Local

St. John: ‘All of Suwannee County is out of power”

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
LIVE OAK — Hurricane Idalia’s wrath will be felt for some time to come in Suwannee County, even if it wasn’t as bad as originally projected. Sheriff Sam St. John, the county’s emergency management director, said the storm was “pretty bad.
Columbia County Schools will be closed Thursday in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia. (FILE)

Columbia County Schools will be closed Thursday in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia. (FILE)

Columbia, Suwannee and Lafayette all close schools through at least Thursday

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Columbia County Schools will be closed Thursday following power outages and road closures caused by Hurricane Idalia. Superintendent Alex Cardwell issued a statement Wednesday afternoon after the storm passed. “All Columbia County Schools will be closed tomorrow, August 31, 2023,” Cardwell said.
Hurricanes Idalia's track as of the 2 p.m. update. (NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER)

Hurricanes Idalia's track as of the 2 p.m. update. (NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER)

Hurricane Idalia unleashes fury on Florida after making landfall as a dangerous Category 3 storm

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
PERRY — Hurricane Idalia made landfall Wednesday in Florida as a Category 3 storm and unleashed devastation along a wide stretch of the Gulf Coast, submerging homes and vehicles, turning streets into rivers, unmooring small boats and downing power lines before sweeping into Georgia.
Elizabeth and Darryl Boyette prepare and load sandbags at the Southside Sports Complex Tuesday morning ahead of Hurricane Idalia’s expected landfall Wednesday morning. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Elizabeth and Darryl Boyette prepare and load sandbags at the Southside Sports Complex Tuesday morning ahead of Hurricane Idalia’s expected landfall Wednesday morning. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County prepares for Hurricane Idalia

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Darryl and Elizabeth Boyette spent part of Tuesday morning preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Idalia. It wasn’t their first rodeo. They don’t believe it’ll be their last.
Scippi and Smith

Scippi and Smith

Armed teens both CCS district students

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Both armed males arrested at the Columbia High football game Friday were Columbia County Schools’ students. Assistant Superintendent Todd Widergren confirmed Monday that both 18-year-old Anthony Smith and 17-year-old Jeremy Scippio were students in the district.
Hurricane Idalia has strengthened and accelerated its approach northward Tuesday. (NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER)

Hurricane Idalia has strengthened and accelerated its approach northward Tuesday. (NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER)

UPDATE (11 P.M.): Idalia now predicted to hit Florida as Category 4 hurricane

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Hurricane Idalia, which strengthened to a Category 2 system with winds strengthening to 110 mph by Tuesday evening, is now projected to come ashore early Wednesday as a Category 4 system with sustained winds of at least 130 mph in the lightly populated Big Bend region, where the Florida Panhandle...

Teen arrested for girl’s murder

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
A 14-year-old Lake City teen has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the death of a 12-year-old girl who was shot and killed while watching television at her home last week.
Columbia High Principal Trey Hosford (left) and Assistant Principal Doug Peeler test one of the portable metal detectors Monday at the CHS front entrance. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia High Principal Trey Hosford (left) and Assistant Principal Doug Peeler test one of the portable metal detectors Monday at the CHS front entrance. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Metal detectors installed at CHS

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, August 28, 2023
The newest additions to Columbia High were being installed Monday afternoon. CHS and Columbia County School District staff spent Monday installing metal detectors at each of the three entrances for students at the school.
Lake City Fire Chief Josh Wehinger briefs the Lake City Council on Tropical Storm Idalia updates Monday afternoon. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Fire Chief Josh Wehinger briefs the Lake City Council on Tropical Storm Idalia updates Monday afternoon. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

City declares state of emergency ahead of Idalia

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Monday, August 28, 2023
A skeleton crew at the Lake City Council’s emergency meeting has followed the county’s lead and declared a local state of emergency Monday afternoon in response to Tropical Storm Idalia.
Columbia County Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan gives a briefing during Monday afternoon's meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan gives a briefing during Monday afternoon's meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County declares state of emergency

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Monday, August 28, 2023
Columbia County has officially begun its preparations for Tropical Storm Idalia’s expected landfall.  County Commissioners convened an emergency meeting Monday afternoon at 2 p.m.