Local

O’Brien woman charged in check scheme

NEWS STAFF
Friday, April 1, 2022
O’BRIEN — A Suwannee County woman is being brought up on charges nearly a year after a traffic stop resulted in a Sheriff’s deputy’s arrest. Mary Katheryn Morgan, 39, was arrested on March 31, according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement release.
A ‘For Sale’ sign sits in a Lake City house’s front yard in December 2021. Columbia County’s housing market saw a 43.1% increase in closed sales in February 2022 compared to 2021’s numbers. (FILE)

A ‘For Sale’ sign sits in a Lake City house’s front yard in December 2021. Columbia County’s housing market saw a 43.1% increase in closed sales in February 2022 compared to 2021’s numbers. (FILE)

Local housing market continued its upward climb in February

TONY BRITT
Friday, April 1, 2022
The Columbia County housing market continued to look strong with its February sales, which were close to 8% over February 2021 for single-family home sales.

Scoular acquires Columbia grain sites

NEWS STAFF
Friday, April 1, 2022
Looking to expand its services in the Southeast, a Nebraska company has purchased a pair of local agriculture facilities. Scoular purchased the Columbia Grain & Ingredients facilities in both Lake City and Live Oak.
Adam Sanders and his label, Spend a Buck Music, are trying to better compensate songwriters, offering 10% of the net profits from streaming services. (COURTESY)

Adam Sanders and his label, Spend a Buck Music, are trying to better compensate songwriters, offering 10% of the net profits from streaming services. (COURTESY)

LC’s Sanders releases second EP, looks to boost songwriters

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, April 1, 2022
One of Lake City’s favorite sons is back at it again with a new country album. But more than that, he might be trying to change the financial game in the country music capital of the world. Adam Sanders released his latest EP, “I Wanna Be Somebody,” on March 25.

Family brought murder suspect to town

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 1, 2022
Family ties brought the Tampa murder suspect that is still at large to town. Wanted for a July 2021 shooting death in Hillsborough County, 25-year-old Katrell Hubbard was located in Lake City around 7 p.m. Wednesday, believed to be here visiting relatives.
Bobby Brewin (center) with the Lake City Target Distribution Center presents an $8,000 check to Adee Farmer for the Pathways Academy garden. Also present were Dianna Swisher (from left), Brandon Ray, Pathways Principal Makeba Murphy, Nicole Robertson and Joseph Lee Pendleton. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Bobby Brewin (center) with the Lake City Target Distribution Center presents an $8,000 check to Adee Farmer for the Pathways Academy garden. Also present were Dianna Swisher (from left), Brandon Ray, Pathways Principal Makeba Murphy, Nicole Robertson and Joseph Lee Pendleton. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Target helps grow Pathways’ garden

TONY BRITT
Friday, April 1, 2022
The Pathways Academy garden produced more than fruits and vegetables on Thursday. Among the rows of watermelon, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, sweet corn, red potatoes and okra sprouted up a sizable investment toward growing the garden program.
Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies block traffic in one lane heading westbound on U.S. Highway 90 near NW Main Blvd. in front of a wrecked Chevy Malibu on Wednesday night. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies block traffic in one lane heading westbound on U.S. Highway 90 near NW Main Blvd. in front of a wrecked Chevy Malibu on Wednesday night. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Murder suspect still on loose

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
A Tampa murder suspect is still at large after fleeing from cops Wednesday night. Wanted for a July 2021 shooting death in Hillsborough County, 25-year-old Katrell Hubbard was located in Lake City around 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Mayor Stephen Witt (left) and Lake City Councilman Jake Hill listen during Wednesday’s interviews. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Mayor Stephen Witt (left) and Lake City Councilman Jake Hill listen during Wednesday’s interviews. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

‘Tom Brady’ not an option for city

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Tom Brady is not walking through the door of Lake City Hall. But the search for a full-time Lake City Manager rolls on. After Zoom interviews with three finalists on Wednesday morning, the Lake City Council declined to bring any to town for an in-person interview.

Williams back as interim manager

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Lake City’s next interim city manager will be a familiar face. At Wednesday morning’s special Lake City Council meeting, the council approved by a 3-1 vote to bring Mike Williams back as interim manager, starting April 7.
Jay Smith, Ajax Building Company vice president (from left), accepts a ceremonial key from Robby Hollingsworth, Columbia County Commission chairman, as Sheriff Mark Hunter holds a plaque noting the completion of the Columbia County Detention Facility addition. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Jay Smith, Ajax Building Company vice president (from left), accepts a ceremonial key from Robby Hollingsworth, Columbia County Commission chairman, as Sheriff Mark Hunter holds a plaque noting the completion of the Columbia County Detention Facility addition. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Freeing up jail’s pod addition

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
The first phase of Columbia County Detention Facility renovations is all locked up.