Local

Emery convicted of child pornography charges

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
A Lake City man was convicted Wednesday on 10 counts of possession of child pornography. Ross David Emery, Jr., 33, will be sentenced Oct. 11. Judge Melissa Olin ordered the Department of Corrections to complete a pre-sentence investigation prior to that sentencing date.
Lake City Councilors Chevella Young and Todd Sampson disagreed on whether to use additional funds at Annie Mattox Park. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Councilors Chevella Young and Todd Sampson disagreed on whether to use additional funds at Annie Mattox Park. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Annie Mattox fountain funding funnels discord

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Projects at Annie Mattox Park are projected to be completed under budget. What to do with the remaining funds is now a subject of contention for the Lake City Council.
Sandy Kishton, a Lake City Realtor, is now a board certified professional from the Florida Realtors. (COURTESY)

Sandy Kishton, a Lake City Realtor, is now a board certified professional from the Florida Realtors. (COURTESY)

Kishton recognized as board certified Realtor

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
For a milestone anniversary, Lake City Realtor Sandy Kishton got herself a nice present. Celebrating 20 years in real estate, Kishton became one of the first 20 Realtors across the state to earn the designation of Florida Realtors Board Certified Professional.
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
Tuesday, August 22, 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.
Students walk on the Florida Gateway College campus Monday as the fall semester began. (COURTESY FLORIDA GATEWAY COLLEGE)

Students walk on the Florida Gateway College campus Monday as the fall semester began. (COURTESY FLORIDA GATEWAY COLLEGE)

FGC enrollment increases 2%

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Another year has started at Florida Gateway College. The college, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, started the fall term Monday. “It’s has been a tremendous first day,” said Tony Cardenas, the college’s Vice President for student affairs and public information.

LCPD hosting Citizen’s Police Academy

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
The Lake City Police Department is giving more than two dozen people an inside look at local law enforcement operations, procedures and training during its annual Citizen’s Police Academy which begins later this week. The Lake City Police Department will begin its Citizen’s Police Academy 6 p.m.
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.