Local

The company that was supposed to complete the track renovations at Columbia High was terminated by the Columbia County School Board on Tuesday. A new contractor, Florida Track and Turf, is expected to complete the project by Jan. 1. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

The company that was supposed to complete the track renovations at Columbia High was terminated by the Columbia County School Board on Tuesday. A new contractor, Florida Track and Turf, is expected to complete the project by Jan. 1. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

CHS track contractor fired

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
FORT WHITE — A new company will carry the baton across the finish line of completing the Columbia High track.
Lake Shore Hospital Authority Attorney Todd Kennon said Meridian Behavioral Healthcare’s board doesn’t meet until November to finalize the transfer of the hospital. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Lake Shore Hospital Authority Attorney Todd Kennon said Meridian Behavioral Healthcare’s board doesn’t meet until November to finalize the transfer of the hospital. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Hospital transfer delayed to Nov.

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Finalizing the transfer of the Lake Shore Hospital building will take a bit longer than the Lake Shore Hospital Authority originally hoped for.
Lake Shore Hospital Authority Trustee Brandon Beil said the authority should ‘maybe think outside the box’ on providing care to the indigent population, including paying transportation costs for doctor visits. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Lake Shore Hospital Authority Trustee Brandon Beil said the authority should ‘maybe think outside the box’ on providing care to the indigent population, including paying transportation costs for doctor visits. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Hospital authority eyes paying transportation for doctor visits

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
The Lake Shore Hospital Authority is looking into the possibility of helping fund transportation costs for doctor visits for those in need.

Third suspect arrested for ATM heist

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
The theft of an ATM from a Lake City bank in July is still dispensing arrests. Devin Lamar Cribbs, a 21-year-old from White Springs, was arrested Monday and booked into the Hamilton County Jail for grand theft for his role in the theft.
The Blanche Hotel is pictured Friday behind a sign in the Lake City Hall parking lot warning that vehicles parked in the lot without city business could be towed. Guests at a breast cancer survivor event Thursday at The Blanche received notices on their vehicles warning them of the same. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

The Blanche Hotel is pictured Friday behind a sign in the Lake City Hall parking lot warning that vehicles parked in the lot without city business could be towed. Guests at a breast cancer survivor event Thursday at The Blanche received notices on their vehicles warning them of the same. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

City, Blanche go ‘tow’ to ‘tow’

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Breast cancer survivors, supporters and friends received a rude door prize courtesy of the City of Lake City at a celebration in their honor downtown Thursday morning.
County Commission Chairman Rocky Ford said Sheriff Mark Hunter’s letter blaming the commission was ‘ludicrous.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County Commission Chairman Rocky Ford said Sheriff Mark Hunter’s letter blaming the commission was ‘ludicrous.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Sheriff, county feuding over funding

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, October 7, 2023
A roughly $300,000 difference in the requested and approved budgets for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has the CCSO and the Board of County Commissioners feuding. In a letter dated Sept.
Columbia County Assistant Superintendent Todd Widergren said the district is on path for construction to begin June 2024 on a new school at Niblack Elementary. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Assistant Superintendent Todd Widergren said the district is on path for construction to begin June 2024 on a new school at Niblack Elementary. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

New Niblack school construction on tap

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Plans for the construction of a new elementary school in Lake City is ready for takeoff.
Paul Westridge, 7, helps Adrienne Metcalf align jars of peanut butter that were donated during the second Farm to Table event. The event, which honors Columbia County’s agricultural history, took place Thursday evening at Darby Pavilion. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Paul Westridge, 7, helps Adrienne Metcalf align jars of peanut butter that were donated during the second Farm to Table event. The event, which honors Columbia County’s agricultural history, took place Thursday evening at Darby Pavilion. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Hundreds flock to Farm to Table

TONY BRITT
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Folks from all walks of life in Columbia County gathered at Darby Pavilion on Thursday night to celebrate the county’s historical roots. The gathering wasn’t designed to honor a specific person, but rather an event to honor the county’s agricultural roots.
A linemen strings fiber lines for Rapid Fiber Internet, a subsidiary of Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative. The broadband fiber internet service is up and running in parts of Suwannee County. (COURTESY RAPID FIBER INTERNET)

A linemen strings fiber lines for Rapid Fiber Internet, a subsidiary of Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative. The broadband fiber internet service is up and running in parts of Suwannee County. (COURTESY RAPID FIBER INTERNET)

SVEC rolls out fiber internet

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
LIVE OAK — Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative and Rapid Fiber Internet officially “turned the page” Monday on the high-speed internet project. During a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, SVEC and Rapid Fiber Internet officials and partners celebrated the launch of the service.