Local

Matthew Gooch is taken into custody by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office after being accused of firing 10-plus shots into a residence Wednesday morning. (COURTESY CCSO)

Matthew Gooch is taken into custody by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office after being accused of firing 10-plus shots into a residence Wednesday morning. (COURTESY CCSO)

10+ shots fired into house near jail

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Hours after an altercation at one Columbia County location, a Lake City man tried to settle it with a firearm.

Changes coming for TDC

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Unable to take action Wednesday due to lacking a quorum, the Columbia County Tourist Development Council is looking at several steps to prevent that from occurring again. One of the items the TDC board couldn’t act on Wednesday was the possible appointment of a mother board member.
Members of the American Legion Post 57 Legion Riders are installed as officers during a ceremony on Saturday. (COURTESY)

Members of the American Legion Post 57 Legion Riders are installed as officers during a ceremony on Saturday. (COURTESY)

Area Legions hold historic installation ceremony

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Legionnaires from around the area gathered at American Legion Post 57 for a historic installation service which also featured a celebration for a post commander stepping down after several years in the leadership role.
Marshal Horn and The Rock N Roll Cowboys will make their Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park debut on Friday, performing in the Music Hall from 8-11 p.m. (COURTESY)

Marshal Horn and The Rock N Roll Cowboys will make their Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park debut on Friday, performing in the Music Hall from 8-11 p.m. (COURTESY)

Rock N Roll Cowboys, Soulshine playing SOSMP

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
LIVE OAK – A pair of versatile bands are slated for the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park this weekend. Marshal Horn and The Rock N Roll Cowboys take the SOSMP stage Friday for the first time and the incredible band Soul Shine rocks the house Saturday.

LCPD teaming up to ‘Slow Down’ speeders

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
The need for speed will have to wait for a more appropriate time and place. The Lake City Police Department, in coordination with the Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Transportation, began Operation Southern Slow Down Monday.
Jamie Spradley (right) and Taylor Kaus, fishing from the banks of Lake Montgomery on Monday, said a new fishing pier would be a nice addition to the lake. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Jamie Spradley (right) and Taylor Kaus, fishing from the banks of Lake Montgomery on Monday, said a new fishing pier would be a nice addition to the lake. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

New Lake Montgomery pier closing in on construction

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Seven years after the fishing pier was removed, a big catch is close to being reeled in at Lake Montgomery. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said Monday afternoon they are hopeful that construction of a new pier at the lake will begin in the near future.
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

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Columbia County Deputy Scott Ceckanowicz couldn’t believe his ears Monday.

City eyes 16% tax increase

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
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

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
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.