Local

Columbia County Manager David Kraus answers questions about the county’s interest in Richardson Community Center at Tuesday’s meeting. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Manager David Kraus answers questions about the county’s interest in Richardson Community Center at Tuesday’s meeting. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

City not ready to hand over RCC

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Richardson Community Center will remain City of Lake City property. At least for now. During Tuesday night’s Lake City Council meeting, councilors refused to vote on a letter from the county seeking immediate transfer of the facility and property.
Lake City Manager Paul Dyal’s contract was approved by the City Council on Tuesday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Manager Paul Dyal’s contract was approved by the City Council on Tuesday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Council agrees to $150K for Dyal

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
It is officially official. After nearly a year as the city’s interim manager and more than four months after being approved as permanent manager, City Manager Paul Dyal’s employment contract was finally approved by the Lake City Council on Tuesday night.

Inquiry into fatal I-75 crash continues

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
ELLISVILLE — The 21-vehicle pileup in southern Columbia County on Sunday remains under investigation. Florida Highway Patrol continues its inquiry into the accident, which occurred at approximately 12:40 a.m.
Ed Amaya, Fort White High School’s only band director until his retirement in December, passed away Saturday following an extended illness. He was 61. (FILE)

Ed Amaya, Fort White High School’s only band director until his retirement in December, passed away Saturday following an extended illness. He was 61. (FILE)

FWHS mourns loss of ‘icon’

TONY BRITT
Monday, January 2, 2023
FORT WHITE — For more than 20 years, Ed Amaya steadily stood on a podium, with a baton in hand, leading musicians in concerts, band performances and musical events. Sometimes Amaya even grabbed his trumpet to play a few bars with his music students at Fort White High School.
Lake City Manager Paul Dyal’s contract will be up for discussion at the Lake City Council’s meeting today. (FILE)

Lake City Manager Paul Dyal’s contract will be up for discussion at the Lake City Council’s meeting today. (FILE)

City haggling over Dyal contract

TONY BRITT
Monday, January 2, 2023
The new year may bring a new salary for Lake City Manager Paul Dyal. At the Lake City Council’s meeting tonight, the council will discuss and potentially take action on a new contract for Dyal after tabling the issue last month.

3 killed in huge interstate pileup

NEWS STAFF
Monday, January 2, 2023
ELLISVILLE — An early morning New Year’s crash killed three people and shut down Interstate 75 for hours. A 21-vehicle crash occurred at mile marker 414 on northbound I-75 around 12:40 a.m. Sunday, involving three fatalities.
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.