Local

Long Vu, from Tampa, unpacks his vehicle at the Tru by Hilton hotel in Lake City as he evacuated due to threats from storm surge from Hurricane Ian. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Long Vu, from Tampa, unpacks his vehicle at the Tru by Hilton hotel in Lake City as he evacuated due to threats from storm surge from Hurricane Ian. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City hotels offer evacuees safe harbor

TONY BRITT
Thursday, September 29, 2022
Bobby and Lisa Hassman were expecting to enjoy the “sun and fun” of Florida on vacation. Then they got word about a storm that turned into powerful Hurricane Ian.
Rachel Orellana (from left), Cesar Aparicio and Mary Zrwalski, sit and unwind in the Pinemount Elementary School cafeteria that served as a Hurricane Ian shelter on Wednesday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Rachel Orellana (from left), Cesar Aparicio and Mary Zrwalski, sit and unwind in the Pinemount Elementary School cafeteria that served as a Hurricane Ian shelter on Wednesday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Residents seek safety at shelters

TONY BRITT
Thursday, September 29, 2022
With gusts of wind from Hurricane Ian continuing to push leaves and other debris through the parking lot at Pinemount Elementary School on Wednesday night, a meager collection of individuals were taking their initial steps to acclimate themselves to their safe harbor from the storm.
A tree hangs over power lines on County Road 240 just west of the State Road 47 intersection Thursday morning, causing power outages for hundreds in the area. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

A tree hangs over power lines on County Road 240 just west of the State Road 47 intersection Thursday morning, causing power outages for hundreds in the area. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Hundreds lose power in Columbia, Suwannnee from Hurricane Ian

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, September 29, 2022
While millions lost power across the state from Hurricane Ian, few here felt the storm’s wrath.
Gov. Ron DeSantis shakes hands with linemen at the Florida Power & Light processing site at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds on Wednesday morning following a press conference to address Hurricane Ian. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Gov. Ron DeSantis shakes hands with linemen at the Florida Power & Light processing site at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds on Wednesday morning following a press conference to address Hurricane Ian. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

DeSantis stops by Lake City to thank linemen

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
The soon-to-be best friends of millions of Floridians received a show of appreciation Wednesday morning. Gov.

Snooze sparks smashed phones

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Waking up late for work was just the start of a Lake City man’s problems Tuesday. According to a Lake City Police Department report, 29-year-old Julius Frison woke up around 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, running late for work.
Columbia County officials are pumping water out of retention ponds near Old Country Club Road to an 11.5-acre pond in an attempt to alleviate flooding issues. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County officials are pumping water out of retention ponds near Old Country Club Road to an 11.5-acre pond in an attempt to alleviate flooding issues. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Clay Hole retention project will be tested

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Just in the nick of time. Long before Hurricane Ian materialized, Columbia County officials realized heavy rains from thunderstorms, tropical storms and hurricanes caused flooding issues in the Old Country Club Road area that needed to be addressed. The solution?