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The Lake City Council will discuss the future of Lake City Hall at a workshop today. The current city hall has a safety net attached to it to prevent bricks from falling. (FILE)

The Lake City Council will discuss the future of Lake City Hall at a workshop today. The current city hall has a safety net attached to it to prevent bricks from falling. (FILE)

Firming up city hall: Council to decide on future home at workshop

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
The future of Lake City Hall could be determined tonight. The Lake City Council is hosting a 6 p.m. workshop at City Hall, 205 N. Marion Avenue, to discuss the building as well as vacant city lots. The structuring of city advisory committees will also be discussed in the workshop.
The Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce’s fireworks show will start around 9:15 p.m. Saturday at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. (RAY CARPENTER/Special to the Reporter)

The Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce’s fireworks show will start around 9:15 p.m. Saturday at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. (RAY CARPENTER/Special to the Reporter)

Lake City festival to spark holiday festivities

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Columbia County and surrounding areas are gearing up for weekend and mid-week festivities to celebrate Independence Day. In Lake City, the Rotary Club, along with the City of Lake City, are set to host a Downtown Independence Day Celebration on Saturday, July 1, at Wilson Park.

Driving lesson leads to charges

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
A Lake City woman’s impromptu driving lesson ended with her in jail. According to a Lake City Police Department report, Kali Rochelle Corrao, 23, was arrested early Tuesday morning after an officer noticed something amiss near the intersection of Main Boulevard and Duval Street.
Carswell

Carswell

CCS: No plans to arm teachers

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Armed guards could be making their way to Columbia County public schools in the future, but it won’t be this year. During its Tuesday meeting, the Columbia County School Board voted to approve the framework for a school guardian program, which was included as part of the board’s consent agenda.
JD Morris, the Columbia High FFA alumni treasurer, adjusts a sign on the outside of the group’s fireworks tent at the Lake City Walmart on Tuesday. The fireworks tent is the FFA’s largest fundraiser. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

JD Morris, the Columbia High FFA alumni treasurer, adjusts a sign on the outside of the group’s fireworks tent at the Lake City Walmart on Tuesday. The fireworks tent is the FFA’s largest fundraiser. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

FFA ready for booming sales

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
The Columbia High School FFA fireworks tent is back and open for business ahead of the Fourth of July. While business was slow Tuesday afternoon after getting everything set up on Saturday, JD Morris was hopeful that, the closer it gets to the Independence Day, the more folks will stop by.
Taylor (left) and Clayton

Taylor (left) and Clayton

2 more charged in forest murder

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Two months after a badly burned body was found bound in the Osceola National Forest, two additional suspects have been arrested on murder charges.
A potential suspect is shown in video surveillance from a semi-tractor that had its tires punctured. (COURTESY)

A potential suspect is shown in video surveillance from a semi-tractor that had its tires punctured. (COURTESY)

FHP searching for suspect deflating tires

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking to deflate some criminal mischief on parked semi trucks. According to an FHP release, there have been at least six separate incidents where an unknown suspect has punctured tires on a semi-tractor or its trailer’s tires along Interstates 10 and 75.
Rountree Moore Ford General Manager Stephen Jones holds up the Ford Motor Company’s President’s Award, which the company earned for outstanding customer satisfaction. (COURTESY)

Rountree Moore Ford General Manager Stephen Jones holds up the Ford Motor Company’s President’s Award, which the company earned for outstanding customer satisfaction. (COURTESY)

Rountree Moore Ford claims national honor

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Rountree Moore Ford has been in the Lake City community for a while, nearly 100 years. But now, it can claim a new piece of hardware to add to its showcase. Rountree Moore recently received Ford Motor Company’s President’s Award for 2022, with the group earning the recognition back in March.
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is investigating a fatal shooting at a gas station Sunday afternoon. (COURTESY)

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is investigating a fatal shooting at a gas station Sunday afternoon. (COURTESY)

Gas station shooting death investigation ongoing

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
A 47-year-old Lake City man was shot and killed Sunday afternoon at a Columbia County gas station. According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Kendrick Jerry was the victim of the shooting, which occurred around 1 p.m. Sunday at the Chevron gas station near the U.S. Highway 441 N.