Local

Third suspect arrested for ATM heist

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
The theft of an ATM from a Lake City bank in July is still dispensing arrests. Devin Lamar Cribbs, a 21-year-old from White Springs, was arrested Monday and booked into the Hamilton County Jail for grand theft for his role in the theft.
The Blanche Hotel is pictured Friday behind a sign in the Lake City Hall parking lot warning that vehicles parked in the lot without city business could be towed. Guests at a breast cancer survivor event Thursday at The Blanche received notices on their vehicles warning them of the same. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

The Blanche Hotel is pictured Friday behind a sign in the Lake City Hall parking lot warning that vehicles parked in the lot without city business could be towed. Guests at a breast cancer survivor event Thursday at The Blanche received notices on their vehicles warning them of the same. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

City, Blanche go ‘tow’ to ‘tow’

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Breast cancer survivors, supporters and friends received a rude door prize courtesy of the City of Lake City at a celebration in their honor downtown Thursday morning.
County Commission Chairman Rocky Ford said Sheriff Mark Hunter’s letter blaming the commission was ‘ludicrous.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County Commission Chairman Rocky Ford said Sheriff Mark Hunter’s letter blaming the commission was ‘ludicrous.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Sheriff, county feuding over funding

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, October 7, 2023
A roughly $300,000 difference in the requested and approved budgets for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has the CCSO and the Board of County Commissioners feuding. In a letter dated Sept.
Columbia County Assistant Superintendent Todd Widergren said the district is on path for construction to begin June 2024 on a new school at Niblack Elementary. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Assistant Superintendent Todd Widergren said the district is on path for construction to begin June 2024 on a new school at Niblack Elementary. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

New Niblack school construction on tap

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Plans for the construction of a new elementary school in Lake City is ready for takeoff.
Paul Westridge, 7, helps Adrienne Metcalf align jars of peanut butter that were donated during the second Farm to Table event. The event, which honors Columbia County’s agricultural history, took place Thursday evening at Darby Pavilion. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Paul Westridge, 7, helps Adrienne Metcalf align jars of peanut butter that were donated during the second Farm to Table event. The event, which honors Columbia County’s agricultural history, took place Thursday evening at Darby Pavilion. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Hundreds flock to Farm to Table

TONY BRITT
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Folks from all walks of life in Columbia County gathered at Darby Pavilion on Thursday night to celebrate the county’s historical roots. The gathering wasn’t designed to honor a specific person, but rather an event to honor the county’s agricultural roots.
A linemen strings fiber lines for Rapid Fiber Internet, a subsidiary of Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative. The broadband fiber internet service is up and running in parts of Suwannee County. (COURTESY RAPID FIBER INTERNET)

A linemen strings fiber lines for Rapid Fiber Internet, a subsidiary of Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative. The broadband fiber internet service is up and running in parts of Suwannee County. (COURTESY RAPID FIBER INTERNET)

SVEC rolls out fiber internet

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
LIVE OAK — Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative and Rapid Fiber Internet officially “turned the page” Monday on the high-speed internet project. During a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, SVEC and Rapid Fiber Internet officials and partners celebrated the launch of the service.
Steve Roberts, the county’s interim utilities director, said Wednesday that the growth potential in Ellisville is endless. (FILE)

Steve Roberts, the county’s interim utilities director, said Wednesday that the growth potential in Ellisville is endless. (FILE)

County seeks funds for Ellisville upgrades

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
With “a lot of improvements” needed for infrastructure in Ellisville, Columbia County officials are looking for state assistance.
Dee Johnson was named the City of Lake City’s interim city manager Monday night. Johnson has been the assistant manager for the past 14 months. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Dee Johnson was named the City of Lake City’s interim city manager Monday night. Johnson has been the assistant manager for the past 14 months. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Johnson named interim city manager

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Without a word from either individual, the Lake City Council accepted Paul Dyal’s resignation as Lake City Manager and named his interim replacement Monday night. Dyal, who originally had submitted a letter of resignation Sept. 19, had been encouraged by the council to reconsider during a Sept.
Luke Davenport, a Florida Fish and Conservation Commission officer, signs a coloring book for Ava Flores, 2, as Elias Flores, 4 and Chelsea Flores (far right) look on. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Luke Davenport, a Florida Fish and Conservation Commission officer, signs a coloring book for Ava Flores, 2, as Elias Flores, 4 and Chelsea Flores (far right) look on. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

LCPD, residents spend ‘Night Out’

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Hundreds of people, a majority of them children, filled the gravel parking adjacent to the Lake City Police Department on Tuesday evening. The youngsters looked at law enforcement vehicles, touched law enforcement tools and equipment and interacted with the people behind the badges.

Parisi recalled for love, passion for service

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Recalled as a “cop’s cop” and as an example of what a law enforcement officer should be, a Lake City police officer touched many lives. Detective Corporal Tim Parisi, who was 41, died Friday. He had a medical emergency earlier in the week while at a training conference in Orlando.