Local

Columbia County BOCC Chair Rocky Ford said he agreed with Sheriff Mark Hunter in that the sheriff's office shouldn't be burdened with operating animal control services at Thursday's BOCC meeting. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County BOCC Chair Rocky Ford said he agreed with Sheriff Mark Hunter in that the sheriff's office shouldn't be burdened with operating animal control services at Thursday's BOCC meeting. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County to control animal control

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, January 19, 2023
While the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is free from handling animal control, it will still likely be under county control moving forward.
Tyler Goff (back from left), Bess Goff and Chelsea Culver pose with Olivia Medeiros, the Lake City Culver’s location’s first customer, along with the first dollar spent at the restaurant. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Tyler Goff (back from left), Bess Goff and Chelsea Culver pose with Olivia Medeiros, the Lake City Culver’s location’s first customer, along with the first dollar spent at the restaurant. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Dollar spent, dollar earned: First Culver’s customer gets her just desserts from franchise

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
For 8-year-old Olivia Medeiros, the wait was irresistible. The night before Lake City’s first Culver’s restaurant opened, she begged her parents to camp out the night in anticipation of being the first one through the door. “She wanted to spend the night,” Travis Medeiros, Olivia’s father, said.

Sheriff: I’m out on animal control

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Columbia County officials are headed back to the drawing board for handling animal control. Sheriff Mark Hunter sent a letter Jan. 12 to Rocky Ford, County Commission chairman, indicating the CCSO was not interested in providing the services.

SVEC, Duke giving away trees for Florida Arbor Day

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
A pair of electrical companies are giving trees away to customers in honor of Florida Arbor Day. Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative is giving tulip poplar trees to members Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
City crews clean up Lake Jeffery Road on Tuesday afternoon after repairing a broken water line on the road near the intersection with NW Orange Street. The line was broken by a contractor installing fiberoptic cables. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

City crews clean up Lake Jeffery Road on Tuesday afternoon after repairing a broken water line on the road near the intersection with NW Orange Street. The line was broken by a contractor installing fiberoptic cables. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Water line break repaired

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Hundreds of Lake City residents and businesses were without water Tuesday after a company installing fiberoptic cables punctured a city water line.
The future of Richardson Community Center was tabled by the Lake City Council on Tuesday to provide time for staff to provide information on what it would cost to run the facility and recreation there. (FILE)

The future of Richardson Community Center was tabled by the Lake City Council on Tuesday to provide time for staff to provide information on what it would cost to run the facility and recreation there. (FILE)

RCC status still up in air

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Concerns over finances has Richardson Community Center’s fate still uncertain.
HAECO will remain in Lake City long-term after a 20-year lease deal was approved by the Lake City Council. (FILE)

HAECO will remain in Lake City long-term after a 20-year lease deal was approved by the Lake City Council. (FILE)

Long-term HAECO lease clears council

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Although delayed, the City of Lake City has landed a long-term deal with HAECO Americas at the Florida Gateway Airport. The Lake City Council voted 4-1 in favor of a new lease agreement with HAECO at Tuesday night’s meeting. Councilor Todd Sampson dissented.
E. Stanley Richardson (left) will portray Frederick Douglass in the Feb. 3 performance alongside Shamrock McShane as Captain John Brown. (COURTESY)

E. Stanley Richardson (left) will portray Frederick Douglass in the Feb. 3 performance alongside Shamrock McShane as Captain John Brown. (COURTESY)

Gallery showcasing live performance

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
The Gateway Art Gallery is expanding the arts showcased at the facility to a medium not bound to a canvas. The Gateway Art Gallery has scheduled a live performance of “An Evening with Frederick Douglass and Captain John Brown” as the inaugural event for its First Friday program.
Skylar Beichner center is presented with her Eagle Scout rank patch by her grandmother Ruth Kennedy (left) and mother Lodisca Beichner during a ceremony on Saturday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Skylar Beichner center is presented with her Eagle Scout rank patch by her grandmother Ruth Kennedy (left) and mother Lodisca Beichner during a ceremony on Saturday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

County’s first female Eagle Scout honored

TONY BRITT
Monday, January 16, 2023
The scouting sash covering the right shoulder and most of Skylar Beichner’s torso contained a variety of merit badges representing everything from knot-tying to camping.
The Lake City Council will consider a new long-term lease agreement with HAECO at Tuesday’s meeting. (FILE)

The Lake City Council will consider a new long-term lease agreement with HAECO at Tuesday’s meeting. (FILE)

City, HAECO deal circles for landing

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 13, 2023
A long-term lease agreement at Lake City Gateway airport is ready for a second landing attempt.