Local

Woman killed in head-on crash

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 23, 2022
A head-on collision involving a parked SUV ended with one person killed Wednesday evening. The crash occurred around 7 p.m. at the intersection of SW County Road 240 and SW Little Road.

Traffic stop leads to human trafficking arrests

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 23, 2022
Ten illegal immigrants from Guatemala, including a 16-year-old boy, were detained and a Memphis, Tenn., couple was arrested for human smuggling Tuesday following a Florida Highway Patrol traffic stop in Columbia County.
Santa Claus wishes readers of the Lake City Reporter a ‘merrie, merrie Christmas’ in 1926. (COURTESY)

Santa Claus wishes readers of the Lake City Reporter a ‘merrie, merrie Christmas’ in 1926. (COURTESY)

Esing: Christmas in Columbia County in the 1920s

(not verified)
Friday, December 23, 2022
As Florida and Lake City grew during the real-estate boom of the 1920s, the people of the community maintained much of their small-town charm and friendliness.
Hard freezes are expected through the Christmas weekend for North Florida. (NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE)

Hard freezes are expected through the Christmas weekend for North Florida. (NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE)

NWS: Weather outside will be frightful

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 23, 2022
Christmas is bringing something different to North Florida this year: “dangerously cold” weather through Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
Vehicles travel southbound on Southeast Country Club Road on Thursday afternoon, after county crews erected hazardous conditions signs for both lanes of travel for a local bridge. The signs have been erected at 34 locations across the county. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Vehicles travel southbound on Southeast Country Club Road on Thursday afternoon, after county crews erected hazardous conditions signs for both lanes of travel for a local bridge. The signs have been erected at 34 locations across the county. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

County braces for cold weather impacts on roads

TONY BRITT
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Likely to the chagrin of local youngsters, it doesn’t appear Lake City will have a “white Christmas” with snow or snow flurries, but weather forecasters are calling for sub-freezing temperatures beginning later this evening. “There’s very minimal chance for precipitation.
Josh Fuller (from left) and James Crenshaw pass turkeys to Dawn Johnson for the Elks Lodge Christmas baskets Thursday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Josh Fuller (from left) and James Crenshaw pass turkeys to Dawn Johnson for the Elks Lodge Christmas baskets Thursday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Elks Lodge set to host pair of annual events

TONY BRITT
Thursday, December 22, 2022
What started more than nine decades ago with local clubs and civic organizations polling their resources to provide food and gifts for the community and children will continue when the Lake City Elks Lodge #893 hold its annual Christmas events today and tomorrow.
Shane McPherson, 13, of Gainesville, peers through the Gateway Art Gallery window Wednesday as his aunt, Shelia Carr, Gateway Art Gallery curator, works on a holiday display that features a holiday village with a working electric train. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Shane McPherson, 13, of Gainesville, peers through the Gateway Art Gallery window Wednesday as his aunt, Shelia Carr, Gateway Art Gallery curator, works on a holiday display that features a holiday village with a working electric train. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Gallery adds window display with Christmas village, train set

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
All aboard for some festive window dressing at the Gateway Art Gallery.

Arctic blast bringing frigid temps

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
An arctic blast is expected to transforming North Florida into a frigid wonderland. Weather forecasters are predicting low temperatures in the mid to lower 20-degree range with the wind chill factor resulting in conditions akin to temperatures in the high teens.
Eddie Medina, dressed as the Grinch, shows off the donated toys in front of Sheriff Mark Hunter (center) Wednesday morning at the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. (COURTESY)

Eddie Medina, dressed as the Grinch, shows off the donated toys in front of Sheriff Mark Hunter (center) Wednesday morning at the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. (COURTESY)

Truckloads of toys delivered for ‘Cause’

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Eddie Medina garnered a few confused stares from motorists and pedestrians as he rolled down U.S. Highway 90 early Wednesday morning. Or rather, The Grinch did.