Local

Wallace Kitchings (center) speaks on the phone after learning he’d won the race to be the next Columbia County Sheriff on Tuesday. Now, Kitchings says he’s invested in building relationships with the community. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Wallace Kitchings (center) speaks on the phone after learning he’d won the race to be the next Columbia County Sheriff on Tuesday. Now, Kitchings says he’s invested in building relationships with the community. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Kitchings looks to ‘forge relationships’ as sheriff

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, August 24, 2024
The first order of business as sheriff-elect for Wallace Kitchings is some self care. Fresh off an election win Tuesday, and a little more than four months until he takes office, Kitchings is looking to take some time for himself and recharge his batteries.
Lake City Manager Don Rosenthal speaks during Thursday’s budget workshop. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Manager Don Rosenthal speaks during Thursday’s budget workshop. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

City raises debated in budget workshop

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, August 24, 2024
With the method in which Lake City Council members get a raise is heading to voters in November, city leadership turned its attention to other raises for city employees.

County increasing fire protection charge

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, August 24, 2024
Columbia County’s fire protection fee is going up once again. During a special meeting Thursday morning to discuss the upcoming budget, the Columbia County Commission unanimously approved an $8 increase to the fire assessment on single-family residences to $293.98.
Bob Dekle’s latest book, ‘Variations on the Theme of Chess,’ which details non-traditional boards, was awarded the ‘President’s Book Award’ from the Florida Authors and Publisher’s Association. (COURTESY)

Bob Dekle’s latest book, ‘Variations on the Theme of Chess,’ which details non-traditional boards, was awarded the ‘President’s Book Award’ from the Florida Authors and Publisher’s Association. (COURTESY)

Dekle earns award for chess book

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, August 24, 2024
After a lifetime spent putting criminals in checkmate, George Dekle is at it again. But this time, the former Assistant State Attorney has a new item of interest to write about.
Don Fenneman (from left), stands with Jennifer Anchors, Bebe Willis and Pam Hyde as he presents a check for $91,740 to the United Way of Suwannee Valley during the agency’s breakfast meeting on Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Don Fenneman (from left), stands with Jennifer Anchors, Bebe Willis and Pam Hyde as he presents a check for $91,740 to the United Way of Suwannee Valley during the agency’s breakfast meeting on Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

United Way hosts breakfast for donors

TONY BRITT
Saturday, August 24, 2024
In an early morning event where sausage, eggs, biscuits and other breakfast items were the appetizers, the message to the people eating provided more sustenance than the food.
Tammy Harris (left) defeated Jake Hill by six votes to win a spot on the Lake City Council, a wide enough margin to not have to go to a recount.

Tammy Harris (left) defeated Jake Hill by six votes to win a spot on the Lake City Council, a wide enough margin to not have to go to a recount.

No recount in tight city race

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Six votes was a wide enough margin in Lake City’s District 12 to avoid a recount. Tomi Brown, Columbia County of Supervisor of Elections, said in order for a recount to be triggered, the votes have to be less than half of a percent, depending on voter turnout for the particular race.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened a Disaster Recovery Center at the old Lake City Reporter building to help those impacted by Hurricane Debby. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened a Disaster Recovery Center at the old Lake City Reporter building to help those impacted by Hurricane Debby. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Disaster Recovery Center opens in Lake City

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened a Disaster Recovery Center in Lake City to help those impacted by Hurricane Debby. The Columbia County Disaster Recovery Center is located at the old Lake City Reporter building, 180 E. Duval Street in Lake City. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.
Tomi Brown, Columbia County’s supervisor of elections, addresses the crowd outside her office Tuesday night about the state’s website crash. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Tomi Brown, Columbia County’s supervisor of elections, addresses the crowd outside her office Tuesday night about the state’s website crash. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Brown: Election ‘went smoothly’

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
The 2024 primary election in Columbia County exhibited some Election Day “chaos” — partly expected and one out of local control.
The City of Lake City is seeking state grant funding for several projects, including the restoration of Gwen Lake. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

The City of Lake City is seeking state grant funding for several projects, including the restoration of Gwen Lake. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

City eyes spring grants funding

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is wanting to hear from state residents before deciding what springs restoration projects will receive funding in the next year. The state is accepting public comments on the 94 proposed projects for Spring Restoration Grants through Sept. 9.