Local

Earnest Burch waved down festival-goers with his Old Glory cape at the 2019 Independence Day event at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. After no festival a year ago, the City of Lake City and the Rotary Club of Lake City are bringing a full slate of activities to the banks of Lake DeSoto this year. (FILE)

Earnest Burch waved down festival-goers with his Old Glory cape at the 2019 Independence Day event at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. After no festival a year ago, the City of Lake City and the Rotary Club of Lake City are bringing a full slate of activities to the banks of Lake DeSoto this year. (FILE)

City, Rotary throwing downtown July 4 festival

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
For the City of Lake City and Rotary Club of Lake City, it’s never too early to plan the nation’s birthday. Both groups are in the first stages of organizing the inaugural Independence Day Festival set to be held at Wilson Park in downtown Lake City on Saturday, July 1.
Lake City Councilman Todd Sampson suggested the city get a seperate licensing agreement with the Richardson Community Center board for programs the city will fund during Monday’s city council meeting. (FILE)

Lake City Councilman Todd Sampson suggested the city get a seperate licensing agreement with the Richardson Community Center board for programs the city will fund during Monday’s city council meeting. (FILE)

City strikes deal on park funding

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Background checks will be required to volunteer or work with a Lake City park. The Lake City Council approved by a 3-2 vote Monday night an interlocal agreement with the Annie Mattox Park board that provides funding and security measures at the park.

St. Cloud man charged for torching camper

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
A St. Cloud man faces multiple charges after a fight Saturday night led to a camper being set on fire. According to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office report, 32-year-old Clint Stubbs arrived home to a camper drunk and began starting a fight around 9:30 p.m.
Crews from Lake City Fire Department and Columbia County Fire Rescue extinguished a fire around 3 a.m. Tuesday in the service area of the Honda of Lake City dealership. (COURTESY)

Crews from Lake City Fire Department and Columbia County Fire Rescue extinguished a fire around 3 a.m. Tuesday in the service area of the Honda of Lake City dealership. (COURTESY)

Overnight fire doused at Honda dealership

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
A Tuesday morning fire caused extensive damage in the service department area of the Honda of Lake City car dealership. The fire occurred shortly after 3 a.m. at the Honda dealership, 4389 W. U.S. Highway 90, according to Lake City Fire Department reports.
Meditating Monkey Art Emporium owner Gary Rife explains the concept behind the animal artwork Friday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Meditating Monkey Art Emporium owner Gary Rife explains the concept behind the animal artwork Friday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Not monkey-ing around: New gallery hosting cars, artists for grand opening

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, June 2, 2023
Artists and art-lovers have a new opportunity to express themselves while indulging in others’ work. The Meditating Monkey Art Emporium, Lake City’s newest art and jewelry gallery, is set to host its grand opening today from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
The parking lot at the Lake City Fire Station 2 was repaved last week after the original asphalt was ‘unraveling.’ The issue has delayed the station opening. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

The parking lot at the Lake City Fire Station 2 was repaved last week after the original asphalt was ‘unraveling.’ The issue has delayed the station opening. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

New fire station parking lot fixed

TONY BRITT
Friday, June 2, 2023
For the Lake City Fire Department, opening LCFD Station 2 on the west side of town has been a series of delays. The latest delay was caused by the asphalt work in the parking lot, which resulted in the lot needing to get repaved and striped. The work took place May 26.
Assistant County Manager Kevin Kirby discusses the county’s design and maintenance manual for subdivisions Thursday as an example for how MSBUs would work using the Forest Cove subdivision is shown behind him. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Assistant County Manager Kevin Kirby discusses the county’s design and maintenance manual for subdivisions Thursday as an example for how MSBUs would work using the Forest Cove subdivision is shown behind him. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County eyes fix for subdivisions

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, June 2, 2023
Columbia County is hoping new standards will lead to fewer potholes with infrastructure constructed in subdivisions.
A $2 million grant for improvements at Richardson Community Center is likely to be rescinded by the Lake City Council at its meeting Monday. (FILE)

A $2 million grant for improvements at Richardson Community Center is likely to be rescinded by the Lake City Council at its meeting Monday. (FILE)

City declining RCC grant

TONY BRITT
Friday, June 2, 2023
The City of Lake City is turning down a $2 million grant for improvements to Richardson Community Center. But City Manager Paul Dyal said the decision, which has been discussed multiple times in recent months, is basically out of the city’s hands.

Arrest made in 2021 murder

NEWS STAFF
Friday, June 2, 2023
A Lake City man was arrested Friday by the Lake City Police Department for a 2021 murder. According to an LCPD release, 33-year-old Dominic Brantley was charged with homicide for the October 2021 killing of Timothy McGaffick at the Columbia Arms Apartments.