Local

Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Ceckanowicz, also known as Deputy Chewy, was named the state’s School Resource Officer of the Year on Monday. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Ceckanowicz, also known as Deputy Chewy, was named the state’s School Resource Officer of the Year on Monday. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

Deputy Chewy is state’s best resource officer

Columbia County Deputy Scott Ceckanowicz couldn’t believe his ears Monday.

City eyes 16% tax increase

Lake City residents could see their tax bills going up 16% next year, although nothing is set in stone yet. The Lake City Council unanimously agreed Monday on a maximum millage rate — the amount of money paid to the city in tax bills per $1,000 of property value — of 5.

Lake City man charged with child molestation

A Lake City man is accused of molesting a juvenile while they slept Thursday night. According to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office report, 38-year-old Craig Lehto entered the girl’s room around 11:30 p.m., waking the child up.
Hunter Peeler, the Columbia County Republican Party chairman, signs paperwork Monday at the Republican National Convention to nominate Donald Trump as the Republican presidential candidate. (COURTESY)

Hunter Peeler, the Columbia County Republican Party chairman, signs paperwork Monday at the Republican National Convention to nominate Donald Trump as the Republican presidential candidate. (COURTESY)

GOP convention focused on unity after shooting

It’s been business as usual at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week.

LCPD: Man arrested after overheating dog in vehicle

A Lake City man is behind bars after he left a dog locked up inside a vehicle over the weekend. Officers from the Lake City Police Department responded to the Driftwood Inn on W. U.S. Highway 90 just after 8 p.m. Saturday to a dog in distress inside a vehicle.
Cassidy Kreider (from left), 18, and Ryan Kreider, 9, work on creating cyanotypes Friday at the Columbia County Public Library. The cyanotype project Friday was the last project for this year’s summer program. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Cassidy Kreider (from left), 18, and Ryan Kreider, 9, work on creating cyanotypes Friday at the Columbia County Public Library. The cyanotype project Friday was the last project for this year’s summer program. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Library’s work of art: Summer program ends with cyanotypes project

The Columbia County Public Library system completed its six-week summer program with a masterpiece. The final event Friday afternoon at the main branch library featured several youngsters creating pieces of art.

No laws broken in altering docs

While the local Republican Party chairman altered select party members’ oath forms, Columbia County’s supervisor of elections said no election laws were broken by those actions.
The Lake Shore Hospital has been vacant since 2020. Now the Columbia County Commission will be discussing whether or not to place a referendum on the November ballot asking voters whether they still want the Lake Shore Hospital Authority to remain a taxing authority. (FILE)

The Lake Shore Hospital has been vacant since 2020. Now the Columbia County Commission will be discussing whether or not to place a referendum on the November ballot asking voters whether they still want the Lake Shore Hospital Authority to remain a taxing authority. (FILE)

County still plans to discuss LSHA future

The joint meeting may be canceled, but not the Columbia County Commission’s discussion of the Lake Shore Hospital Authority. This week, LSHA canceled a joint meeting between the two boards, which was set for Monday.