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Mercilee Brown (from left) and her Rodney Brown, the first African American student to attend Lake City Junior College stand with Travis George, Lelia Williams and Tony Cardenas during an FGC Black History Month Proclamation ceremony on Tuesday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Mercilee Brown (from left) and her Rodney Brown, the first African American student to attend Lake City Junior College stand with Travis George, Lelia Williams and Tony Cardenas during an FGC Black History Month Proclamation ceremony on Tuesday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

FGC honors past at Black History Month program

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Florida Gateway College’s past and future merged Tuesday morning as both current students and the college’s first Black student observed the beginning of Black History Month.
Lake Shore Hospital Authority Director Dale Williams addresses the public during a workshop Tuesday about the possibility of Meridian Behavioral Healthcare utilizing the Lake Shore Hospital building. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lake Shore Hospital Authority Director Dale Williams addresses the public during a workshop Tuesday about the possibility of Meridian Behavioral Healthcare utilizing the Lake Shore Hospital building. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Meridian provides consultation

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Meridian at Lake Shore took one more step toward a potential resolution Tuesday.
Hamilton (left) and Wainwright

Hamilton (left) and Wainwright

Convicted murderer dies on death row

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
A prisoner serving time on death row for his conviction in a Hamilton County murder died recently at a Florida Department of Corrections facility. Richard Eugene Hamilton, 59, died on Jan. 13. He was incarcerated at Union Correctional Institution. The cause of death has not been released.
Speaker of the House Paul Renner (R-Palm Coast) announces legislation filed to allow ‘constitutional carry’ in Florida. Renner is joined on his right by Rep. Chuck Brannan, a Macclenny Republican who represents Columbia County, who filed the bill, other legislators and sheriffs from across the state. (NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA)

Speaker of the House Paul Renner (R-Palm Coast) announces legislation filed to allow ‘constitutional carry’ in Florida. Renner is joined on his right by Rep. Chuck Brannan, a Macclenny Republican who represents Columbia County, who filed the bill, other legislators and sheriffs from across the state. (NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA)

Brannan files ‘constitutional carry’ bill

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, January 30, 2023
A proponent of “being able to defend yourself,” State Rep. Chuck Brannan has filed a bill to let more Floridians arm themselves for that intent.
Lake City Councilman Jake Hill Jr. motioned to deed Richardson Community Center over to Columbia County during a special meeting Monday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Councilman Jake Hill Jr. motioned to deed Richardson Community Center over to Columbia County during a special meeting Monday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

‘Pinball’ sends RCC back to county

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Monday, January 30, 2023
The Richardson Community Center is headed back toward the county. For how long is uncertain. The Lake City Council voted Monday to deed RCC back to the county as per a Memorandum of Understanding dated Feb. 7, 2022. Councilman Jake Hill Jr.
Meridian Behavioral Healthcare CEO Don Savoie discusses his organization’s plan for the Lake Shore Hospital in June 2022. (FILE)

Meridian Behavioral Healthcare CEO Don Savoie discusses his organization’s plan for the Lake Shore Hospital in June 2022. (FILE)

Meridian plan meets public at LSHA workshop

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Monday, January 30, 2023
The newest potential tenant at the Lake Shore Hospital campus is set to meet the public. Meridian Behavioral Healthcare CEO Don Savoie, along with a few members of Meridian’s board, will host a public forum at the Columbia School District’s administrative complex at 372 W Duval St.
Logan Wilson (left), a Fort White High School sophomore listens to Jackie Clark, a FWHS English teacher, as she shows off some of her cave diving equipment on Friday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Logan Wilson (left), a Fort White High School sophomore listens to Jackie Clark, a FWHS English teacher, as she shows off some of her cave diving equipment on Friday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White ‘dives’ into literacy

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 27, 2023
FORT WHITE — “Take a Deep Dive into Literacy” — the state’s 2023 literacy week campaign theme — hit quite literally at Fort White High School on Friday morning.

City still considers giving RCC to county

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, January 27, 2023
The game of hot potato over Richardson Community Center will continue Monday. During a special called meeting, the Lake City Council will discuss options for how to proceed with the historic community center.

Langston assisting commerce secretary

NEWS STAFF
Friday, January 27, 2023
Enterprise Florida has a new leader and her right-hand woman is a familiar face. Laura DiBella has been appointed the new Secretary of Commerce for the State of Florida and the president and CEO of Enterprise Florida.