Local

LC man pleads guilty to PPP fraud

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 2, 2022
JACKSONVILLE — A Lake City man faces up to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of covid relief fraud. Jacob Deandre Byrd, 20, pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. Middle District of Florida court to wire fraud involving a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan application.

Ford named county chair in split vote

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, December 2, 2022
The Columbia County Board of County Commissioners has a new chairman. During a special reorganization meeting Thursday morning, Rocky Ford was approved by a 4-1 vote as the board’s chairman for the next year, with Ron Williams approved as vice chairman, also by a 4-1 vote.
Nativity scenes will be part of the Nativity Celebration tonight and Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints off of SE Country Club Road in Lake City. (COURTESY)

Nativity scenes will be part of the Nativity Celebration tonight and Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints off of SE Country Club Road in Lake City. (COURTESY)

Nativity Celebration planned for tonight, Saturday

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, December 2, 2022
A Columbia County church is throwing a birthday celebration for Christ the next two nights. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hosting a Nativity Celebration from 6-9 tonight and Saturday night at its chapel at 909 SE Country Club Road in Lake City.
Richardson Sixth Grade Academy Principal Lisa Lee reacts after being named the Columbia County School District’s Principal of the Year during the ‘Excellence in Education’ banquet Thursday night at The Blanche Hotel. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Richardson Sixth Grade Academy Principal Lisa Lee reacts after being named the Columbia County School District’s Principal of the Year during the ‘Excellence in Education’ banquet Thursday night at The Blanche Hotel. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Excellent educators: Messer named top teacher; Lee, Duval, Wise honored

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, December 1, 2022
From custodians to principals, from support staff to high-profile teachers, Columbia County School District employees had a night all to themselves.
Columbia County is pursuing a $9M state loan to help with the cost for a wastewater treatment plant at the North Florida Mega Industrial Park. (FILE)

Columbia County is pursuing a $9M state loan to help with the cost for a wastewater treatment plant at the North Florida Mega Industrial Park. (FILE)

County eyes loan to help with NFMIP sewer plant

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, December 1, 2022
Columbia County is looking to make another “investment” into the North Florida Mega Industrial Park.

Clay rates falling in time for holidays

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, December 1, 2022
Clay Electric Cooperative members are getting an early Christmas present: billed less for power in December. The cooperative announced Thursday that a reduction in the Power Cost Adjustment on bills will drop their rates by $10 per 1,000 kWh, back down to $149.90.
Dianna Swisher, the director of the Columbia County Public Schools Foundation, speaks at a previous year’s Teacher of the Year banquet. (FILE)

Dianna Swisher, the director of the Columbia County Public Schools Foundation, speaks at a previous year’s Teacher of the Year banquet. (FILE)

District to honor best teachers, employees

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
The Columbia County Public Schools Foundation’s biggest night has gotten even bigger. The foundation is hosting its Excellence in Education banquet today at 5:30 p.m. at The Blanche Hotel, 212 N. Marion Avenue, to honors its best teachers, staff members and principals and assistant principals.