Local

Mike Herlong looks out over his property in Fort White, which could become a flood zone according to the preliminary flood risk maps from FEMA. Herlong said the property, which been in his family for 100-plus years, never floods. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Mike Herlong looks out over his property in Fort White, which could become a flood zone according to the preliminary flood risk maps from FEMA. Herlong said the property, which been in his family for 100-plus years, never floods. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

FEMA maps cause flood of concern

TONY BRITT
Friday, April 21, 2023
FORT WHITE — For years, Mike Herlong has used his family homestead in southern Columbia County for growing a variety of agricultural crops.
LCFD Assistant Chief Dwight Boozer said his department doused the small fire in about 15 seconds. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

LCFD Assistant Chief Dwight Boozer said his department doused the small fire in about 15 seconds. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Bank ‘blaze’ doused quickly

TONY BRITT
Friday, April 21, 2023
An electrical fire forced the evacuation and Friday afternoon closure of Seacoast Bank after the bank lost electricity from the small fire. The incident occurred around 1:36 p.m.
District Rotary Governor Dan Sulger (left), Rotary Club of Lake City President Jay Swisher (right) and Lake City Rotarian John Wheeler take a closer look at the rubber mulch that replaced sand at the Rotary Children’s Playground at downtown Wilson Park. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

District Rotary Governor Dan Sulger (left), Rotary Club of Lake City President Jay Swisher (right) and Lake City Rotarian John Wheeler take a closer look at the rubber mulch that replaced sand at the Rotary Children’s Playground at downtown Wilson Park. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Rotary park gets soft surface

TONY BRITT
Friday, April 21, 2023
The Rotary Children’s Playground was packed Thursday afternoon. But it wasn’t preschool-aged children filling the playground with youthful and exuberant smiles.
Nola D, the director of ‘Diasporans Hidden Kulture Film' and a Lake City native, will show her inspiring documentary at the Columbia County School Board auditorium on April 29. (COURTESY)

Nola D, the director of ‘Diasporans Hidden Kulture Film' and a Lake City native, will show her inspiring documentary at the Columbia County School Board auditorium on April 29. (COURTESY)

‘Kulture’ film looks to inspire youth

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 21, 2023
Inspiration took Nola D from her youth in Lake City to where she is today. Now, she is hoping to provide that inspiration to the next generation as a documentary cultural filmmaker.
Columbia County Commissioner Tim Murphy said the county “cannot afford” to start a full recreation department during a workshop on the matter Thursday. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Commissioner Tim Murphy said the county “cannot afford” to start a full recreation department during a workshop on the matter Thursday. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

BOCC wants close eye on rec league funds

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 21, 2023
A complete revamp of recreation in Columbia County isn’t imminent after all.
The Columbia County Commission approved land use changes near the Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 41 interchange Tuesday. (COURTESY)

The Columbia County Commission approved land use changes near the Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 41 interchange Tuesday. (COURTESY)

County approves land use changes near U.S. 41, I-10 interchange

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, April 20, 2023
Columbia County officials are looking to make changes in the county’s Comprehensive Plan that could create more economic development opportunities by expanding the Designated Urban Development Area near the Interstate-10 interchanges.
Rotary District Governor Dan Sulger of Navarre speaks to the Rotary Club of Lake City on Thursday at Darby Pavilion prior to a special event dedication. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Rotary District Governor Dan Sulger of Navarre speaks to the Rotary Club of Lake City on Thursday at Darby Pavilion prior to a special event dedication. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Rotary District Governor visits

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, April 20, 2023
Rotary District Governor Dan Sulger of Navarre visited the Rotary Club of Lake City Thursday and offered his district speech “Rotary is You!,” an encouraging message of interaction for Rotarians in Lake City. Rotarians gathered with Sulger after the meeting for a special event dedication.
TDC Chair Tim Murphy said the process of hiring a new executive director for the council could take months. (COURTESY)

TDC Chair Tim Murphy said the process of hiring a new executive director for the council could take months. (COURTESY)

Who is next to lead the TDC?

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
The Columbia County Tourist Development Council has a missing piece to fill back in. How and when the TDC does that is still up in the air. Former TDC Executive Director Paula Vann’s last day as the TDC’s executive director was Tuesday.
Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler discusses combined dispatch at Tuesday’s joint city-county meeting. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler discusses combined dispatch at Tuesday’s joint city-county meeting. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Joint dispatch close to reality

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Close to a decade’s worth of potential partnerships, technological advances and behind-the-scenes work could reach a pinnacle in the a few weeks when city and county dispatchers both share space and working duties in a combined communications center.
Mark Nelson (from left) and Bill Cooper wait in line as Tina Scavetta collects different canned foods while preparing food bags that will be given to local residents. Cooper, Nelson and Scavetta are volunteers supporting the North Central Florida Young Marines food distributions in Fort White. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Mark Nelson (from left) and Bill Cooper wait in line as Tina Scavetta collects different canned foods while preparing food bags that will be given to local residents. Cooper, Nelson and Scavetta are volunteers supporting the North Central Florida Young Marines food distributions in Fort White. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Young Marines, volunteers give back with food

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
FORT WHITE — Three lines of vehicles occupied space in front of the Fort White Community Center Tuesday afternoon as volunteers unpacked and bagged boxes of fruit, soup, produce and other food items.