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Columbia County Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan gives a briefing during Monday afternoon's meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan gives a briefing during Monday afternoon's meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County declares state of emergency

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Monday, August 28, 2023
Columbia County has officially begun its preparations for Tropical Storm Idalia’s expected landfall.  County Commissioners convened an emergency meeting Monday afternoon at 2 p.m.
Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to become a major hurricane before it reaches Florida's coast Wednesday. (NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER)

Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to become a major hurricane before it reaches Florida's coast Wednesday. (NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER)

Idalia expected to become major hurricane before landfall

NEWS STAFF
Monday, August 28, 2023
TAMPA — Florida residents loaded up on sandbags and evacuated from homes in low-lying areas along the Gulf Coast as Tropical Storm Idalia intensified Monday and forecasters predicted it would hit in days as a major hurricane with potentially life-threatening storm surges.
Columbia High Principal Trey Hosford talks with Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter at Tiger Stadium on Friday night after two armed teens climbed a fence attempting to get in. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia High Principal Trey Hosford talks with Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter at Tiger Stadium on Friday night after two armed teens climbed a fence attempting to get in. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Metal detectors coming to CHS

NEWS STAFF
Sunday, August 27, 2023
When students next return to Columbia High School, they’ll be greeted by something new at the door: metal detectors.
Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter talks will Columbia High and Buchholz High officials Friday night at Tiger Stadium. The season opener was postponed until Saturday night following two armed men climbing a fence at Tiger Stadium. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter talks will Columbia High and Buchholz High officials Friday night at Tiger Stadium. The season opener was postponed until Saturday night following two armed men climbing a fence at Tiger Stadium. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Investigation continues into incident at CHS game

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Authorities continue to investigate the incident at Tiger Stadium Friday night that postponed Columbia High's season opener. Sheriff Mark Hunter said Saturday that his deputies continue to sort through exactly why two armed teens climbed a fence to get into the stadium.
Jeff Woods, a disabled veteran, is pushing for Lake City businesses to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and make things easier for him and other disabled individuals. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Jeff Woods, a disabled veteran, is pushing for Lake City businesses to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and make things easier for him and other disabled individuals. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Disabled vet pushing for businesses to comply with ADA guidelines

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Jeff Woods is nearing his limit. To be fair, he says it’s been a long time coming anyway.

Williams balks at term limits for BOCC

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, August 26, 2023
After 40-plus years on the Columbia County Commission, Ron Williams could soon face an opponent he can’t beat. A House Republican on Thursday proposed a constitutional amendment that would impose eight-year term limits on county commissioners. Rep.
Trees were cleared behind the Jared Allison Aquatic Complex this week to make way for the installation of solar panels to heat the pool. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Trees were cleared behind the Jared Allison Aquatic Complex this week to make way for the installation of solar panels to heat the pool. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Trees cleared for pool’s solar project

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Out with the trees and in, soon, with the solar panels. Trees on the back side of the Columbia County School District’s Jared Allison Aquatic Complex were cleared this week to make way for the solar panel heating system project. “The action has started,” said Shawn Rost, the pool director.
Parkview Baptist Church’s two buses were damaged in a fire Wednesday night. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Parkview Baptist Church’s two buses were damaged in a fire Wednesday night. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Church buses damaged by possible arson fire

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, August 26, 2023
A fire Wednesday night at Parkview Baptist Church damaged a carport and two church buses, but not the church itself or any individuals. The fire is being investigated by the state fire marshal’s office.

LCPD chasing leads in child’s murder

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, August 25, 2023
Authorities spent all day Friday trying to solve the shooting of a child Thursday night. A 12-year-old girl was hit by gunfire while on the couch in a NW Long Street residence around 9 p.m. Thursday.