Local

The Florida Sheriffs Association provided a mobile emergency shelter to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday to aid in response and deployments for natural disasters. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE)

The Florida Sheriffs Association provided a mobile emergency shelter to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday to aid in response and deployments for natural disasters. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE)

CCSO receives mobile emergency shelter

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has received equipment that will allow emergency personnel to eat, shower and have quality downtime during local emergencies and natural disasters.
Plans for the proposed Penelope Place development at the intersection of Lake Jeffery Road and Bascom Norris Drive includes single-family homes along Lake Jeffery Road, apartments along Bascom Norris Drive and a commercial aspect as well. (COURTESY)

Plans for the proposed Penelope Place development at the intersection of Lake Jeffery Road and Bascom Norris Drive includes single-family homes along Lake Jeffery Road, apartments along Bascom Norris Drive and a commercial aspect as well. (COURTESY)

Single-family sites, apartments planned for Lake Jeffery, Bascom Norris site

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
One project on the northwest side of Lake City is looking to fill three needs: new homes, additional apartments and a commercial element as well.
Lake City firefighters Hunter Anderson (from left), Chris Bethea and Gramby Croft look over the department’s new Electric Vehicle Plug Kit and its instruction manual. The newly purchased tool went into service for the department on Monday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City firefighters Hunter Anderson (from left), Chris Bethea and Gramby Croft look over the department’s new Electric Vehicle Plug Kit and its instruction manual. The newly purchased tool went into service for the department on Monday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

New tool boosts LCFD safety efforts with EVs

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
With the ever-increasing presence of electric vehicles traveling along local roadways, first responders have had to adopt new safety materials and procedures for both their safety as well as that of motorists involved in crashes with the new technology.
Samuel Jeter (from left) and Carlos Scippio collect information and school materials from Travis George at the Project Cope vendor booth during the inaugural Unity Community Day at Richardson Community Center. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Samuel Jeter (from left) and Carlos Scippio collect information and school materials from Travis George at the Project Cope vendor booth during the inaugural Unity Community Day at Richardson Community Center. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Unity Day brings crowd to Richardson

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
People from all across Columbia County gathered together at Richardson Community Center this weekend to celebrate the community with a variety of activities. The inaugural Unity Community Day was held Saturday at the facility and drew more than 100 people looking to celebrate their community.
Sheila Carr (from left), curator of the Gateway Art Gallery stands with Abbie Chasteen Rosner, owner of All Things Abbie, and Jeanne Van Arsdall, chairman of the Gateway Art Gallery’s 10th anniversary celebration and creator of the Charcuterie and Chardonnay fundraiser event. Konnie Patke (not pictured), director of the Tourist Development Agency, was the wine sommelier for the event. (COURTESY)

Sheila Carr (from left), curator of the Gateway Art Gallery stands with Abbie Chasteen Rosner, owner of All Things Abbie, and Jeanne Van Arsdall, chairman of the Gateway Art Gallery’s 10th anniversary celebration and creator of the Charcuterie and Chardonnay fundraiser event. Konnie Patke (not pictured), director of the Tourist Development Agency, was the wine sommelier for the event. (COURTESY)

Gallery’s anniversary includes hit with Charcuterie and Chardonnay

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
The Gateway Art Gallery recently held an event where the patrons were wined and dined for the evening. The patrons also received tips and ideas where they can serve as the hosts for their own occasions.

Bradford man charged with kidnapping own child

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
A Bradford County man was arrested this weekend after turning a visit with his child into a kidnapping. According to the Lake City Police Department, a woman agreed to let 23-year-old Thomas Levasseur, of Hampton, meet his child in a public place, choosing the Olive Garden on U.S. Highway 90 west.
Wallace Kitchings (center) speaks on the phone after learning he’d won the race to be the next Columbia County Sheriff on Tuesday. Now, Kitchings says he’s invested in building relationships with the community. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Wallace Kitchings (center) speaks on the phone after learning he’d won the race to be the next Columbia County Sheriff on Tuesday. Now, Kitchings says he’s invested in building relationships with the community. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Kitchings looks to ‘forge relationships’ as sheriff

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, August 24, 2024
The first order of business as sheriff-elect for Wallace Kitchings is some self care. Fresh off an election win Tuesday, and a little more than four months until he takes office, Kitchings is looking to take some time for himself and recharge his batteries.
Lake City Manager Don Rosenthal speaks during Thursday’s budget workshop. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Manager Don Rosenthal speaks during Thursday’s budget workshop. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

City raises debated in budget workshop

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, August 24, 2024
With the method in which Lake City Council members get a raise is heading to voters in November, city leadership turned its attention to other raises for city employees.

County increasing fire protection charge

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, August 24, 2024
Columbia County’s fire protection fee is going up once again. During a special meeting Thursday morning to discuss the upcoming budget, the Columbia County Commission unanimously approved an $8 increase to the fire assessment on single-family residences to $293.98.