Local

Eric McKenzie, who escaped from the work release center Monday afternoon, was captured in the wooded area near there within an hour. (COURTESY)

Eric McKenzie, who escaped from the work release center Monday afternoon, was captured in the wooded area near there within an hour. (COURTESY)

Escaped prisoner captured quickly

NEWS STAFF
Monday, August 21, 2023
An escaped prisoner didn’t get far Monday afternoon. Shortly after lunchtime, 38-year-old Eric McKenzie escaped the work release facility near Lake Jeffery Road. Within an house, McKenzie was apprehended in the wooded area near the work release center near NW Cluster Drive.
The resurfacing of the Columbia High School track has been delayed. After Pro Sports Consulting Group extended the project multiple times, the district is now pushing it off until later this fall. (FILE)

The resurfacing of the Columbia High School track has been delayed. After Pro Sports Consulting Group extended the project multiple times, the district is now pushing it off until later this fall. (FILE)

CHS track hits speed bumps

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, August 19, 2023
The renovation of the Columbia High track has exited the fast lane. The track, which was being resurfaced as well as widened to add a ninth lane, was originally hoped to be completed prior to the start of the school year.
Columbia County Building Official Troy Crews said the county is looking to make a ‘clean transition’ with handling city permits on Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Building Official Troy Crews said the county is looking to make a ‘clean transition’ with handling city permits on Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County winding down city permits

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, August 19, 2023
The City of Lake City is preparing to fill an important need as an interlocal agreement between the city and Columbia County is on the chopping block.
Lake City Reporter Editor Jamie Wachter (left) and Publisher Todd Wilson stand beside the newspaper’s relocated sign street side at 1086 SW Main Blvd., where the newspaper has relocated to Suite 103 of the former Social Security office complex. The Reporter completed its move earlier this month after selling its 11,000 square foot building on Duval Street downtown to Columbia County earlier this year. The signs were moved earlier this week. (JULIA GASPARRINI/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Reporter Editor Jamie Wachter (left) and Publisher Todd Wilson stand beside the newspaper’s relocated sign street side at 1086 SW Main Blvd., where the newspaper has relocated to Suite 103 of the former Social Security office complex. The Reporter completed its move earlier this month after selling its 11,000 square foot building on Duval Street downtown to Columbia County earlier this year. The signs were moved earlier this week. (JULIA GASPARRINI/Lake City Reporter)

Reporter moves to new office location

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, August 19, 2023
The Lake City Reporter completed its move to a new location earlier this month on Southwest Main Boulevard. The Reporter relocated to 1086 SW Main Blvd, Suite 103, in the office complex known to locals as the former Social Security Office complex.
Commissioner Robby Hollingsworth said he wanted additional documentation to show the Columbia County Health Department needs additional funding. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Commissioner Robby Hollingsworth said he wanted additional documentation to show the Columbia County Health Department needs additional funding. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County questions DOH increase

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, August 19, 2023
The Columbia County Commission wants additional information before it signs off on additional funds for the Columbia County Health Department.

City raising fire assessment rate

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Lake City property owners will be paying more for fire protection next year. In budget workshops this week, the Lake City Council recommended moving forward with a $60 increase to residential properties’ fire assessment. Currently, the residential rate is $252.02 annually.
Commissioner Ron Williams said the county needs to act on property for sale next to the landfill before it gets locked in. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Commissioner Ron Williams said the county needs to act on property for sale next to the landfill before it gets locked in. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County eyes land near landfill

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Columbia County officials are looking to trash any future solid waste concerns for years to come. During Thursday’s County Commission meeting, Commissioner Ron Williams asked staff to look into property for sale just east of the county’s current landfill in Winfield.

Forest murder suspect back in Columbia County

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
A suspect in the Osceola National Forest murder is back in Columbia County. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Robert Lee Jackson, 26, in April for the death of Shawn Waldron, whose severely burned body was found alongside a trail road in the forest on April 11.
The first phase of Columbia County’s flat field facility includes eight of the 12 flat fields. (COURTESY)

The first phase of Columbia County’s flat field facility includes eight of the 12 flat fields. (COURTESY)

Flat field launch has $10M pricetag

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Getting Columbia County’s flat field facility up and running comes with a $10 million cost, currently. At Wednesday’s Tourist Development Council meeting, interim TDC Director Clint Pittman told the board that the first phase of the 500-acre project is estimated to cost roughly $10 million.