Local

An LCFD truck leaves Fire Station 2 on a call Tuesday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

An LCFD truck leaves Fire Station 2 on a call Tuesday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

LCFD second station open for service

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
For nearly 20 years, the Lake City Fire Department ran its operation out of one station, even though years before the department was a two-station unit.

FGC grad headed to SkillsUSA nationals

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Florida Gateway College graduate Caleb Dumas is set to compete at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta this weekend. In April, Dumas won the State Leadership & Skills Conference held in Jacksonville, topping the top three students from each of Florida’s six regions.
Columbia County Manager David Kraus speaks Tuesday after receiving the Columbia County Farm Bureau’s Public Service Award from Richard Jones. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Manager David Kraus speaks Tuesday after receiving the Columbia County Farm Bureau’s Public Service Award from Richard Jones. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Farm Bureau thanks public officials, servants

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Columbia County has rich agricultural history roots and the connection between local public servants and the agricultural community was celebrated Tuesday night.
The Lake Shore Hospital Authority is making progress in its talks with Meridian Behavioral Healthcare about the Lake Shore Hospital building which has sat vacant since Shands LakeShore Regional Medical Center closed in 2020. (FILE)

The Lake Shore Hospital Authority is making progress in its talks with Meridian Behavioral Healthcare about the Lake Shore Hospital building which has sat vacant since Shands LakeShore Regional Medical Center closed in 2020. (FILE)

Authority, Meridian talks progressing

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
The Lake Shore Hospital Authority is “well on” its “way” to locking down a new tenant for the downtown hospital facility.

Sales tax oversight committee approved

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
A group of local residents, assembled under the guise of helping to prioritize how the school district plans to spend millions of dollars in sales tax funds, was formally approved by the school board Tuesday.
The proposed intersection improvements for the State Road 247 and County Road 240 crossing in southwestern Columbia County. (COURTESY)

The proposed intersection improvements for the State Road 247 and County Road 240 crossing in southwestern Columbia County. (COURTESY)

SR 247, CR 240 crossing getting revamp

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
An intersection in southwestern Columbia County will be getting a facelift next year.
Columbia County Manager David Kraus said the county has gotten more than $55,000 in fire and solid waste assessments after reviewing property owners who hadn’t paid into it. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Manager David Kraus said the county has gotten more than $55,000 in fire and solid waste assessments after reviewing property owners who hadn’t paid into it. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

County ‘finds’ $55K in unpaid assessments

TONY BRITT
Friday, June 9, 2023
Columbia County has received more than $55,000 in additional fire and solid waste assessments from property owners who previously were not paying.
A rendering shows a home built using SusEco’s proprietary components. (COURTESY)

A rendering shows a home built using SusEco’s proprietary components. (COURTESY)

EDAB eying land to lure home builder

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, June 9, 2023
An innovative modular home builder could start building his business in Columbia County. The Columbia County Economic Development Advisory Board will consider at its 8:30 a.m. meeting Wednesday recommending an incentive for SusEco, Inc. — Project Cottage — to the County Commission.
The Columbia County School Board is set to approve the nine-member committee that will help determine how sales tax revenue is spent. (FILE)

The Columbia County School Board is set to approve the nine-member committee that will help determine how sales tax revenue is spent. (FILE)

Appointments ready for district’s sales tax advisory committee

TONY BRITT
Friday, June 9, 2023
School district officials believe they’ve selected an advisory committee capable of helping to prioritize how to spend millions in sales tax dollars. Columbia County School Board members are set to vote on the inaugural Sales Surtax Citizen Advisory committee during Tuesday’s board meeting.
Jennifer Malivert (from left) and Nicole Bryant, co-founders of the RAVTAV (Reach a Vet, Teach a Vet) program designed to help women veterans find services and resources, will conduct a presentation on Monday at the Malcolm Randall VA Auditorium in Gainesville. (COURTESY)

Jennifer Malivert (from left) and Nicole Bryant, co-founders of the RAVTAV (Reach a Vet, Teach a Vet) program designed to help women veterans find services and resources, will conduct a presentation on Monday at the Malcolm Randall VA Auditorium in Gainesville. (COURTESY)

RAVTAV teaching vets new skills

TONY BRITT
Friday, June 9, 2023
Two veterans affairs employees from the Malcolm Randall Medical Center have launched a program where they are seeking to provide more information and services to female veterans. RAVTAV (Reach a Vet, Teach a Vet) is a program conceived by co-founders Jennifer Malivert and Nicole Bryant.