Local

Columbia County residents survey the damage to a home in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Helene made landfall on Sept. 26 before knocking out power for more than 99% of Columbia County residents. (FILE)

Columbia County residents survey the damage to a home in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Helene made landfall on Sept. 26 before knocking out power for more than 99% of Columbia County residents. (FILE)

Weather, elections top list of impactful events in 2024

NEWS STAFF
Monday, December 30, 2024
Both the familiar and unexpected were part of an action-packed 2024 year. From the unpredictability of election upsets and receiving impacts from a pair of hurricanes to the long-planned improvements to local schools and infrastructure, these were our top 10 stories from the past year.   1.
Meally Jenkins (from left), Christmas Dream Machine founder and director and Janet Stanford, Christmas Dream Machine treasurer and secretary, helped collect toys for 670 kids for Christmas this year. (FILE)

Meally Jenkins (from left), Christmas Dream Machine founder and director and Janet Stanford, Christmas Dream Machine treasurer and secretary, helped collect toys for 670 kids for Christmas this year. (FILE)

Dream Machine provides Christmas for 670

TONY BRITT
Monday, December 30, 2024
The Christmas Dream Machine recently finished its 36th Christmas by serving more than 600 local children for Christmas in 2024. “We did 670 children,” said Meally Jenkins, Christmas Dream Machine founder and director. “We had a very successful year. More children than we had last year.

Reporter schedule shifting this week

NEWS STAFF
Monday, December 30, 2024
The New Year’s holiday will mean a shift in production schedule for the Lake City Reporter. Readers will receive an edition today on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, and again on Saturday, Jan. 4. The shift in production schedule is due to the U.S.
Landon Harper conducts an inventory count on fireworks at the Columbia FFA program’s fireworks tent. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Landon Harper conducts an inventory count on fireworks at the Columbia FFA program’s fireworks tent. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

FFA selling New Year’s Eve fireworks

NEWS STAFF
Monday, December 30, 2024
Local FFA Chapters are holding their annual fireworks fundraiser in the Walmart parking lot through the end of the 2024. The fireworks stand will be opened daily from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. from Saturday-Monday and will be opened from 9 a.m.-midnight on Tuesday, Dec. 31.
Pending the approval of its sale, Big Lots could keep between 200-400 stores open. (FILE)

Pending the approval of its sale, Big Lots could keep between 200-400 stores open. (FILE)

Big Lots sale could keep stores open

NEWS STAFF
Monday, December 30, 2024
Big Lots may not be going out of business after all. The company, which announced two weeks ago that its previously announced sale to Nexus Capital Management was not likely to be completed, has instead agreed to a sale with Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, they announced late Friday.
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.