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Roger Handberg, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, touted the police work that went into apprehending Hector Villarreal for cocaine trafficking last month. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Roger Handberg, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, touted the police work that went into apprehending Hector Villarreal for cocaine trafficking last month. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Texan indicted for 30 kilo cocaine haul

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, June 28, 2024
A desire by Columbia County deputies for additional training last month led to a “significant” drug arrest. On the first day out on patrol after a two-day interdiction training with the Lowndes (Ga.
Gary Hollie, wearing a Halloween-style mask and a ‘Santa’ T-shirt, runs from the Dollar General on SW Main Boulevard after an armed robbery at the store on June 12. (COURTESY)

Gary Hollie, wearing a Halloween-style mask and a ‘Santa’ T-shirt, runs from the Dollar General on SW Main Boulevard after an armed robbery at the store on June 12. (COURTESY)

‘Santa’ robber captured by CCSO

NEWS STAFF
Friday, June 28, 2024
Santa should stick to giving rather than taking. Two weeks after a man wearing a “Santa” T-shirt and a Halloween-style mask robbed the Dollar General on SW Main Boulevard near Columbia High School with a firearm, 30-year-old Gary Hollie has been arrested for the crime.
The old I-75 Autos building is being demolished along Duval Street (U.S. Highway 90). A Wawa convenience store is planned for the site, although no building permit has been applied for yet through the City of Lake City. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

The old I-75 Autos building is being demolished along Duval Street (U.S. Highway 90). A Wawa convenience store is planned for the site, although no building permit has been applied for yet through the City of Lake City. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Clearing out for Wawa

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Crews are clearing the way for a Wawa convenience store in Lake City. When that new store will arrive, though, is still uncertain.
Meridian Behavioral Healthcare CEO Don Savoie, speaking at a previous Lake Shore Hospital Authority meeting, said the idea that the hospital would have razor wire on it is ‘ludicrous.’ (FILE)

Meridian Behavioral Healthcare CEO Don Savoie, speaking at a previous Lake Shore Hospital Authority meeting, said the idea that the hospital would have razor wire on it is ‘ludicrous.’ (FILE)

Savoie: Razor wire at hospital is ‘ludicrous’

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
There will be no razor wire at the Lake Shore Hospital building, nor will there be prisoners treated there. Meridian Behavioral Healthcare CEO Don Savoie said those claims, which are circulating in Lake City and Columbia County and have been expressed at recent public meetings, are “ludicrous.
Logan Haley hammers on a metal rod during the Forged in 4-H Blacksmith camp while Erin Harlow, a Columbia County extension agent, looks on. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Logan Haley hammers on a metal rod during the Forged in 4-H Blacksmith camp while Erin Harlow, a Columbia County extension agent, looks on. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Blacksmith camp takes 4-H youth back in time

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Just watching a group of guys pulling long rods from a fire and pounding the metal with hammers into different kinds of tools and utensils would appear to be a call from yesteryear.
Columbia County School Board member Keith Hudson receives the key to the City of Lake City from Mayor Stephen Witt during Tuesday’s board meeting. The school board renamed the district auditorium in Hudson’s honor. Hudson has served on the board for 48 years and is running unopposed. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County School Board member Keith Hudson receives the key to the City of Lake City from Mayor Stephen Witt during Tuesday’s board meeting. The school board renamed the district auditorium in Hudson’s honor. Hudson has served on the board for 48 years and is running unopposed. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

District honors Hudson

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
The state’s longest-serving school board member now has his name immortalized in Columbia County history.
Columbia County School District officials along with representatives from Gilbane Building Company and Zysovich, the architecture firm in charge of the design of the new Niblack Elementary School, held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday morning at the school. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County School District officials along with representatives from Gilbane Building Company and Zysovich, the architecture firm in charge of the design of the new Niblack Elementary School, held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday morning at the school. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

New Niblack groundbreaking a ‘great day’

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
The next step with the construction of a new Minnie J. Niblack Elementary School was taken Tuesday morning.

Lake City Council hopefuls correct finance miscues

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
After two amended campaign finance reports were filed Friday by one Lake City Council candidate, another filed an amended report Tuesday. Tammy Harris, who is running for the District 12 seat, filed an amended report for the most recent filing period — June 1 through June 14 — on Tuesday morning.

Fort White teen’s fatal crash caused by ‘tire failure’

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
FORT WHITE —A Fort White teen was killed Saturday when a tire failure caused his pickup to crash. A Florida Highway Patrol release states an 18-year-old man was traveling north on State Road 47 around 3:38 p.m. Saturday when his 2003 Ford F-150 experienced a tire failure.