Local

LCPD hosting safety training for churches

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Officials from local churches and other houses of worship can receive safety training next week for emergencies. The Lake City Police Department is hosting a free safety training seminar specific to houses of worship on Dec. 9, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Covid relief funds going fast

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Columbia County’s covid relief program for businesses is closed. At least temporarily. County Manager David Kraus said the county had set aside $1 million in federal funding for the program to aid local businesses adversely impacted by the pandemic. But that funding is basically gone.
Chevella Young, the new office manager at Richardson Community Center, wants to expand the activities offered at the center for children. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Chevella Young, the new office manager at Richardson Community Center, wants to expand the activities offered at the center for children. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Changing the game at Richardson

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
The Richardson Community Center is hoping to add more youth-related activities to its slate of community events and a new business office manager is looking to lead the charge.
Ronnie Colins (left), Columbia’s Top Talent founder and a CHS security guard, instructs Jalyssa Thomas, 16, a Columbia High School 11th grader, as she rehearses Monday afternoon for the first round of the annual talent competition which takes place Dec. 10. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Ronnie Colins (left), Columbia’s Top Talent founder and a CHS security guard, instructs Jalyssa Thomas, 16, a Columbia High School 11th grader, as she rehearses Monday afternoon for the first round of the annual talent competition which takes place Dec. 10. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s Top Talent hosting 12 contestants next Friday

TONY BRITT
Monday, November 29, 2021
Some of Columbia County’s most vocally talented youngsters that possess the dream of letting others hear their vocal skills will be hitting it the stage in a few days during an annual talent competition. The 18th Annual Columbia’s Top Talent Competition will have its first round of competition 7 p.
Volunteers at the Operation Christmas Child’s Lake City collection center after loading more than 7,500 shoeboxes on two trucks last week. Pictured are, in front, Rickey Beauchamp (from left), Pam Beauchamp, Emily Harden, Gene Bullard, Jimmy Blanton, Cheryl Cox and Randy Cox; and in back, Beth Bullard, Tracy Osburn and Lou Blanton. (COURTESY)

Volunteers at the Operation Christmas Child’s Lake City collection center after loading more than 7,500 shoeboxes on two trucks last week. Pictured are, in front, Rickey Beauchamp (from left), Pam Beauchamp, Emily Harden, Gene Bullard, Jimmy Blanton, Cheryl Cox and Randy Cox; and in back, Beth Bullard, Tracy Osburn and Lou Blanton. (COURTESY)

‘An outstanding year’: Center collects 7,500-plus shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, November 29, 2021
There were more than cartons of shoe boxes packed on a trailer at the Operation Christmas Child collection center in Lake City last week. Each of the more than 7,500 shoeboxes collected and packed on two trucks also carry God’s love with it.
Lake City Tire Company owner Al Rollison (right) discusses an engine repair with lead technician Jim Givens in the downtown auto repair shop in April 2020. (FILE)

Lake City Tire Company owner Al Rollison (right) discusses an engine repair with lead technician Jim Givens in the downtown auto repair shop in April 2020. (FILE)

Rollison, long-time Lake City businessman, dies at 83

TODD WILSON
Monday, November 29, 2021
Al Rollison was remembered Monday as the good-hearted Goodyear guy who was a business owner/operator in Lake City’s downtown area for more than two decades. Rollison, owner of Lake City Tire Company at 113 SW Nassau St., died Sunday night after complications from neck surgery. He was 83.
A crowd attends a previous year’s Christmas on the Square festival in Live Oak. The festival returns for the 37th year, starting Thursday and running through Dec. 4. (FILE)

A crowd attends a previous year’s Christmas on the Square festival in Live Oak. The festival returns for the 37th year, starting Thursday and running through Dec. 4. (FILE)

37th edition of Christmas on the Square coming to Live Oak

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, November 26, 2021
LIVE OAK — The Christmas season officially starts next weekend in Suwannee County. The 37th annual Christmas on the Square festival will transform the downtown streets of Live Oak into a winter wonderland from Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 4.

Home sales remain strong

NEWS STAFF
Friday, November 26, 2021
Another month, another strong showing for single-family home sales in north Florida. According to data from the Florida Realtors, sellers in Columbia County received their full original asking price during the month of October.
Hailey Cross won the 10-13 age group of the Youth Art League exhibit and competition at the Gateway Art Gallery. (COURTESY)

Hailey Cross won the 10-13 age group of the Youth Art League exhibit and competition at the Gateway Art Gallery. (COURTESY)

Youth Art League exhibit winners honored

NEWS STAFF
Friday, November 26, 2021
The Gateway Art Gallery’s best young artists have been named. The gallery’s Youth Art League exhibit and competition and winners were announced with Johnathan Waters, a 16-year-old, winning the 14-18 age group for his watercolor; and Hailey Cross, 12, winning the 10-13 age group.