Local

Tyrone Mullins (standing), an organizer for the Community Barbers Giving Back event, works as one of 11 barbers during the 2022 event. (FILE)

Tyrone Mullins (standing), an organizer for the Community Barbers Giving Back event, works as one of 11 barbers during the 2022 event. (FILE)

Back-to-school bash giving haircuts, supplies to students

TONY BRITT
Friday, July 26, 2024
Free haircuts, hundreds of book bags, notebooks, paper, pens, pencils, folders and other essentials needed by children as they prepare to start the 2024-25 school year will be available at the Richardson Community Center next weekend. The back to school items will be featured 3-6 p.m.
The cafeterias at Fort White and Columbia high schools will feature coffee bars this year as part of the district’s upgrades to its cafeterias and menus. (COURTESY)

The cafeterias at Fort White and Columbia high schools will feature coffee bars this year as part of the district’s upgrades to its cafeterias and menus. (COURTESY)

Cafeterias, food items upgraded for Columbia County schools

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Columbia County students could be in for a nice surprise the next time they eat in their school cafeteria. The Columbia County School Board thanked one team in particular for the achievement.
Billy Golightly (from left), Jennifer Golightly, Sandy Kishton, Missy Zecher, Becky Smallwood, Angela Cox, Rhaiza Faulkner, Ginny Smith and Lynda Granoff pose for a photograph after spending time participating in a recent cleanup effort at Rum Island Park. (COURTESY)

Billy Golightly (from left), Jennifer Golightly, Sandy Kishton, Missy Zecher, Becky Smallwood, Angela Cox, Rhaiza Faulkner, Ginny Smith and Lynda Granoff pose for a photograph after spending time participating in a recent cleanup effort at Rum Island Park. (COURTESY)

Realtors clean up Rum Island Park

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Armed with garbage bags, trash pickers and buckets, a group of 10 local Realtors participated in a clean up effort to improve the aesthetics of Rum Island Park earlier this month. The Florida Realtors organization designated July as its water cleanup month for its various associations and groups.

Combined dispatch waiting on SmartCop

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Combining dispatch for Columbia County and the City of Lake City continues to be a waiting game. While Columbia County has hired the city’s dispatchers in preparation for the consolidation, the systems have yet to be combined due to a snag with SmartCop.

Mail ballot request deadline approaching

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
MAYO — Voters looking to vote by mail have two weeks to request their primary ballot. The deadline to request a ballot for the August primary election is Aug. 8 for that ballot to be mailed to voters.
Columbia County Property Appraiser Jeff Hampton shows off the office’s new logo, which has been added to the sides of the employees’ trucks to make them easier to identify. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Property Appraiser Jeff Hampton shows off the office’s new logo, which has been added to the sides of the employees’ trucks to make them easier to identify. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Property appraiser’s office gets new look

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
The Columbia County Property Appraisers Office has taken on a new look. The agency has recently implemented a new logo for the office and it is being incorporated in other property appraiser office wares and equipment.
Eri’Yonna Jones, a CHS color guard captain, demonstrates a drop spin at Tuesday’s practice. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Eri’Yonna Jones, a CHS color guard captain, demonstrates a drop spin at Tuesday’s practice. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Sights set on ‘Idol’ win: CHS color guard up for free drill writing for winter program

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
A week before they’re slated to begin intense 9-hour-a-day training sessions, members of the Columbia High School color guard were already practicing drop spins and simple routines Tuesday afternoon. That early work is indicative of the group’s other ambition.
Pinnacle Site Solutions works on clearing a site along SW Real Terrace in Lake City that will house a ClearSky Rehabilitation Hospital. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Pinnacle Site Solutions works on clearing a site along SW Real Terrace in Lake City that will house a ClearSky Rehabilitation Hospital. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

ClearSky clearing site for rehab facility

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Work is underway to clear a Lake City site for ClearSky. Pinnacle Site Solutions has begun sitework on property along SW Real Terrace just south of U.S. Highway 90 behind Dunkin’ Donuts for ClearSky Rehabilitation Hospital, which is planning a 36-bed facility on the approximate seven-acre site.