Local

Columbia County athlete Rachel Saye places the torch into a stand during the opening ceremonies Saturday at the Southside Sports Complex. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County athlete Rachel Saye places the torch into a stand during the opening ceremonies Saturday at the Southside Sports Complex. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Hundreds attend Special Olympics area contest

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Armed with determination, courage, and a burning desire to compete, more than 300 Special Olympians from around the region gathered at Southside Sports Complex on Saturday for flag football and softball competitions.
Chris Costello (from left) and Steve Stafford work on making a headboard during the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Bunks Across America event Saturday at the Christian Service Center. Volunteers planned to make 20 beds during the event. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Chris Costello (from left) and Steve Stafford work on making a headboard during the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Bunks Across America event Saturday at the Christian Service Center. Volunteers planned to make 20 beds during the event. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Providing a ‘heavenly’ sleep

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
More than two dozen local community members gathered Saturday and utilized their carpentry skills to build beds for area youngsters. There was a national bed build for Sleep in Heavenly Peace over the weekend and the Lake City Chapter built several beds during the event.
Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 is expected to become a hurricane Wednesday and make landfall in the Big Bend or Florida Panhandle by Thursday evening. (COURTESY)

Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 is expected to become a hurricane Wednesday and make landfall in the Big Bend or Florida Panhandle by Thursday evening. (COURTESY)

DeSantis declares state of emergency ahead of storm

NEWS STAFF
Monday, September 23, 2024
A state of emergency has been declared for 41 counties in Florida, including Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette and Suwannee, ahead of a storm expected to make landfall later this week. Gov.
The front pages of the Lake City Reporter in September 2004 (including Sept. 7 and Sept. 28 above and Sept. 8 below) were all about the impacts Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne made on Columbia County. The two storms, which arrived three weeks apart, were the first direct impacts from a named storm that the county had received in 40 years. (FILE)

The front pages of the Lake City Reporter in September 2004 (including Sept. 7 and Sept. 28 above and Sept. 8 below) were all about the impacts Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne made on Columbia County. The two storms, which arrived three weeks apart, were the first direct impacts from a named storm that the county had received in 40 years. (FILE)

Twenty years ago, Frances and Jeanne left major mark in four-storm month

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 21, 2024
There haven’t been many times in his four-plus decades as a county commissioner that Ron Williams has felt helpless. However, 20 years ago this month is one of those times where Williams didn’t have many answers for the residents in northern Columbia County.
Columbia County Commissioner Everett Phillips (right) and Kimley-Horn’s Raul Pineda-Mendez look over a map of the Columbia County Comprehensive Safety Action Plan during an open house Thursday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Commissioner Everett Phillips (right) and Kimley-Horn’s Raul Pineda-Mendez look over a map of the Columbia County Comprehensive Safety Action Plan during an open house Thursday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County eyes piece of $2B federal traffic pie

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Columbia County is taking advantage of a federal program to improve traffic safety on some of the most dangerous intersections around. The U.S.
County Attorney Joel Foreman recommended the County Commission suspend the plans to bring back impact fees for transportation infrastructure on Oct. 1 due to legal issues with using the county’s old fee schedule. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County Attorney Joel Foreman recommended the County Commission suspend the plans to bring back impact fees for transportation infrastructure on Oct. 1 due to legal issues with using the county’s old fee schedule. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County puts return of impact fees on hold

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Columbia County won’t reinstitute impact fees on new developments on Oct. 1 after all.

County adds projects to $217.95M budget

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Before approving its $217.95 million budget Thursday, the Columbia County Commission made a few last-minute alterations. The commission, which unanimously approved the budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, first approved 13 projects to receive $1.
Pattie Dale Tye, the daughter of one of the founders of Florida Gateway College, will speak at the school on Thursday. (COURTESY)

Pattie Dale Tye, the daughter of one of the founders of Florida Gateway College, will speak at the school on Thursday. (COURTESY)

Author, national speaker set for FGC appearance

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, September 21, 2024
An acclaimed author, speaker and business leader is set to share her insights with Florida Gateway College students. It doesn’t hurt that she’s also the daughter of one of FGC’s founders.
Florida Gateway College students, including D’Khari Jernigan (left) enjoy the activities offered during the college’s Constitution Day event Tuesday. (COURTESY)

Florida Gateway College students, including D’Khari Jernigan (left) enjoy the activities offered during the college’s Constitution Day event Tuesday. (COURTESY)

FGC celebrates Constitution Day

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Several Florida Gateway College students got an unexpected tutorial on the U.S. Constitution, snacks and a bunch of fun and games when the college hosted recent a Constitution Day event. The event, which took place at the college’s student hall on Tuesday, featured trivia games and mock elections.