Local

Dennille Decker (right) and Diana Swisher jump for joy as the final returns are announced Tuesday night and the Columbia County School District’s half-cent sales tax referendum was approved. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Dennille Decker (right) and Diana Swisher jump for joy as the final returns are announced Tuesday night and the Columbia County School District’s half-cent sales tax referendum was approved. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Voters OK school upgrades, barely

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
As the minutes ticked by at the Columbia County Supervisor of Elections office, some wearing blue shirts might’ve began to wonder if it was worth staying through the cold wind.
Sheriff Mark Hunter speaks Tuesday on the suspensions of Deputy Jayme Gohde and Sgt. Randy Harrison following the Oct. 31 arrest of James Hodges. (COURTESY)

Sheriff Mark Hunter speaks Tuesday on the suspensions of Deputy Jayme Gohde and Sgt. Randy Harrison following the Oct. 31 arrest of James Hodges. (COURTESY)

Sheriff suspends deputies for policy violations

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Two Columbia County sheriff’s deputies have been sidelined. Sheriff Mark Hunter announced Tuesday evening that Deputy Jayme Gohde and Sgt. Randy Harrison were both suspended following an administrative investigation into the Oct. 31 arrest of a legally blind man.
Tropical Storm Nicole is projected to make landfall Wednesday night before potentially crossing to the Gulf and turning north. (COURTESY/NOAA)

Tropical Storm Nicole is projected to make landfall Wednesday night before potentially crossing to the Gulf and turning north. (COURTESY/NOAA)

Tropical Storm Watch issued ahead of Nicole

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Subtropical Storm Nicole morphed into Tropical Storm Nicole Tuesday morning as wind speeds within the system kicked up to 50-60 mph.
A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration map shows the projected path of Tropical Storm Nicole as of 7 p.m. Tuesday. (COURTESY/NOAA)

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration map shows the projected path of Tropical Storm Nicole as of 7 p.m. Tuesday. (COURTESY/NOAA)

Tropical Storm Nicole churns toward Bahamas, Florida

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Tropical Storm Nicole churned toward the northwestern Bahamas and Florida's Atlantic coastline on Tuesday and was forecast to develop into a hurricane over the next couple of days, forecasters said.
James Hodges (left) is placed in handcuffs in this still from body camera footage taken on Oct. 31. (COURTESY)

James Hodges (left) is placed in handcuffs in this still from body camera footage taken on Oct. 31. (COURTESY)

CCSO investigating blind man’s arrest

NEWS STAFF
Monday, November 7, 2022
The actions of a Columbia County sheriff’s deputy in arresting a legally blind man on Halloween are under investigation. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said Monday morning that the incident is being reviewed after body camera footage of the arrest of James Hodges around 8 a.m.
A volunteer plays with a child as they work toward building out a raised plant bed at Richardson Community Center Saturday. (COURTESY)

A volunteer plays with a child as they work toward building out a raised plant bed at Richardson Community Center Saturday. (COURTESY)

Kids Feeding Kids builds garden beds at Richardson

TONY BRITT
Monday, November 7, 2022
A few hours of “hands-on” work with hoes and shovels, combined with a little elbow grease, is creating a growing and learning environment at the Richardson Community Center.

1/3 have voted headed into Election Day

NEWS STAFF
Monday, November 7, 2022
Heading into today’s Election Day votes at the polls, 1/3 of Columbia County voters have already cast ballots. According to the Columbia County Supervisor of Elections office, 14,251 ballots have already been received through vote-by-mail or early voting.
Lake City Councilman Jake Hill Jr. speaks at a previous City Council meeting. (FILE)

Lake City Councilman Jake Hill Jr. speaks at a previous City Council meeting. (FILE)

Hill: LCPD ‘failing citizens’

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, November 7, 2022
Councilman Jake Hill Jr. wants an end to the gun violence in the City of Lake City, even if it means a change in policing. At Monday’s brief Lake City Council meeting, Hill aired frustrations with the Lake City Police Department’s ability to protect city residents.

Three charged with smuggling drugs to prison

NEWS STAFF
Monday, November 7, 2022
Bringing drugs into state prisons last month led to time behind bars for three different visitors from Gainesville. According to reports from the Florida Department of Corrections – Office of Inspector General, over the course of two days, Oct.
Helena Powers (left), a 106-year-old voter, makes time to cast her ballot alongside her son, Frank Powers (82). (COURTESY)

Helena Powers (left), a 106-year-old voter, makes time to cast her ballot alongside her son, Frank Powers (82). (COURTESY)

Early voting ends Saturday night

NEWS STAFF
Friday, November 4, 2022
Early voting for the November elections draws to a close tonight. Voters can still cast their ballots early by visiting their county’s early voting centers. Columbia County voters have two options for voting today. Residents can visit either the main office in Lake City at 971 W. Duval St.