Local

Lake City Fire Chief Josh Wehinger asked the City Council to support a pay increase to help solve staffing issues within the fire department at Tuesday’s meeting. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Fire Chief Josh Wehinger asked the City Council to support a pay increase to help solve staffing issues within the fire department at Tuesday’s meeting. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Raise aimed to extinguish staffing concerns at LCFD

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, June 23, 2022
The Lake City Council is hoping action taken Tuesday will extinguish issues with recruiting and retaining firefighters.
The Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is not holding a festival as part of its Independence Day celebration, focusing its funding on its fireworks display. (RAY CARPENTER/Special to the Reporter)

The Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is not holding a festival as part of its Independence Day celebration, focusing its funding on its fireworks display. (RAY CARPENTER/Special to the Reporter)

Bang for its buck: Lake City to host fireworks-only July 4th celebration

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
The Independence Day celebration will end with a bang July 4. It will also start with that same bang as the Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce’s annual celebration will consist of just fireworks this year.
Councilman Todd Sampson said the proposal for a new search firm came too late to make a decision at Tuesday’s meeting. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Councilman Todd Sampson said the proposal for a new search firm came too late to make a decision at Tuesday’s meeting. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

No city manager, no rush from council

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
One year ago, the City of Lake City said goodbye to its top executive.
The Lake Shore Hospital Authority is interested in seeing if there’s any interest in the main building without a subsidy. (FILE)

The Lake Shore Hospital Authority is interested in seeing if there’s any interest in the main building without a subsidy. (FILE)

LSHA proposals ready for checkup

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
The Lake Shore Hospital Authority is ready to examine the proposals for the downtown hospital campus once again. The latest dissection of the interest in the Lake Shore Hospital facility at a special called meeting at 5:15 p.m.

CCSO receives reaccreditation designation

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is officially reaccredited. The reaccreditation designation was awarded to the CCSO on June 16 by the Commission for Law Enforcement Accreditation at a conference held in Orlando. Sheriff Mark Hunter and Sgt.
Despite structural deficiencies, which require netting around the building, the Lake City Council is interested in possibly renovating City Hall. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Despite structural deficiencies, which require netting around the building, the Lake City Council is interested in possibly renovating City Hall. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

City considers fixer upper

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
What’s old may be new again. The Lake City Council agreed at its meeting Tuesday night to have an engineering firm examine the current City Hall to see if it’s a viable option to remain the home to the city’s operations.
Richardson Community Center will be the beneficiary of $2 million in CDBG grant money issued Tuesday. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Richardson Community Center will be the beneficiary of $2 million in CDBG grant money issued Tuesday. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

$2M grant coming to city

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
Access to the Richardson Community Center is about to get easier. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that the City of Lake City received a $2 million Community Development Block Grant-Covid to be utilized in upgrading the community center. The Lake City award was part of $28.
Maj. Katina Dicks (center) accepts her award at Tuesday’s Columbia County Farm Bureau dinner. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Maj. Katina Dicks (center) accepts her award at Tuesday’s Columbia County Farm Bureau dinner. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

CCSO’s Dicks honored at Farm Bureau dinner

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
For some local public officials, jubilant evenings are about as rare as the steak they enjoyed Tuesday night. That’s when the Columbia County Farm Bureau held its annual Public Official Appreciation Dinner at the Westside Community Center.
A trio of percussionists perform during Florida Gateway College’s Juneteenth Celebration program. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

A trio of percussionists perform during Florida Gateway College’s Juneteenth Celebration program. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Freedom honored at Juneteenth celebration

TONY BRITT
Monday, June 20, 2022
Florida Gateway College held its inaugural Juneteenth Celebration program Monday morning with a event that honored African heritage with drums and choreography and recognized and acknowledged   the future aspirations of success of the people who were once held back by the bonds of slavery.