Local

Community activist Sylvester Warren speaks during the Summer Fest political event at Richardson Community Center on Saturday, a few days before Warren was trespassed from the property. (FILE)

Community activist Sylvester Warren speaks during the Summer Fest political event at Richardson Community Center on Saturday, a few days before Warren was trespassed from the property. (FILE)

Warren: Facility ban violation of free speech

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, July 14, 2022
Columbia County’s banning of a community activist from a county facility is unconstitutional, according to his attorney.
The Suwannee River Water Management District’s hydrologic conditions report for June shows most of the district received between two and six inchdes of rain in the month. (COURTESY)

The Suwannee River Water Management District’s hydrologic conditions report for June shows most of the district received between two and six inchdes of rain in the month. (COURTESY)

SRWMD: June much drier than normal

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, July 14, 2022
LIVE OAK — For June, the rain went away and stayed away from North Central Florida. According to the Suwannee River Water Management District’s hydrologic conditions report, the district’s 15-county area received an average of 4.
Members of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office dive team pull a stolen pickup out of the Santa Fe River near the U.S. Highway 27 boat ramp on Monday. (PHOTOS COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE)

Members of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office dive team pull a stolen pickup out of the Santa Fe River near the U.S. Highway 27 boat ramp on Monday. (PHOTOS COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE)

Quite the catch: CCSO dive team pulls stolen truck out of river

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Through the years the Santa Fe River has been one of the most popular fisheries in the area. On Monday, the local waterway added to its history when the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Dive team pulled out a whopper — a vehicle that was reported stolen last year.
County Commissioner Ron Williams said events like the Summer Fest political rally are important to be involved with. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County Commissioner Ron Williams said events like the Summer Fest political rally are important to be involved with. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Candidates, cakes draw crowd to Summer Fest

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
It’s not every day that voters can bid on their cake and eat it too. But during an evening full of political speeches and calls for support, it’s exactly what some got.
Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Tomi Brown said the renovations aren’t completely finished but any other work shouldn’t effect the upcoming election cycle. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Tomi Brown said the renovations aren’t completely finished but any other work shouldn’t effect the upcoming election cycle. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Elections office renovations nearly complete

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
As Election Day nears, so does the completion of renovations to the Columbia County Supervisor of Elections office. “It’s not completed yet, we are in the final stages though,” Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Tomi Brown said of the renovation work. “We’re waiting on a few supplies.

Museum mixing history, fun at festival

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Children will be able mix some fun with Columbia County’s history this weekend. The Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum, 157 SE Hernando Avenue, will hold its second Summer Kids Festival from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. The event is free for children of all ages.
Nikki Fried, the Florida agriculture commissioner and Democratic gubernatorial candidate, speaks to supporters during a stop at Richardson Community Center on Saturday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Nikki Fried, the Florida agriculture commissioner and Democratic gubernatorial candidate, speaks to supporters during a stop at Richardson Community Center on Saturday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fried swings by: Gubernatorial candidate hears concerns during stop

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Monday, July 11, 2022
With primary season for state elections a little more than a month away, one Democratic candidate made the time to hear directly from Columbia County residents about their concerns for the future of the state and the local community.

Who is filling the campaign coffers?

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, July 11, 2022
Donations have slowed down, but the race to win a seat on the Columbia County School Board has gotten expensive. The three-person battle for the District 5 seat on the school board has generated the most contributions — and most expenditures — of this year’s campaign season.
Sylvester Warren, speaking at the Richardson Community Center Summer Fest 2022 on Saturday, was trespassed from the facility on Monday by county officials. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Sylvester Warren, speaking at the Richardson Community Center Summer Fest 2022 on Saturday, was trespassed from the facility on Monday by county officials. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County bans Warren from RCC

TONY BRITT
Monday, July 11, 2022
A local community activist has been banned from a Lake City community center. Sylvester Warren was trespassed from Richardson Community Center on Monday by Columbia County officials following an investigation into a complaint that he harassed a county employee.

LC teen shot while walking down street

NEWS STAFF
Monday, July 11, 2022
A Sunday night stroll led to a hospital visit for a Lake City teen after he was shot in the leg. Responding to NE Fairview Street around 9:15 p.m. Sunday, Lake City police officers found a 15-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the lower leg, according to a Lake City Police Department release.