Local

County voters ready for LSHA to go away

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Columbia County voters support doing away with the Lake Shore Hospital Authority. During a non-binding straw poll resolution on Tuesday’s ballot, nearly 2/3 of the voters in Columbia County voted to support dissolving of the Authority.
Command Officer Walker, Mayor Witt, Commanding Sergeant Major Smith, Minuteman Scholarship and Army Reserve Cadet Victoria Coker, Command Sergeant Major Walden, and Sgt. Bolden participated in an Our Community Cares Coalition event designating several local cities, towns and counties as Purple Heart Communities. (COURTESY)

Command Officer Walker, Mayor Witt, Commanding Sergeant Major Smith, Minuteman Scholarship and Army Reserve Cadet Victoria Coker, Command Sergeant Major Walden, and Sgt. Bolden participated in an Our Community Cares Coalition event designating several local cities, towns and counties as Purple Heart Communities. (COURTESY)

Local areas designated Purple Heart communities

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Several area cities, towns and counties are now Purple Heart communities following a ceremony last month at American Legion Post 57 in Lake City.

Road work underway on U.S. Highway 441

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Repaving work is underway on U.S. Highway 441 north of Lake City. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, construction work on U.S. 441 from NW Bascom Norris Drive (State Road 100A) to Interstate 10 has begun. The $5.
Columbia County Attorney Joel Foreman explains the details necessary to amend the FEMA-approved Hurricane cleanup contract with county commissioners Thursday. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Attorney Joel Foreman explains the details necessary to amend the FEMA-approved Hurricane cleanup contract with county commissioners Thursday. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Debris cleanup cost up $400K

TODD WILSON
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Storm debris contractors in Columbia County will earn more money per load removed from roadsides and have incentives to move faster each day after the agreement between contractors and the county was amended Thursday morning. Contractors now will earn $14.
Sheila Carr, Gateway Art Gallery curator, is pictured with an Art League sign after they closed on purchasing their downtown building Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Sheila Carr, Gateway Art Gallery curator, is pictured with an Art League sign after they closed on purchasing their downtown building Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Gallery buys downtown building

TONY BRITT
Saturday, November 2, 2024
The Gateway Art Gallery now has even more to celebrate. Already highlighting a decade in its current location, the Gallery has now purchased the building, keeping it in downtown Lake City. The Art League of North Florida/Gateway Art Gallery closed on the deal to purchase the building at 168 N.
Lake City native Adam Sanders will be back in his hometown for a free concert as part of the second Downtown Showdown BBQ Cook-off next weekend. (COURTESY)

Lake City native Adam Sanders will be back in his hometown for a free concert as part of the second Downtown Showdown BBQ Cook-off next weekend. (COURTESY)

Sanders concert, people’s choice heats up Showdown

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Downtown Showdown BBQ Cook-off organizers have cooked up something new for the contest’s return. The barbecue contest, which will bring in around two dozen professional teams, will also have a new contest this year.
Branford High’s Wren Wilkerson was awarded a $16,000 annual scholarship from Faulkner University President Mitch Henry for her performance in the Zon/Lads to Leaders public speaking contest. (COURTESY)

Branford High’s Wren Wilkerson was awarded a $16,000 annual scholarship from Faulkner University President Mitch Henry for her performance in the Zon/Lads to Leaders public speaking contest. (COURTESY)

Branford High student earns scholarship to Faulkner University

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, November 2, 2024
BRANFORD — A Branford High student’s success in a speaking contest earned her a college scholarship. Wren Wilkerson traveled last month to Montgomery, Ala., to participate in the Zorn/Lads to Leaders Faulkner University public speaking contest where she was one of six finalists.
Karri Miles (from left), a DOT employee, interacts with Jaxson Trowell, five months, and his grandmother, Candace Starling, during the DOT’s trunk or treat event on Thursday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Karri Miles (from left), a DOT employee, interacts with Jaxson Trowell, five months, and his grandmother, Candace Starling, during the DOT’s trunk or treat event on Thursday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

DOT Trunk or Treat attracts crowd

TONY BRITT
Saturday, November 2, 2024
A record turnout caused the Florida Department of Transportation to speed up. FDOT launched its third annual trunk or treat event at the District 2 office early Thursday night as the costume-clad crowd arrived ahead of time too. “It was supposed to start at 6 p.m.