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Fort White Elementary School’s Tucker Ayers shows off his awards for winning the Columbia County Spelling Bee on Friday. (COURTESY)

Fort White Elementary School’s Tucker Ayers shows off his awards for winning the Columbia County Spelling Bee on Friday. (COURTESY)

County champion is spelled Tucker Ayers

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 13, 2023
Columbia County’s top speller has more than district bragging rights. Fort White Elementary School fifth grader Tucker Ayers beat out his older brother Jakob along with 12 other competitors to win the 2023 Columbia County Spelling Bee on Friday.

Planning begins for Richardson roundup

NEWS STAFF
Friday, January 13, 2023
After a two-year hiatus, the Roundup is back in action. The Richardson Roundup Committee will host a meeting Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Richardson Recreation Center in the conference room beginning at 3 p.m. The purpose of the meeting will be to organize the upcoming roundup at the end of July.
Hunter Peeler (right), the school board member for District 5, suggested to Superintendent Lex Carswell the district resume live-streaming board meetings. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Hunter Peeler (right), the school board member for District 5, suggested to Superintendent Lex Carswell the district resume live-streaming board meetings. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

School board meetings ready for live-streaming

TONY BRITT
Thursday, January 12, 2023
The Columbia County School Board will soon be going virtual. The district plans to begin live-streaming school board meetings in the near future. Public meetings were live-streamed on YouTube two years ago during the height of the covid-19 pandemic.
An Ellianos Coffee shop serves a thirsty customer. Ellianos was recently named one of the top franchises in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

An Ellianos Coffee shop serves a thirsty customer. Ellianos was recently named one of the top franchises in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Brewing up recognition: Ellianos a top 500 franchise in new magazine rankings

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
One locally based coffee shop has earned international recognition as one of the best franchises in the world. Ellianos Coffee, based in Lake City, was named one of the top franchises in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list.
Columbia County Manager David Kraus said he and county attorney Joel Foreman met with city officials to discuss the next steps regarding Richardson Community Center. (FILE)

Columbia County Manager David Kraus said he and county attorney Joel Foreman met with city officials to discuss the next steps regarding Richardson Community Center. (FILE)

County vacating Richardson within 90 days

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
The countdown is on to the Columbia County’s exit from Richardson Community Center. In a letter hand delivered to City Manager Paul Dyal on Friday, County Manager David Kraus indicated the county planned to have its resources out of the facility effective 90 days from Friday, or by April 6.
Lake City Fire Station #2 sits waiting to be opened for services on Tuesday. The $2.7 million station is still waiting on an electrical panel that has caused a delay in its opening. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Fire Station #2 sits waiting to be opened for services on Tuesday. The $2.7 million station is still waiting on an electrical panel that has caused a delay in its opening. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Station on standby: Opening of Fire Station #2 delayed by supply chain issue

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
The opening of Lake City Fire Station #2 is currently in a holding pattern. Construction of the $2.7 million new city fire station on the west side of Lake City began April 7, 2022, and the station was expected to open on yesterday (Jan.

Carswell not seeking re-election

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
The Columbia School Board may be under new leadership after elections next year. Lex Carswell, Columbia Schools’ Superintendent, announced he would not seek re-election in 2024 during Tuesday’s school board meeting.
Chris Wynn, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Regional Director, releases a rehabilitated bald eagle into the wild on Tuesday morning at Alligator Lake Public Recreation area. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Chris Wynn, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Regional Director, releases a rehabilitated bald eagle into the wild on Tuesday morning at Alligator Lake Public Recreation area. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Injured bald eagle released back into wild

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
A bald eagle, injured in a territorial battle with another bald eagle in early November during the stormy weather of Hurricane Nicole, was released back into the wild Tuesday morning at the Alligator Lake Public Recreation Area.

Former CCI guard arrested after drugs found inside jacket

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Bringing drugs into Columbia Correctional Institution Annex landed a former prison guard in jail last month. According to a Florida Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General report released Friday, 21-year-old William Connor, of Lake City, was searched upon entering the prison on Dec.