Local

Florida Gateway College Marketing Director Rob Chapman adjusts a television screen in the Levy Performing Arts Center, which is being renovated. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Florida Gateway College Marketing Director Rob Chapman adjusts a television screen in the Levy Performing Arts Center, which is being renovated. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Levy PAC undergoes facelift

TONY BRITT
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Florida Gateway College’s Alfonso Levy Performing Arts has received the first stage of a long-awaited facelift with interior renovations.
Sean Dietrich, who performed at the Levy Performing Arts Center at Florida Gateway College in 2019, will be back for another show as part of the college’s Campus Vibes: Arts & Music Showcase series next spring. (FILE)

Sean Dietrich, who performed at the Levy Performing Arts Center at Florida Gateway College in 2019, will be back for another show as part of the college’s Campus Vibes: Arts & Music Showcase series next spring. (FILE)

Campus Vibes bringing entertainment back to FGC

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, November 18, 2023
The curtain is about to be lifted on a revived entertainment series at Florida Gateway College. Seven years after the FGC Entertainment Series’ swan song, the college will be launching FGC Campus Vibes: Arts & Music Showcase next spring.
Westside Elementary’s Marjorie Pollock was named the Columbia County School District’s Teacher of the Year on Wednesday night. Pollock received her award from School Board Chair Dana Brady-Giddens (left) and Superintendent Lex Carswell. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Westside Elementary’s Marjorie Pollock was named the Columbia County School District’s Teacher of the Year on Wednesday night. Pollock received her award from School Board Chair Dana Brady-Giddens (left) and Superintendent Lex Carswell. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Pollock, Wyche, Paphides, Jackson-Lee take honors at Teacher of the Year ceremony

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
After 30 years in the teaching profession, Marjorie Pollock has learned a thing or two about academics. However, there is one thing the fifth-grade language arts and social studies teacher said has made a difference in leading Westside Elementary students since 2001. Attitude.
Konnie Patke talks with Carl King at a meet and greet on Nov. 1. Patke has accepted the job as Columbia County’s Tourist Development Council director. (FILE)

Konnie Patke talks with Carl King at a meet and greet on Nov. 1. Patke has accepted the job as Columbia County’s Tourist Development Council director. (FILE)

Patke accepts county’s TDC director position

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Columbia County has found its new tourism chief. Konnie Patke, the lone finalist for the position, has accepted the county’s conditional offer of employment. Patke’s hiring is contingent on her passing background checks, a drug screening and other preemployment basics.
Columbia High Building, Trades and Construction Designs Technology Career Technical Education instructor Scott Dockery shows Carl Pavey one of the computer-navigated woodworking machines in the CHS woodshop Tuesday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia High Building, Trades and Construction Designs Technology Career Technical Education instructor Scott Dockery shows Carl Pavey one of the computer-navigated woodworking machines in the CHS woodshop Tuesday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Building a construction program: CHS woodworking class aiming high

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
The Columbia High School Building and Construction program is aiming to build a world-class wood fabrication shop. After numerous contributions from the community, local businesses, local builders and grants, the program appears to be well on its way to achieving its goal.
Columbia County School Board Attorney Megan Logan provided the board an update on potential litigation against Pro Sports Consulting Group LLC. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County School Board Attorney Megan Logan provided the board an update on potential litigation against Pro Sports Consulting Group LLC. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

School board unanimously votes to pursue criminal, civil charges over CHS track

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
The Columbia County School Board is ready to move forward with litigation against a contractor hired to improve the Columbia High track. The school board met Tuesday in part to discuss its options in recuperating funds the district paid to Pro Sports Consulting Group LLC and its CEO, Gary Wilson.
Sheri Carder, a volunteer with the Gateway Art Gallery, was named the Outstanding Citizen of the Year at the Busincess Excellence Awards Tuesday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Sheri Carder, a volunteer with the Gateway Art Gallery, was named the Outstanding Citizen of the Year at the Busincess Excellence Awards Tuesday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Carder’s passion pays off as Citizen of the Year

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
For nearly three decades, Sheri Carder worked as a Florida Gateway College professor in the school’s business department teaching marketing and management skills to students before her retirement.
A reverter clause is one of the top remaining hurdles between the Lake Shore Hospital Authority and Meridian Behavioral Healthcare in determining the fate of the Lake Shore Hospital building. (FILE)

A reverter clause is one of the top remaining hurdles between the Lake Shore Hospital Authority and Meridian Behavioral Healthcare in determining the fate of the Lake Shore Hospital building. (FILE)

LSHA, Meridian working through reverter

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
A potential agreement to fill the main building on the Lake Shore Hospital Authority campus is still crawling along, though a handful of residents have begun to push back.
PROJECT Trio, which includes Greg Pattillo (from left), Daniel Berkey and Peter Seymour, will perform Saturday at the Levy Performing Arts Center at Florida Gateway College as part of the Community Concerts of Lake City series. (COURTESY)

PROJECT Trio, which includes Greg Pattillo (from left), Daniel Berkey and Peter Seymour, will perform Saturday at the Levy Performing Arts Center at Florida Gateway College as part of the Community Concerts of Lake City series. (COURTESY)

PROJECT Trio performing here Saturday

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
A trio of musicians will bring chamber music mixed with classical, jazz, hip-hop and other music influences to Lake City this weekend. Community Concerts of Lake City presents PROJECT Trio in concert on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m.