Local

Eastside Elementary School. (FILE)

CSD promoting half-cent sales tax for new schools

TONY BRITT

Friday, August 26, 2022

Less than a week after the primary election, Columbia School District officials are gearing up of the general election. The school district is in the beginning stages of launching a campaign seeking voter support for a half-cent sales tax that will be on the Nov. 8 ballot as a referendum item.

Vehicle shot two blocks from school

NEWS STAFF

Friday, August 26, 2022

Gunfire late Thursday night hit a vehicle within a few blocks of a Lake City elementary school. According to the Lake City Police Department, officers responded to a call of gunfire on SE Putnam Street around 11:48 p.m. Thursday.

Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford speaks during Thursday’s budget workshop. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

County setting fire to outdated assessment rates

JAMIE WACHTER

Thursday, August 25, 2022

The cost of fire protection in Columbia County is going up. How high remains to be seen as the Columbia County Board of County Commissioners continue through the budget process for the upcoming fiscal year.

Perley Richardson (left), who has served as a Rotary Club member for 50 years, talks to Frank Loughran on Thursday evening during a ceremony honoring Richardson and his service to the organization. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Service above self: Richardson honored for 50 years of Rotary service

TONY BRITT

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Whether it was staying at bed and breakfast inns in 13 countries, climbing the pyramids in Egypt, helping shear sheep or traversing through roundabouts in other parts of the world, Perley Richardson has experienced a lifetime of adventures as a Rotary Club member.

Fort White teen arrested on latest gun charge

NEWS STAFF

Thursday, August 25, 2022

FORT WHITE — A video of a teen smoking marijuana and wielding a firearm has landed a juvenile in jail. Kellen Woolf, a 14-year-old Fort White resident, was arrested Wednesday after authorities were tipped off about the video, according to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office release.

Roundtree found guilty in pursuit case

TONY BRITT

Thursday, August 25, 2022

A Columbia County jury returned a guilty verdict against Tyrece Lamar Roundtree Thursday afternoon in a felony trial stemming from a June 2021 police pursuit that culminated in a car crash in downtown Lake City.

James Kite and Robin Kite

Couple charged in missing teen case

NEWS STAFF

Thursday, August 25, 2022

A teen who had gone missing for four days was found after an investigation brought authorities to one of her friend’s homes. Dalia Martinez-Lopez was reported missing back on Aug.

Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Tomi Brown (right) addresses the gathered watch party at the elections office in Lake City. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Brown: Faulty AC among only hiccups in ‘no problem’ primary

MORGAN MCMULLEN

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

As the excitement over Election Day quickly wound down at the Columbia County elections office in Lake City, candidates left one-by-one from the front steps and giant projection of ballot counts.

Picture leads to firearm charge

JAMIE WACHTER

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

The attempted crackdown on gun violence has led to the arrest of a juvenile. The Lake City Police Department arrested 17-year-old Jaedyn Washington on Monday on a warrant for possession of a firearm by a juvenile delinquent.

Dollar General robber caught

NEWS STAFF

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

A pair of five-finger discounts at area Dollar Generals has landed a Lake City man in jail. Emmanuel Ratliff, 32, was arrested Tuesday for a pair of robberies at Dollar Generals along State Road 247 in the past week.