Local

Council mostly ‘not surprised’ by resignation

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Paul Dyal’s resignation Tuesday shocked one member of the Lake City Council. Others, though, were “not totally surprised” by Dyal’s decision to step down as city manager. Dyal submitted his resignation Tuesday afternoon at 3:45 p.m. via email.
Belmont Academy kindergarten student Rylie Halks shows off her two books out of the book vending machine at the school. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Belmont Academy kindergarten student Rylie Halks shows off her two books out of the book vending machine at the school. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Belmont adds book vending machine

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Rylie Halks quietly stood in front of the vending machine at Belmont Academy on Tuesday morning, peering over her options. Rylie, a kindergarten student at the school, studied the goodies in front of her.
Lake City Manager Paul Dyal submitted his letter of resignation to the Lake City Council on Tuesday after serving in the role for 13 months full time. (FILE)

Lake City Manager Paul Dyal submitted his letter of resignation to the Lake City Council on Tuesday after serving in the role for 13 months full time. (FILE)

Dyal resigns as city manager

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
The City of Lake City is in need of a city manager once more.
Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Office employee Dennis Chauncey hands a sticker to an Eastside Elementary School fifth grader after she voted in the school’s election Tuesday. Other students wait in line with their ballots. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Office employee Dennis Chauncey hands a sticker to an Eastside Elementary School fifth grader after she voted in the school’s election Tuesday. Other students wait in line with their ballots. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

SOE office hosts Eastside student election

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
The Columbia County Supervisor of Elections office was swamped with voters Tuesday morning. They grabbed their ballots, made their choices and headed to the voting machine. After ballots were cast they were given an “I voted” sticker and pencil and left the office.

Council OKs own 3% raise

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
The Lake City Council is getting a raise after all. One week after the council tentatively approved its Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget, including removing a 3% raise for itself, the budget was approved a final time Monday. The $75 million plan, though, will include that increase for the council.
Lake City Councilman Jake Hill Jr. wipes his eyes while talking about Mariah Smith, a close family friend. Smith, 12, was shot and killed last month. The council supported designating NW Long Street in her honor. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Councilman Jake Hill Jr. wipes his eyes while talking about Mariah Smith, a close family friend. Smith, 12, was shot and killed last month. The council supported designating NW Long Street in her honor. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Council supports designating street in Smith’s memory

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
A Lake City street may soon have a new designation. During Monday’s Lake City Council meeting, the council unanimously supported a proposal of adding a designation to NW Long Street in northern Lake City.
A vehicle pulls into the County Road 240 and State Road 247 intersection in southwestern Columbia County on Friday afternoon. Florida Department of Transportation plans to revamp the skewed intersection have been shelved after concerns from residents. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

A vehicle pulls into the County Road 240 and State Road 247 intersection in southwestern Columbia County on Friday afternoon. Florida Department of Transportation plans to revamp the skewed intersection have been shelved after concerns from residents. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Changing course: DOT scraps plan for SR 247/CR 240 intersection

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Plans to overhaul an intersection in southwestern Columbia County have been shelved. The Florida Department of Transportation confirmed Friday that its planned improvements for the State Road 247 and County Road 240 crossing are no longer occurring.