Local

Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler swore in new officers Amanda Pepin (center) and Donald Edouard (left) last week. (COURTESY)

LCPD swears in pair from sponsorship program

NEWS STAFF

Monday, May 30, 2022

A program aimed at filling department vacancies has begun to paid dividends for the Lake City Police Department. Last week, Chief Gerald Butler swore in Amanda Pepin and Donald Edouard as police officers in a brief ceremony.

A graduate proudly holds up her diploma after walking off stage during commencement exercises Friday. (RAY CARPENTER/Special to the Reporter)

CHS celebrates end of an era with commencement

TONY BRITT

Monday, May 30, 2022

When Columbia High School graduation candidates for the Class of 2022 began to take the field and hold seats, they were greeted by an ovation from the audience.

Murder suspect arrested after shooting

NEWS STAFF

Sunday, May 29, 2022

An overnight shooting left one dead in southern Lake City and sent another man to jail. According to the Lake City Police Department, officers responded to SW Happiness Lane around 12:15 a.m. Sunday where they found a 20-year-old black male victim with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Westside Elementary School kindergarten teacher Argie Crusaw retired this week after 33 years as an educator in the Columbia County School System. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Crusaw retires after 33 years as CCS teacher

TONY BRITT

Friday, May 27, 2022

For more than 30 years, Argie Crusaw was able to take kindergarten-aged students from the nursing arms of their parents and introduce the children to the world of school.

TDC brand, logo set to be unveiled next week

NEWS STAFF

Friday, May 27, 2022

The excitement radiating from the Columbia County Tourist Development Council is as clear as one of the county’s hundreds of springs. The TDC is ready to unveil its long-awaited new logo and branding during a noon presentation meeting Wednesday at its office, 971 W. Duval Street, Suite 145.

LOPD finds suspect drinking water from hose, yelling for more

NEWS STAFF

Thursday, May 26, 2022

LIVE OAK — After a long ride on his bicycle, a Wesley Chapel man was in need of some high quality H2O Tuesday evening. Only problem is, 35-year-old James Gress was wearing only his underwear and drinking water from a hose in someone else’s yard on Helvenston Street in Live Oak.

Mike Peacock with Hope Bridges LLC asked the Lake Shore Hospital Authority board if it really wanted a full-service hospital. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Hope Bridges makes pitch for Lake Shore campus

MORGAN MCMULLEN

Thursday, May 26, 2022

The pressure is on the Lake Shore Hospital Authority to make a decision regarding a recent proposal for the medical center campus.

Drug dealer pleads guilty

NEWS STAFF

Thursday, May 26, 2022

A Lake City drug dealer has pleaded guilty to federal charges, according to the Department of Justice. Edrick Jackson, 28, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and three counts of distribution of crack cocaine from a February bust, U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg announced Thursday.

Resilient Class of ’22 set to graduate CHS

TONY BRITT

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

For the past 13 years, they’ve played, cheered, studied and grown together as a group. Friday night their collective journey comes to an end when the Columbia High School Class of 2022 graduates. CHS commencement exercises will take place at 8 p.m.

Chad Adams, the associate director for operations at the Lake City VA Medical Center, solemnly reflects after placing a wreath outside the facility Wednesday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Wreath placed at Lake City VA for Memorial Day

TONY BRITT

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

The Lake City VA Medical Center paid homage to fallen troops for Memorial Day by placing a wreath at the flagpole of its eastern entrance Wednesday morning.