honor her family’s positive impact on the community. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

City rescinds street renaming

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Scolded for not doing its “homework” when it voted to rename a portion of a street name, the Lake City Council reversed course Monday night.

Georgia man killed on I-10 entrance ramp

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
A Georgia man was killed Saturday morning when he lost control trying to get on Interstate 10 in Columbia County. According to a Florida Highway Patrol release, the 20-year-old Kings Bay man lost control of his SUV on the entrance ramp to I-10 west from U.S. Highway 441 around 11:23 a.m. Saturday.
Columbia EMS, which will serve as Columbia County’s 911 emergency medical service provider starting Oct. 1, already has two trucks on the road. Among the Columbia EMS team are Toby Witt (from left), Mike Broshar, Aaron Smith and Cherie Lawrence. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia EMS, which will serve as Columbia County’s 911 emergency medical service provider starting Oct. 1, already has two trucks on the road. Among the Columbia EMS team are Toby Witt (from left), Mike Broshar, Aaron Smith and Cherie Lawrence. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia EMS is up and running

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 14, 2024
The past few weeks have been a full-circle moment for Toby Witt. As one of the co-owners of Columbia EMS, which will be Columbia County’s 911 emergency medical service provider starting Oct.

Patke quits as county’s tourism director

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 14, 2024
For the second straight year, Columbia County is looking for a tourism director. Konnie Patke, who started work for the county on Jan. 10, resigned from the position as the Tourist Development Council director, on Aug. 28, effective Sept. 10.
Construction workers form walls out of concrete to Niblack Elementary School in forms at the site. The walls will be lifted into place in early October. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SCHOOLS)

Construction workers form walls out of concrete to Niblack Elementary School in forms at the site. The walls will be lifted into place in early October. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SCHOOLS)

Niblack construction ahead of schedule

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 14, 2024
So far, so good on the new Niblack Elementary School construction.

Lake City man killed in I-10 crash

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, September 14, 2024
A Lake City man was killed Thursday evening when he lost control on Interstate 10 in Columbia County. A Florida Highway Patrol release said the 20-year-old was headed east on I-10 when his red Ford Mustang lost traction around mile marker 297 around 5:50 p.m.

City’s 11.91% tax increase up for final vote

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, September 14, 2024
The Lake City Council will consider for the final time, an 11.91% tax increase on city property owners. The city’s final budget hearing for the 2024-25 fiscal year will be held during Monday’s council meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. at Lake City Hall, 205 N. Marion Avenue.