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Columbia County Tax Collector Kyle Keen displays a proclamation explaining that his office has been designated as a Purple Heart Office. (COURTESY)

Columbia County Tax Collector Kyle Keen displays a proclamation explaining that his office has been designated as a Purple Heart Office. (COURTESY)

Showing Purple Heart: Keen designates Tax Collector's building a Purple Heart Office

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, August 5, 2022
Driving back from a youth baseball tournament in Missouri last summer, Kyle Keen saw the signs: literally. In small towns across the likes of Alabama and Georgia and other states in between, Keen kept seeing similar signs over and over again.
Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Tomi Brown looks over construction work for the addition of a 35-foot window that will allow voters to see into the canvassing room back in February. (FILE)

Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Tomi Brown looks over construction work for the addition of a 35-foot window that will allow voters to see into the canvassing room back in February. (FILE)

Early voting set to begin on Monday

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 5, 2022
Columbia County residents can begin casting their ballots for the upcoming primary election next week when early voting begins. Early voting begins Monday, Aug. 8  and will conclude on Saturday, Aug. 20. Voters will be able to cast ballots from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
K9 Deputy Chaos holds a piece of equipment in his jaws while suited in CCSO attire. (COURTESY CCSO)

K9 Deputy Chaos holds a piece of equipment in his jaws while suited in CCSO attire. (COURTESY CCSO)

Sheriff’s office gets new K9 deputy in Chaos

NEWS STAFF
Friday, August 5, 2022
There’s a new dog in town. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office officially announced one of its newest deputies on Wednesday, when K9 Deputy Chaos joined the ranks of the CCSO.
Todd Kennon with Robinson, Kennon & Kendron (right) and Scott Walker of Folds Walker in Gainesville proposed teaming up to serve as the City of Lake City attorney at Thursday’s Lake City Council meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Todd Kennon with Robinson, Kennon & Kendron (right) and Scott Walker of Folds Walker in Gainesville proposed teaming up to serve as the City of Lake City attorney at Thursday’s Lake City Council meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Council considers new counselors

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, August 5, 2022
The City of Lake City may have found an attorney — or two — to fill their soon-to-be-vacated counsel post.

Open houses scheduled for CCS sites

NEWS STAFF
Friday, August 5, 2022
Class doesn’t begin until Wednesday, but Columbia County Schools will be full of students on Monday. Most of the schools in the district will holding Meet the Teacher or Open House events Monday, welcoming back students in preparation for the 2022-23 academic year.
A group of Florida Gateway College graduates celebrate during the college’s graduation ceremony on May 6. (FILE)

A group of Florida Gateway College graduates celebrate during the college’s graduation ceremony on May 6. (FILE)

FGC ready for inaugural summer graduation ceremony

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 5, 2022
Florida Gateway College will hold its first-ever summer commencement ceremony for students graduating in Summer of 2022. The Summer 2022 Commencement will take place 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the FGC Howard Center (Building 10).
Lake City Interim City Manager Paul Dyal addresses the council at its Thursday special-called meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Interim City Manager Paul Dyal addresses the council at its Thursday special-called meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Council 'Dyal'-ing in on city manager

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, August 5, 2022
The year-plus search for a city manager may be winding down for the City of Lake City. The Lake City Council tabled a discussion from Thursday’s special-called meeting to remove the interim tag from Paul Dyal’s title and give him the job permanently.
Amber Thomas, an Eastside Elementary School second grade teacher, sets a lollipop and book on desks Wednesday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Amber Thomas, an Eastside Elementary School second grade teacher, sets a lollipop and book on desks Wednesday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Welcome back, teachers: CCS teachers return Wednesday to prep for start of school

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 5, 2022
Summer vacation ended Wednesday morning when hundreds of Columbia School District teachers returned to their schools and classrooms to prepare for the 2022-23 school year. Roger Little, Eastside Elementary School principal, was optimistic about seeing the return of teachers.