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An undated painting of the banks of Lake DeSoto shows a quiet life enjoyed by Columbia County pioneers, even on Independence Day. (COURTESY)

An undated painting of the banks of Lake DeSoto shows a quiet life enjoyed by Columbia County pioneers, even on Independence Day. (COURTESY)

Independence through the years: How Columbia County has historically celebrated the Fourth of July

NEWS STAFF
Friday, July 1, 2022
As we come together to honor our nation’s Independence, I thought that it would be fun to look back at the past and see how our community has observed the 4th of July over the years and how those events have shifted and changed.
A file photo shows the Catholic Charities' food truck, which the organization acquired in February. Catholic Charities is now facing a food shortage in its efforts to help food insecure families. (FILE)

A file photo shows the Catholic Charities' food truck, which the organization acquired in February. Catholic Charities is now facing a food shortage in its efforts to help food insecure families. (FILE)

Catholic Charities facing food ‘crisis’

TONY BRITT
Friday, July 1, 2022
If you don’t have food, what do you do? That is the question that some Catholic Charities clients — as well as the agency itself — are currently facing.

FGC awarded $180k for cyber programs

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, June 30, 2022
Already wanting to expand its cyber reach, Florida Gateway College is receiving real cash. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced $15.6 million in funding for cybersecurity and IT training on Wednesday with $180,000 of that going toward a cybersecurity lab at FGC.
Columbia County Sheriff’s Office vehicles are parked outside a NW Long Street residence where a deputy was injured during a drug bust Wednesday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office vehicles are parked outside a NW Long Street residence where a deputy was injured during a drug bust Wednesday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Deputy injured in drug bust

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
A Columbia County sheriff’s deputy hospitalized after an accident during a drug bust Wednesday morning was “doing well” later in the day. While members of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team executed a search warrant around 9 a.m.

Pintozzi named hospital’s new CFO

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Keri Pintozzi is the new chief financial officer at HCA Florida Lake City Hospital. Pintozzi, who began her role in Lake City on June 13, comes from HCA Florida Osceola Hospital in Kissimmee, where she was the assistant CFO.
Coker

Coker

Amended report still flush with violations

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
An amended campaign financial report filed with the city Tuesday morning still shows a candidate in violation of state laws. Befaithful Coker, a candidate in the Lake City Council District 14 race, originally reported nine cash contributions in excess of the $50 that Section 106.