Local

Burglary spree ends in arrest

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
A Lake City man was apprehended Sunday after a string of three burglaries in three days. According to a Lake City Police Department release, Zacchaeus Beverly, 27, was suspected in burglaries Friday and Saturday before officers were called to a residence on SE Date Street at 11:30 a.m.
The Rotary Club of Lake City Downtown held a Lake DeSoto cleanup day Saturday. Among the people helping with the cleanup were Noah Walker (from left), Steven Khachigan, Robert Getzan, Bill Sanders, Dave Cobb, Anita Sanders, Darrel Mathis and Deonna Willis. (COURTESY)

The Rotary Club of Lake City Downtown held a Lake DeSoto cleanup day Saturday. Among the people helping with the cleanup were Noah Walker (from left), Steven Khachigan, Robert Getzan, Bill Sanders, Dave Cobb, Anita Sanders, Darrel Mathis and Deonna Willis. (COURTESY)

Downtown Rotary cleans Lake DeSoto

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Lake DeSoto is clean once more. The Rotary Club of Lake City Downtown conducted one of its biannual Lake DeSoto cleanup days Saturday, collecting approximately 100 pounds of trash and debris from the downtown lake.
Lake City Councilor Chevella Young said Monday that she wants to give Interim City Manager Dee Johnson time to do the job, believing he has already proven himself. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Councilor Chevella Young said Monday that she wants to give Interim City Manager Dee Johnson time to do the job, believing he has already proven himself. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

City delays search, salary votes

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Lake City’s search for a new city manager will wait a few more weeks. As will discussion on Interim City Manager Dee Johnson’s salary and the pay for the Lake City Council itself. For the second straight meeting, the council tabled those items until a full council can meet.
Excavators and other heavy equipment sit on site at the future Cornerstone Crossing at 47, a commercial development southeast of the Interstate 75 interchange off State Road 47. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Excavators and other heavy equipment sit on site at the future Cornerstone Crossing at 47, a commercial development southeast of the Interstate 75 interchange off State Road 47. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

47 site cleared for work

TONY BRITT
Saturday, November 4, 2023
Preliminary construction work for a retail development at the Fort White exit off Interstate 75 is scheduled to begin in a few days.
Sheriff Mark Hunter said the Columbia County Commission reduced the county’s funding toward deputies’ raises unfairly, relying on state funding to offset it. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Sheriff Mark Hunter said the Columbia County Commission reduced the county’s funding toward deputies’ raises unfairly, relying on state funding to offset it. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Sheriff, board bicker over budget

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, November 4, 2023
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office will receive additional funding toward employee salaries. But after a heated meeting with the Columbia County Commission on Thursday morning, the CCSO is not receiving all of the funding Sheriff Mark Hunter believes his agency is owed.
The Columbia County and Alachua County Sheriff’s Offices responded to a call about a suspicious device on SW Arlington Boulevard Thursday. The device was not an explosive. (COURTESY)

The Columbia County and Alachua County Sheriff’s Offices responded to a call about a suspicious device on SW Arlington Boulevard Thursday. The device was not an explosive. (COURTESY)

Tow truck driver steers clear of device

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, November 4, 2023
A tow truck driver declined to pick up more than a vehicle Thursday afternoon. Called to a property on SW Arlington Boulevard to remove a vehicle, the driver noticed a suspicious device inside as he was clearing it out, calling law enforcement. Sgt.
Staff at Brannon Real Estate will help host the annual veterans dinner on Nov. 11 at the Columbia Gateway Fairgrounds. Pictured here are Gail March-Baker (bottom row, from left), Jack Russell, Elicia Linton, Teresa Brannon, and Duke Silvey; Bonice Phinney (second row, from left), Callie Harrington, and Mindy Tenneboe; Michael Morrison (third row, from left), Leila Harrington and Tammy Tyre. Not pictured: Christian Griffis, Pamela Nettles, Amy Overstreet and Michale Cuadras. (COURTESY)

Staff at Brannon Real Estate will help host the annual veterans dinner on Nov. 11 at the Columbia Gateway Fairgrounds. Pictured here are Gail March-Baker (bottom row, from left), Jack Russell, Elicia Linton, Teresa Brannon, and Duke Silvey; Bonice Phinney (second row, from left), Callie Harrington, and Mindy Tenneboe; Michael Morrison (third row, from left), Leila Harrington and Tammy Tyre. Not pictured: Christian Griffis, Pamela Nettles, Amy Overstreet and Michale Cuadras. (COURTESY)

Veteran’s lunch set to make return

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, November 4, 2023
An annual Veterans Day lunch is set to return next weekend, complete with barbecue and prizes to be given away to area vets. All that will be done under new supervision as well.

Columbia school bus involved in collision

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, November 4, 2023
A Columbia County School District employee was at fault for a Thursday morning accident involving a school bus. According to a Lake City Police Department report, a CCS bus and a 2010 Ford Fusion collided Thursday around 7:14 a.m. at the intersection of SW Baya Drive and SW McFarlane Avenue.