Local

A first responder in a hazmat suit gets decontaminated after a traffic stop Wednesday night. (COURTESY LCFD)

A first responder in a hazmat suit gets decontaminated after a traffic stop Wednesday night. (COURTESY LCFD)

Hazmat team called for late night traffic stop

TONY BRITT
Thursday, August 18, 2022
A late night traffic stop turned into a life-threatening incident Wednesday when pool chemicals created a hazardous cloud for Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputies involved.
Lake City Correctional Facility employees Sonical Mitchell (from left), Twylah Queen, Deanna Lumpkin and James Deal, walk through the Eastside Elementary School gates Thursday morning while carry book bags for area students. The foursome donated book bags to several local elementary schools Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Correctional Facility employees Sonical Mitchell (from left), Twylah Queen, Deanna Lumpkin and James Deal, walk through the Eastside Elementary School gates Thursday morning while carry book bags for area students. The foursome donated book bags to several local elementary schools Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Core Civic donates backpacks, supplies to elementary schools

TONY BRITT
Thursday, August 18, 2022
A foursome of adults riding in two blue vehicles and wearing navy blue shirts were on a community-minded mission Thursday morning.
Moreland

Moreland

Student arrested with gun on CHS campus

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, August 18, 2022
A Columbia High School student was arrested on campus Thursday after school resource officers received a tip that a student was in possession of a firearm. The tip was given to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office by a partnering law enforcement agency who was working a separate investigation.
Paul Dyal, who was appointed city manager on Monday, could be in line for a salary of $160,000, according to the city’s proposed budget which was discussed in workshops Tuesday and Wednesday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Paul Dyal, who was appointed city manager on Monday, could be in line for a salary of $160,000, according to the city’s proposed budget which was discussed in workshops Tuesday and Wednesday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

City budgets $160K for Dyal

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Dropping the interim tag will also lead to a hefty raise for Lake City’s new administrator. Maybe. According to city budget documents, Paul Dyal is set to make $160,000 as the city manager. Dyal, who had been serving as the interim manager for nearly eight months, was making $119,999.
A pair of Florida Highway Patrol vehicles are parked during a search in the King Road and Dyal Avenue area Wednesday afternoon. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

A pair of Florida Highway Patrol vehicles are parked during a search in the King Road and Dyal Avenue area Wednesday afternoon. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

FHP: Suspect ran but couldn’t hide

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
COLUMBIA CITY — Nearly a dozen law enforcement SUVs, an aerial reconnaissance vehicle and some helpful K9 deputies helped track down a man after he led a multi-agency chase from Interstate 75 all the way through back roads before being caught and arrested. According to Lt.
Columbia County’s Recreation Department office was moved recently to a building on McFarlane Avenue. (FILE)

Columbia County’s Recreation Department office was moved recently to a building on McFarlane Avenue. (FILE)

More changes coming for rec department?

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
More changes could be in store for the Columbia County Recreation Department. Less than two weeks after the county announced it was moving its recreation department office from the Richardson Community Center, county officials are prepping themselves to discuss a reorganization for the department.

Saint Leo’s baby drive ongoing

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Saint Leo University’s Lake City Education Center is looking for community support in conjunction with the Pregnancy Care Center. The university’s baby drive is ongoing through the end of August. As part of the drive, the center is accepting donations through Aug.