Local

A vehicle pulls into the County Road 240 and State Road 247 intersection in southwestern Columbia County on Friday afternoon. Florida Department of Transportation plans to revamp the skewed intersection have been shelved after concerns from residents. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

A vehicle pulls into the County Road 240 and State Road 247 intersection in southwestern Columbia County on Friday afternoon. Florida Department of Transportation plans to revamp the skewed intersection have been shelved after concerns from residents. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Changing course: DOT scraps plan for SR 247/CR 240 intersection

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Plans to overhaul an intersection in southwestern Columbia County have been shelved. The Florida Department of Transportation confirmed Friday that its planned improvements for the State Road 247 and County Road 240 crossing are no longer occurring.

Fort White looks at implementing property tax

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 16, 2023
FORT WHITE — Residents in Fort White could have an additional property tax in the future. The Town of Fort White is exploring implementing ad valorem taxes on its residents, discussing the matter at a recent town meeting. The town council meets again Monday.
Gary Campbell (from left) addresses the audience at the United Way of Suwannee Valley fundraising kickoff event while accompanied by Beverly Standridge and his son, Michael Campbell. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Gary Campbell (from left) addresses the audience at the United Way of Suwannee Valley fundraising kickoff event while accompanied by Beverly Standridge and his son, Michael Campbell. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Campbells tout importance of UWSV

TONY BRITT
Saturday, September 16, 2023
As a 3-year-old child, Michael Campbell was under the supervision of a babysitter who was charged with watching him. The babysitter turned their attention away from the youngster for a few moments and when they returned Campbell was at the bottom of the swimming pool.
Daniel Mora, Elvis Reynolds, Ammon Reyes, Virginio Mora and Martin Mora are all smiles after helping clear debris from a group of homes for disabled individuals. (COURTESY)

Daniel Mora, Elvis Reynolds, Ammon Reyes, Virginio Mora and Martin Mora are all smiles after helping clear debris from a group of homes for disabled individuals. (COURTESY)

Local church volunteers continue clearing debris

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, September 16, 2023
A religious organization is continuing to give help where it’s needed following Hurricane Idalia. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints brought thousands of volunteers to help victims of the storm to Florida, and the work continued through the past three weekends.
An operator dumps additional debris onto a fire at the Columbia County Public Works department in Lake City. The county also has a site in Fort White open to clear debris following Hurricane Idalia. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

An operator dumps additional debris onto a fire at the Columbia County Public Works department in Lake City. The county also has a site in Fort White open to clear debris following Hurricane Idalia. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Cleaning up Columbia: County contractor clearing, burning debris

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
The Hurricane Idalia debris removal and elimination in Columbia County has moved to the next phase after the storm left a massive pile of organic debris in its wake.
Three locals won titles at the U.S. National Forestry Pageant on Saturday in Tifton, Ga. Pictured are Manda Perry (Miss U.S. National Forestry 2022), from left, Mikah McCoy (Miss U.S. National Turpentine 2023), Lindsey Langston (Miss U.S. National Forestry 2023), Ashley Douylliez (Ms. U.S. National Forestry 2023), and Maddie Kelley (Ms. U.S. National Turpentine 2022). (COURTESY)

Three locals won titles at the U.S. National Forestry Pageant on Saturday in Tifton, Ga. Pictured are Manda Perry (Miss U.S. National Forestry 2022), from left, Mikah McCoy (Miss U.S. National Turpentine 2023), Lindsey Langston (Miss U.S. National Forestry 2023), Ashley Douylliez (Ms. U.S. National Forestry 2023), and Maddie Kelley (Ms. U.S. National Turpentine 2022). (COURTESY)

National forestry crowns remain rooted here

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Columbia County hit the trifecta at the U.S. National Forestry Pageant in Tifton, Georgia, last weekend.

Assault on disabled victim leads to arrest

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
A Lake City man is in trouble after police say he physically abused a disabled woman in a drunken rage. According to a Lake City Police Department report, Michael Deandre Ficklin, 46, was arrested Monday evening after trying to pick a fight with a wheelchair-bound woman in their shared home.
The Lake Shore Hospital Authority is requesting proposals on demolition of the Lake Shore Hospital building after an agreement could not be reached Monday with Meridian Behavioral Healthcare. The future of the hospital will be decided Sept. 25. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

The Lake Shore Hospital Authority is requesting proposals on demolition of the Lake Shore Hospital building after an agreement could not be reached Monday with Meridian Behavioral Healthcare. The future of the hospital will be decided Sept. 25. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Demolition diagnosis? LSHA board looks into tearing down hospital

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
The next patient to visit the Lake Shore Hospital building could very well be a wrecking ball.
Lake City’s Grace Elizabeth with Estée Lauder’s Stephane De La Faverie after receiving her Model of the Year award during the Fashion Media Awards. (COURTESY)

Lake City’s Grace Elizabeth with Estée Lauder’s Stephane De La Faverie after receiving her Model of the Year award during the Fashion Media Awards. (COURTESY)

Lake City’s Grace Elizabeth earns Model of the Year recognition

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
From Lake City to the top of the modeling world. Supermodel Grace Elizabeth, a Lake City native, was named Model of the Year by the Daily Front Row during last week’s Fashion Media Awards. The Daily Front Row is a fashion news website.