Local

Santa Claus waves after landing in an airplane Saturday at the Lake City Gateway Airport for an event for the local Toys for Tots chapters. (COURTESY)

Santa Claus waves after landing in an airplane Saturday at the Lake City Gateway Airport for an event for the local Toys for Tots chapters. (COURTESY)

Fly in takes off with ‘pretty good’ debut

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Santa Claus swapped out a sleigh and reindeer for an airplane and hot rods Saturday afternoon. Santa and Mrs.
A pursuit involving a stolen ambulance late Saturday night ended at the front entrance to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office operations center. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

A pursuit involving a stolen ambulance late Saturday night ended at the front entrance to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office operations center. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

Chase in stolen ambulance ends at sheriff's office

NEWS STAFF
Monday, December 11, 2023
After stealing an ambulance, a suspect hand delivered himself right to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office late Saturday night. According to a CCSO release, a deputy responded with EMTs from Century Ambulance to the area of SE Baya Avenue and State Road 100 around 11:45 p.m.
Sheriff Mark Hunter told the Columbia County Commission that he’d make do with the funding they approved Thursday for raises. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Sheriff Mark Hunter told the Columbia County Commission that he’d make do with the funding they approved Thursday for raises. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County agrees to fund CCSO raises

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, December 8, 2023
Additional funding for pay increases at the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is on its way. The Columbia County Commission denied Sheriff Mark Hunter’s request for a $331,374 budget amendment once again at its Thursday morning meeting by a 3-2 vote against the request.
Sheila Carr, Gateway Art Gallery Curator, places ornaments on a Christmas tree on Friday afternoon as she prepares the gallery for the Downtown Art Stroll that will take place on Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Sheila Carr, Gateway Art Gallery Curator, places ornaments on a Christmas tree on Friday afternoon as she prepares the gallery for the Downtown Art Stroll that will take place on Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Art Stroll taking over downtown

TONY BRITT
Friday, December 8, 2023
Paintings, sketches, custom jewelry, and unique ornaments are just a few of the locally created art pieces that will on sale next week when several local art venues and businesses partner for the 2023 Christmas season hosting a local art stroll. The Downtown Art Stroll will take place from 4-7 p.m.
Van Brown, the county’s new economic development specialist, smiles as Economic Development Director Jennifer Daniels introduces her at Thursday’s County Commission meeting. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Van Brown, the county’s new economic development specialist, smiles as Economic Development Director Jennifer Daniels introduces her at Thursday’s County Commission meeting. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Brown hired as economic development specialist

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, December 8, 2023
Columbia County’s efforts to grow business here is also expanding. At Thursday’s Columbia County Commission meeting, the commission unanimously approved an amendment to the lease at Duval Place, which houses the Supervisor of Elections, Tourist Development Council and Economic Development.
Buck Strickland (from left) and Linda Odom, owners of Furnishings on Marion, look over various blowers that were put in the store to dry its interior after it received extensive water damage. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Buck Strickland (from left) and Linda Odom, owners of Furnishings on Marion, look over various blowers that were put in the store to dry its interior after it received extensive water damage. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Downtown thrift store inventory wiped out by rain

TONY BRITT
Friday, December 8, 2023
A downtown business will be closed for the Christmas holiday and potentially for the next six months after a majority of its estimated $200,000 inventory was ruined last weekend. Furnishings on Marion, 156 N.
O’Neal Roofing is working on the roof of the old Lake City Reporter building, which Columbia County purchased earlier this year. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

O’Neal Roofing is working on the roof of the old Lake City Reporter building, which Columbia County purchased earlier this year. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Roof rehab underway on old Reporter building

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Rehabilitation work on the roof of the old Lake City Reporter building is underway and progressing.

County utility director search nets few

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Columbia County’s search for a new utility director will finally advance to the next phase. The fourth application period for the position ended Tuesday with a total of seven applicants having applied for the post, which first advertised more than two months ago.