Local

Lake City Councilman Ricky Jernigan made the motion Monday to approve the city’s budget, including removing raises for the council. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Councilman Ricky Jernigan made the motion Monday to approve the city’s budget, including removing raises for the council. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Council nixes own raises, vehicle

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
The Lake City Council won’t be getting a raise or a vehicle. The community, though, will be getting programming aimed at reducing gun violence.
Titus Williams, the Columbia High JROTC Battalion Commander, leads the flag-bearing procession during Monday’s 9/11 memorial march at the school. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Titus Williams, the Columbia High JROTC Battalion Commander, leads the flag-bearing procession during Monday’s 9/11 memorial march at the school. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

JROTC cadets embrace solemn march

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
A sense of solemness, honor and patriotism overtook the main hall at Columbia High School on Monday morning as the school’s JROTC cadets and student body honored and remembered Sept. 11 terrorist attack victims on Patriot Day. At 10:28 a.m.
Representatives from the Federal Emegency Management Agency and other organizations will be on hand to assist local residents with their recovery from Hurricane Idalia. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Representatives from the Federal Emegency Management Agency and other organizations will be on hand to assist local residents with their recovery from Hurricane Idalia. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Disaster Recovery Center opens in LC

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Help is now available for Columbia County residents impacted by Hurricane Idalia. The Columbia County Disaster Recovery Center is opening up this morning to offer services to citizens. The services will be rendered at the old Lake City Reporter building, located at 180 E. Duval St. in Lake City.

School board approves budget, millage

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
The Columbia County School District’s budget and millage rate are now set. The Columbia County School Board unanimously approved both items during a brief meeting Tuesday night. The district’s budget of more than $147 million is up by nearly $20 million from last year’s budget of $127.8 million.
Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler speaks to a group of more than 35 children on Friday afternoon about the importance of staying in school. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler speaks to a group of more than 35 children on Friday afternoon about the importance of staying in school. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Police stress importance of school to children

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
More than 35 youngsters, representing the Presley EXCEL and Scholars Program, Youth for Christ Ministry, Presley Learning Center Academy, Readers Are Leaders, Miracle Tabernacle Girls of Distinction and EXCEL  Boys Group visited the Lake City Police Department on Friday afternoon where Gerald...
Rory Penland, a Lake City native, stands in front of ‘The Orangerie’ (Musee de l’Orangerie in Paris, France, in March 2018. Penland’s Iconic Art Project exhibit, featuring replicas of some of the most famous art pieces in history, will be on display at the Gateway Art Gallery later this month. (COURTESY)

Rory Penland, a Lake City native, stands in front of ‘The Orangerie’ (Musee de l’Orangerie in Paris, France, in March 2018. Penland’s Iconic Art Project exhibit, featuring replicas of some of the most famous art pieces in history, will be on display at the Gateway Art Gallery later this month. (COURTESY)

Gallery has gone to the pets, Penland

TONY BRITT
Saturday, September 9, 2023
From a glance at things, it may appear that the Gateway Art Gallery has gone to the dogs. And cats and whatever other pets local artists have.
Columbia County Commissioner Tim Murphy said he was opposed to the $7,500 awarded to the Columbia County Riding Club in the county’s 2023-24 budget. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Commissioner Tim Murphy said he was opposed to the $7,500 awarded to the Columbia County Riding Club in the county’s 2023-24 budget. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County passes tentative budget

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, September 9, 2023
Columbia County has adopted its tentative budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Now it has just one more procedural hurdle to get over before it officially passes.
Kathy Hebda, the chancellor of the Florida College System, and Kimberly Reichey, the senior chancellor of the Florida Department of Education, dropped off food and supplies at Florida Gateway College on Thursday. (COURTESY FLORIDA GATEWAY COLLEGE)

Kathy Hebda, the chancellor of the Florida College System, and Kimberly Reichey, the senior chancellor of the Florida Department of Education, dropped off food and supplies at Florida Gateway College on Thursday. (COURTESY FLORIDA GATEWAY COLLEGE)

Donations help restock FGC Student Food Pantry

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 9, 2023
The shelves are restocked at the Florida Gateway College Student Food Pantry with some help from friends across the state.

LDS church helping cleanup efforts

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, September 9, 2023
Hurricane Idalia cleanup efforts are still ongoing in different regions of South Georgia and North Florida. One religious group is saying that it’s still serving residents who were impacted by the storm.
First responders gather at the intersection of U.S. Highway 441 South and Southeast Patio Glen on Friday afternoon. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

First responders gather at the intersection of U.S. Highway 441 South and Southeast Patio Glen on Friday afternoon. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

2 dead after deputy-involved shooting

NEWS STAFF
Friday, September 8, 2023
Two people are dead following a domestic disturbance and a deputy-involved shooting in a mobile home park on U.S. Highway 441 South Friday afternoon.