Local

Suspect arrested after shots fired early Sunday

NEWS STAFF

Friday, March 25, 2022

Another night, another shooting. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office arrested Sebastian Elias Ortiz, 18, on Thursday evening following reports of gunshots last Sunday. According to a release, officers responded to the scene of the gunfire around 3:15 a.m. Sunday morning.

Senators Chuck Brannon (above) and Jennifer Bradley pose with Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter as he presents them with a “Friend of the Sheriff” award on Friday. (COURTESY PHOTOS)

Bradley, Brannan honored by FSA

NEWS STAFF

Friday, March 25, 2022

Garnering the attention of law enforcement isn’t bad when you’re a state legislator providing support. Sen. Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island) and Rep.

LC pedestrian killed after van crash

NEWS STAFF

Friday, March 25, 2022

A Lake City woman was killed Thursday evening after a vehicle crashed into her. The 61-year-old woman, whose identity has not been released, was in the travel lane on the right side of U.S. Highway 90 around 8:35 p.m.

LCPD spokesperson Greg Burnsed said authorities were unaware of an intended targets in a Wednesday shooting incident.

Gunfire still ringing out in LC

TONY BRITT

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Six months into Operation Cease-Fire and shots are still ringing out across Lake City. The Lake City Police Department responded again Wednesday night to reports of gunfire in the area, marking the sixth incident of gun violence in March. There have been 31 incidents of gun violence so far in 2022.

LC cyclist dies in car crash

NEWS STAFF

Thursday, March 24, 2022

A cyclist was killed during an overnight incident on the south end of Lake City. A release from the Florida Highway Patrol said a sedan was traveling south on U.S. Highway 441 at 12:15 a.m. Thursday when it hit a cyclist near SE Sundial Place, just south of County Road 252.

Dyal: Hunter is ‘delusional’

JAMIE WACHTER

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

The City of Lake City and Columbia County are committed to working together when and where they can. It was a point reiterated numerous times during the city’s heated Utility Advisory Committee meeting Wednesday. The actions during the meeting, though, spoke louder than those assurances.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and his Cabinet plan on purchasing 160 acres in River Rise Preserve State Park. (COURTESY)

DeSantis, Cabinet eye land deals

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet next week are expected to consider nearly $40 million in land deals that would help keep more than 17,000 acres from future development. Targeted sites range from 2.

Special meeting called for manager search

NEWS STAFF

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

The search for a new city manager will lead to a special called Lake City Council meeting next week. The city has called for a special meeting at 8:30 a.m. March 30 to conduct video interviews with three finalists recommended by Renee Narloch.

The Lake City/Columbia County Habitat for Humanity, which completed its ninth home in August, had numerous items, including nail guns, extension cords and other hand tools, stolen recently from its storage building. (FILE)

Habitat for Humanity robbed

JAMIE WACHTER

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Monty Stephens couldn’t believe what he saw Tuesday morning. The chairman for the Lake City/Columbia County Habitat for Humanity board went to retrieve some electrical boxes from a SW Chapel Hill Street residence the organization uses for storage.

Storms could impact North Florida

TONY BRITT

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Weather forecasters are predicting a bad batch of inclement weather for the next 48 hours, namely severe thunderstorms accompanied by the potential for high winds and heavy rain.