Local

Vegetation is worn down along the banks due to the excessive use at the park. (COURTESY)

Vegetation is worn down along the banks due to the excessive use at the park. (COURTESY)

County eyeing solutions for Rum Island

TONY BRITT
Friday, June 14, 2024
FORT WHITE — Rum Island Park is going through a variety of vandalism and over population problems as the park’s popularity continues to grow. During the Memorial Day holiday weekend, more than 1,700 people were visiting the park, which only has 35 parking spaces, every day.
Lake City’s Koby Adams, a legislative assistant to Dist. 12 State Rep. Wyman Duggan of Jacksonville, was honored as 2024 Legislative Aide of the Year by the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police during the group’s annual convention this week in Orlando. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City’s Koby Adams, a legislative assistant to Dist. 12 State Rep. Wyman Duggan of Jacksonville, was honored as 2024 Legislative Aide of the Year by the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police during the group’s annual convention this week in Orlando. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City’s Adams honored for dedication to law enforcement

TODD WILSON
Friday, June 14, 2024
Koby Adams said public service is a major calling in his life and he knew it from the time he was a small child in the back seat of his family’s car, driving past the Tallahassee construction site of Florida’s new Capitol building complex.
Deputies with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office search along County Road 252 on Wednesday night for an armed suspect from a robbery at the Dollar General on SW Main Blvd. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Deputies with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office search along County Road 252 on Wednesday night for an armed suspect from a robbery at the Dollar General on SW Main Blvd. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

CCSO searching for robbery suspect

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
An armed robber made off with a handful of cash during a Wednesday night heist. According to Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Robert Holloway, a black male suspect wearing a red shirt entered the Dollar General at 3118 SW Main Blvd. — across from Columbia High School — around 8 p.m.

$116.5B budget nets $16M locally

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
The state’s $116.5 billon budget was signed and approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, but not before he vetoed approximately $950 million worth of projects.
Firefighters sift through debris after a fire consumed an RV camper on State Road 47. (RAY CARPENTER/Special to the Reporter)

Firefighters sift through debris after a fire consumed an RV camper on State Road 47. (RAY CARPENTER/Special to the Reporter)

Fire consumes camper, acre of land

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
An afternoon fire, which started as the result of an unattended controlled burn, consumed a metal shed, recreation camper and an acre of property Wednesday in central Columbia County before multiple Columbia County Fire Rescue units could douse the blaze. The fire occurred at 2409 SW State Road 47.
Greg Harden (from left), David Kraus, Steven Dicks and Jeb Smith stand with Lynn Jones after she received the Outstanding Public Official of the Year plaque in honor of her late husband, Richard Jones. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Greg Harden (from left), David Kraus, Steven Dicks and Jeb Smith stand with Lynn Jones after she received the Outstanding Public Official of the Year plaque in honor of her late husband, Richard Jones. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Jones honored for service to Farm Bureau, county

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
The agricultural community and its relationship with local governmental entities was served on a platter with a steak dinner Tuesday evening.
Karley Scott Collins, a Nashville recording artist and Lake City native, will perform for the first time at the Grand Ole Opry on Wednesday, June 26. Collins was invited to perform on the legendary Opry stage during a phone call from Keith Urban. (matthewberinato/ Special to the Reporter)

Karley Scott Collins, a Nashville recording artist and Lake City native, will perform for the first time at the Grand Ole Opry on Wednesday, June 26. Collins was invited to perform on the legendary Opry stage during a phone call from Keith Urban. (matthewberinato/ Special to the Reporter)

Making her Opry debut: Collins will play on legendary stage June 26

TODD WILSON
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Lake City singer/songwriter Karley Scott Collins earned another country music milestone over the weekend when she was invited to perform onstage at the Grand Ole Opry later this month.