Local

Nikki Fried, the Florida agriculture commissioner and Democratic gubernatorial candidate, speaks to supporters during a stop at Richardson Community Center on Saturday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Nikki Fried, the Florida agriculture commissioner and Democratic gubernatorial candidate, speaks to supporters during a stop at Richardson Community Center on Saturday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fried swings by: Gubernatorial candidate hears concerns during stop

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Monday, July 11, 2022
With primary season for state elections a little more than a month away, one Democratic candidate made the time to hear directly from Columbia County residents about their concerns for the future of the state and the local community.

Who is filling the campaign coffers?

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, July 11, 2022
Donations have slowed down, but the race to win a seat on the Columbia County School Board has gotten expensive. The three-person battle for the District 5 seat on the school board has generated the most contributions — and most expenditures — of this year’s campaign season.
Sylvester Warren, speaking at the Richardson Community Center Summer Fest 2022 on Saturday, was trespassed from the facility on Monday by county officials. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Sylvester Warren, speaking at the Richardson Community Center Summer Fest 2022 on Saturday, was trespassed from the facility on Monday by county officials. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County bans Warren from RCC

TONY BRITT
Monday, July 11, 2022
A local community activist has been banned from a Lake City community center. Sylvester Warren was trespassed from Richardson Community Center on Monday by Columbia County officials following an investigation into a complaint that he harassed a county employee.

LC teen shot while walking down street

NEWS STAFF
Monday, July 11, 2022
A Sunday night stroll led to a hospital visit for a Lake City teen after he was shot in the leg. Responding to NE Fairview Street around 9:15 p.m. Sunday, Lake City police officers found a 15-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the lower leg, according to a Lake City Police Department release.
Construction crews are currently working on the future site of a Culver's fast food restaurant. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Construction crews are currently working on the future site of a Culver's fast food restaurant. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Cleared for Culver’s

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, July 8, 2022
As Elizabeth and Tyler Goff were choosing their next career path a couple of years ago, a sign appeared. Or, more specifically, a peach frozen custard appeared as the Flavor of the Day at Culver’s Butter Burgers & Frozen Custard.
First responders from the Lake City Fire Department, Lake City Police Department and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office enjoyed the luncheon last July. (FILE)

First responders from the Lake City Fire Department, Lake City Police Department and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office enjoyed the luncheon last July. (FILE)

Luncheon planned to thank first responders

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, July 8, 2022
Accustomed to serving the community, local first responders will instead be served Friday. GulfCoast Financial and the Lake City Reporter are partnering to provide a free lunch to first responders in Lake City and Columbia County for a second straight year Friday as a show of appreciation.

Elks Lodge looks to help injured deputy

TONY BRITT
Friday, July 8, 2022
Sometimes a community bands together for a good cause and it didn’t take long for a local organization to organize a fundraiser for a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office deputy that was injured in the line of duty.
Lifestyle Enrichment Center Executive Director David Huckabee braces for impact as a whipped cream pie flies at him during Columbia County Senior Services’ 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lifestyle Enrichment Center Executive Director David Huckabee braces for impact as a whipped cream pie flies at him during Columbia County Senior Services’ 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

A sweet celebration: Lifestyle Enrichment Center honors 50th anniversary

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, July 7, 2022
Looking like Elvis Presley fresh out of a bubble bath — though probably not smelling the same way — David Huckabee couldn’t help but sport a huge smile, even while taking the punishment doled out by staff members and senior citizens alike.
People congregate outside the Lake City Humane Society adoption center during an adoption event in April 2019. County officials voted Thursday to have the county take over animal control services.. (FILE)

People congregate outside the Lake City Humane Society adoption center during an adoption event in April 2019. County officials voted Thursday to have the county take over animal control services.. (FILE)

Animal control handed to CCSO

TONY BRITT
Thursday, July 7, 2022
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office will take over animal control services for the county within the near future. During Thursday morning’s County Commission meeting, commissioners approved the concept by a 4-1 margin, with Ron Williams dissenting.