Local

Paul Dyal speaks at a Lake City Council meeting in August. Dyal was, at the time, the interim City Manager after a lengthy search process yielded few results. (FILE)

Paul Dyal speaks at a Lake City Council meeting in August. Dyal was, at the time, the interim City Manager after a lengthy search process yielded few results. (FILE)

YEAR IN REVIEW: Siegmeister’s sentencing tops list of 2022 stories

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, December 30, 2022
To borrow from a 1978 song, 2022 was full of lawyers, guns and money. Threats against schools, a continuing revolving door in local government, nationally recognized trials and business deals — and sometimes no-deals — all marked the highlights and lowlights of the year.
Southside Idol 2023 contestants: Will Griffis (from left), Briana Frasier, Amberlyn Faulstich, Brynlei Smith, Willie Mae Walker, Allison Harrison, Jayden Burch, Serenity Camiel, Nathan Elwood, Cail’Liana Mobley, Jean Reid, Arianna Flores and Kenidy Grace. (COURTESY)

Southside Idol 2023 contestants: Will Griffis (from left), Briana Frasier, Amberlyn Faulstich, Brynlei Smith, Willie Mae Walker, Allison Harrison, Jayden Burch, Serenity Camiel, Nathan Elwood, Cail’Liana Mobley, Jean Reid, Arianna Flores and Kenidy Grace. (COURTESY)

FGC set for search for ‘Southside Idol’

TONY BRITT
Friday, December 30, 2022
A competitive group of talented singers from around the area hope to let their vocal talents shine in 2023 during the Southside Idol competition. The event will take place 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Levy Performing Arts Center on the Florida Gateway College campus. Tickets are $15.
Lake City Manager Paul Dyal speaks during Wednesday’s special meeting on HAECO’s lease. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Manager Paul Dyal speaks during Wednesday’s special meeting on HAECO’s lease. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Dyal: HAECO negotiations still ongoing

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, December 29, 2022
A potential lease agreement with HAECO is still taxiing before takeoff.
Toys for Tots Coordinator Inga Dwyer sorts through donated toys back in 2020. After giving out toys last week for Christmas, the organization is looking for a new location to provide services. (FILE)

Toys for Tots Coordinator Inga Dwyer sorts through donated toys back in 2020. After giving out toys last week for Christmas, the organization is looking for a new location to provide services. (FILE)

Toys in transition: Toys for Tots searching for new organization space

TONY BRITT
Thursday, December 29, 2022
After providing toys and gifts for hundreds of local children less than week ago for Christmas, the local Toys for Tots program is now looking for a new location to provide the same services.
A crowd, including a number of HAECO employees, attended the Lake City Council’s special meeting Wednesday to consider a long-term lease with the aerospace company at Florida Gateway Airport. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

A crowd, including a number of HAECO employees, attended the Lake City Council’s special meeting Wednesday to consider a long-term lease with the aerospace company at Florida Gateway Airport. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Council: No deal on HAECO

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Restart the countdown clock on negotiations between Lake City and HAECO. The Lake City Council voted Wednesday to extend HAECO’s lease at Florida Gateway Airport by a year, punting on the issue of a new lease while simultaneously keeping the old one on tap for the next 365 days.
Kenzie Dungan, a Columbia High School FFA member, places pricing stickers on firework displays in the Columbia High School FFA fireworks tent on Tuesday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Kenzie Dungan, a Columbia High School FFA member, places pricing stickers on firework displays in the Columbia High School FFA fireworks tent on Tuesday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia FFA opens up annual fireworks stand

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Columbia High FFA students and alumni are hoping to end 2022 with a financial “bang” through firework sales. The group has set up a fireworks tent on the southeastern end of the Walmart parking lot where FFA students, with the aid of program alumni, will be selling fireworks.
The Lake City Council is slated to talk over a proposed 20-year lease for HAECO at tonight’s meeting. (FILE)

The Lake City Council is slated to talk over a proposed 20-year lease for HAECO at tonight’s meeting. (FILE)

Council divided on HAECO

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
A long-term lease extension between the City of Lake City and HAECO Americas is making its final approach. The Lake City Council and representatives from HAECO are scheduled to discuss a proposed 20-year lease at the Florida Gateway Airport during a 6 p.m. special meeting today at City Hall, 205 N.
Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan (left) and county spokeswoman Paula Vann converse at the county’s Combined Communications Center during Hurricane Ian’s landfall in September. Morgan will now be part of the team managing logistics for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ inauguration ceremony next week. (FILE)

Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan (left) and county spokeswoman Paula Vann converse at the county’s Combined Communications Center during Hurricane Ian’s landfall in September. Morgan will now be part of the team managing logistics for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ inauguration ceremony next week. (FILE)

Morgan set to manage logistics of DeSantis inauguration

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Monday, December 26, 2022
Shayne Morgan seems like he’s everywhere these days. The director of the Columbia County Emergency Management team has most recently been leading the response to frigid temperatures in North Florida this week. But next week, Morgan will have a new role. At least for a day or so.
Proximity to springs, like Ichetucknee Springs, is one of the reasons Lake City was named one of the best places to live in Florida by Travel+Leisure Magazine. (COURTESY)

Proximity to springs, like Ichetucknee Springs, is one of the reasons Lake City was named one of the best places to live in Florida by Travel+Leisure Magazine. (COURTESY)

BEST PLACES TO LIVE: Lake City makes the list

TONY BRITT
Friday, December 23, 2022
Lake City unwrapped an early Christmas present Wednesday. That’s when a Travel+Leisure Magazine article was published that named Lake City among the top nine places to live in Florida.
Santa Claus ‘exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist,’ according to the classic 1897 New York Sun letter and response. (COURTESY)

Santa Claus ‘exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist,’ according to the classic 1897 New York Sun letter and response. (COURTESY)

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 23, 2022
Dear Editor — I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? Virginia O’Hanlon 115 West Ninety Fifth Street   Virginia, your little friends are wrong.