Local

Dealer sentenced to life for overdose death

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
A Lake City drug dealer was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison for supplying the drugs that led to a death from an overdose. Christopher Jones, 56, was found guilty by a jury to first-degree murder and three counts of sale or delivery of a controlled substance late Tuesday evening.
TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter Francena Robinson Harris,103, holds a bouquet of flowers presented by Rev. Kyle Gibson, who recently visited the Olivet Missionary Baptist Church Health and Wellness group following one of its exercise classes. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter Francena Robinson Harris,103, holds a bouquet of flowers presented by Rev. Kyle Gibson, who recently visited the Olivet Missionary Baptist Church Health and Wellness group following one of its exercise classes. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Olivet hoping workouts give boost to community health.

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
A group of local seniors is making the most of its exercise time. Gloria Daniels, a retired VA nurse with 38 years of experience, helped found and organize the Olivet Missionary Baptist Church Health and Wellness group, which recently celebrated its one-year anniversary.
Volunteers sit at a makeshift desk at Wilson Park during a Florida drivers license restoration event in 2022. (COURTESY)

Volunteers sit at a makeshift desk at Wilson Park during a Florida drivers license restoration event in 2022. (COURTESY)

Driver’s license restoration clinic set for Saturday

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Law offices and elected officials are looking to help Columbia County residents speed up the process of having their driver’s license reinstated. The second “Get on the Road” driver’s license reinstatement clinic is scheduled for Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fort White man arrested on sexual battery charge

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
FORT WHITE — A 25-year-old man has been arrested after authorities said he sexually battered a minor. According to a heavily redacted Columbia County Sheriff’s Office report, the CCSO received a teletype from the Florida Abuse Hotline in October last year.
Laura Hunter-Null draws on a canvas during an ‘Altrusa Kids’ lesson to help local children achieve literacy. (COURTESY)

Laura Hunter-Null draws on a canvas during an ‘Altrusa Kids’ lesson to help local children achieve literacy. (COURTESY)

Altrusa aiming to help child literacy

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Local children could be getting a hand in reaching literacy thanks to a new initiative. The Altrusa Club of Lake City recently partnered with the Gateway Art Gallery to establish a year-long literacy project for local public elementary schools, according to an Altrusa Club release.

Echoland canceled for Music Park

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
The inaugural Echoland Music Festival won’t be held this year after all. The festival, which was announced in December for the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, has been canceled by organizers, C3 Presents and Live Nation Florida.
Members of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team search a residence near SE McCray Avenue and SE Paxton Place on Monday afternoon as they were looking for a shooting suspect. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Members of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team search a residence near SE McCray Avenue and SE Paxton Place on Monday afternoon as they were looking for a shooting suspect. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

‘Our city is reeking of gun violence’

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, March 6, 2023
As if he needed a reminder of what was at stake, Ronald Williams II heard it loud and clear Sunday morning. As Williams, one of the organizers with the Gateway Ministerial Alliance, was setting up a tent Sunday for a community “stand up to gun violence” rally, gunshots rang out a few blocks away.
LEFT: The current FEMA flood risk map for the Santa Fe Watershed, which shows areas in light blue and dark blue that are in flood zones. RIGHT: The draft preliminary FEMA flood risk map for the Santa Fe Watershed, which is inundated with flood zones throughout the lower half of Columbia County. Comments on the maps is accepted through April 30. (COURTESY GRAPHICS)

LEFT: The current FEMA flood risk map for the Santa Fe Watershed, which shows areas in light blue and dark blue that are in flood zones. RIGHT: The draft preliminary FEMA flood risk map for the Santa Fe Watershed, which is inundated with flood zones throughout the lower half of Columbia County. Comments on the maps is accepted through April 30. (COURTESY GRAPHICS)

County wants to flood FEMA with comments

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, March 6, 2023
The message was delivered clearly and continuously Monday at a Columbia County Commission workshop: flood the system with comments and concerns over FEMA’s new draft flood risk maps.
The Lake City Council wants to see if a CDBG grant can be modified for other use at Richardson Community Center. (FILE)

The Lake City Council wants to see if a CDBG grant can be modified for other use at Richardson Community Center. (FILE)

City seeks to transfer grant funding

TONY BRITT
Monday, March 6, 2023
Lake City officials want to address drainage and flooding issues at the Richardson Community Center and hope that the government will allow $2 million in CDBG grant funds to cover the project. If not, the city plans to give the funds back to the government.