Local

Susie Wiles speaks with Donald Trump after he was declared the winner during an election night watch party last week at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach. (JABIN BOTSFORD/The Washington Post/Getty Images/MCT)

Susie Wiles speaks with Donald Trump after he was declared the winner during an election night watch party last week at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach. (JABIN BOTSFORD/The Washington Post/Getty Images/MCT)

Chief of Staff made early impression on locals

Susan Wiles’ appointment to be President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Chief of Staff wasn’t just historic.
Tikeria Bryant (from left), Marion ‘Ash’ Wolff, and Emoniee Taylor portray female vampires competing for Elijah Merritt’s blood during the Columbia High theatre’s rehearsal for Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula.’ (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Tikeria Bryant (from left), Marion ‘Ash’ Wolff, and Emoniee Taylor portray female vampires competing for Elijah Merritt’s blood during the Columbia High theatre’s rehearsal for Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula.’ (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

CHS theatre bringing ‘Dracula’ to life

The calculated and cold-hearted accounts of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” will come to life this weekend when the Columbia High School theatre program performs an all-time classic. The CHS theatre program’s productions will take place at the CHS Norman L. Choice Performing Arts Center on today at 7 p.m.
Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Matthew Waddington and his K9 partner Cairo earned three awards at the Space Coast Police K-9 Competition on Friday in Viera. Cairo was name dthe fastest dog and the hardest dog while finishing third on the obstacle course. (COURTESY)

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Matthew Waddington and his K9 partner Cairo earned three awards at the Space Coast Police K-9 Competition on Friday in Viera. Cairo was name dthe fastest dog and the hardest dog while finishing third on the obstacle course. (COURTESY)

CCSO’s Cairo runs down pair of titles

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office award-winning K9 team has secured additional hardware. Following up a title last year at the K9s United’s competition, Sgt.
A crowd of around 300 veterans are expected to attend Saturday’s 23rd annual Veterans Dinner at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. In addition to the free barbecue meal, the veterans have a chance to win door prizes at the event. (FILE)

A crowd of around 300 veterans are expected to attend Saturday’s 23rd annual Veterans Dinner at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. In addition to the free barbecue meal, the veterans have a chance to win door prizes at the event. (FILE)

Veterans Dinner returns Saturday at Fairgrounds

Local veterans will the featured guest of honor when Brannon Real Estate and several local sponsors join forces to host the 23rd annual Veterans Dinner. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds Entertainment Building.
Daniel Dohrn, a driver/engineer with the Lake City Fire Department, helps Gwendolyn Blasingame use a fire extinguisher to douse a control blaze on Wednesday morning at the Lakewood Apartment Complex. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Daniel Dohrn, a driver/engineer with the Lake City Fire Department, helps Gwendolyn Blasingame use a fire extinguisher to douse a control blaze on Wednesday morning at the Lakewood Apartment Complex. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

LCFD douses doubt with fire extinguisher training

Several local senior citizens took a break from their daily routines Wednesday morning and grabbed a fire extinguisher to learn ways to douse a fire in their homes.

Lake City man arrested for ‘prank’ 911 call

A “prank” call didn’t generate social media content as desired but did lead to a trip to the Columbia County Detention Facility. Deputies with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on SW Whitetail Circle around 2:45 a.m.
Meally Jenkins (from left), Christmas Dream Machine founder and director and Janet Stanford, Christmas Dream Machine treasurer and secretary, pose near organization’s sign in Country Club Plaza on Tuesday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Meally Jenkins (from left), Christmas Dream Machine founder and director and Janet Stanford, Christmas Dream Machine treasurer and secretary, pose near organization’s sign in Country Club Plaza on Tuesday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Dream Machine shows off Christmas love, spirit

A tall and slender Santa Claus figure, adorned in red and while holiday clothing, stands outside a doorway to a shop in a local strip mall. The Christmas figurine has been the guardian at the door for a few days already.
The ongoing negotiations with the transfer of the Lake Shore Hospital building to Meridian Healthcare has another obstacle to clear now that the City of Lake City has alerted Lake Shore Hospital Authority officials that the building no longer conforms with the city’s land development regulations. (FILE)

The ongoing negotiations with the transfer of the Lake Shore Hospital building to Meridian Healthcare has another obstacle to clear now that the City of Lake City has alerted Lake Shore Hospital Authority officials that the building no longer conforms with the city’s land development regulations. (FILE)

Hospital transfer faces city LDR obstacle

The Lake Shore Hospital Authority and Meridian Healthcare now have a new hurdle to clear before finalizing the transfer of the Lake Shore Hospital.
Rep. Chuck Brannan, who speaks during last year’s legislative delegation meeting in Columbia County, will chair the judiciary committee the next two years in the Florida House. (FILE)

Rep. Chuck Brannan, who speaks during last year’s legislative delegation meeting in Columbia County, will chair the judiciary committee the next two years in the Florida House. (FILE)

Brannan named part of House leadership

Vowing not to be a “back bencher” when he was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives, Chuck Brannan now has a role front and center. Daniel Perez (R-Miami), who will officially become the Speaker of the House when the post-election organization session begins at 11 a.m.