Local

Council discusses lawsuits in private

TONY BRITT
Friday, November 19, 2021
Lake City officials met for more than an hour Friday afternoon during a closed session where they discussed pending litigation cases. The meeting, which was held in City Hall’s council chambers, started at 3 p.m.
Natalie Ellis (right), pictured with her husband Jonathan and twins Adelynn and Beckham, is set to graduate from North Florida College in December. (COURTESY)

Natalie Ellis (right), pictured with her husband Jonathan and twins Adelynn and Beckham, is set to graduate from North Florida College in December. (COURTESY)

NFC scholarship winner set to graduate

NEWS STAFF
Friday, November 19, 2021
MADISON — North Florida College student and Suwannee County resident Natalie Ellis is preparing to graduate with her Associate in Arts degree in December.
Volunteers put food into Thanksgiving baskets Thursday morning at Catholic Charities. More than 90 volunteers helped distribute 565 Thanksgiving baskets to local families. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Volunteers put food into Thanksgiving baskets Thursday morning at Catholic Charities. More than 90 volunteers helped distribute 565 Thanksgiving baskets to local families. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

‘Chain of goodness’: Catholic Charities, volunteers hand out 500-plus Thanksgiving baskets

TONY BRITT
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Catholic Charities’ annual food donation comes from the heart, both figuratively and, on Thursday, literally, Before the first basket of food was given, Suzanne Edwards, the regional director at Catholic Charities Lake City, had all the volunteers hold hands and form a heart symbol, as they prayed...
Noel Raulerson first settled on the banks of Lake DeSoto in Columbia County 200 years ago. (COURTESY)

Noel Raulerson first settled on the banks of Lake DeSoto in Columbia County 200 years ago. (COURTESY)

A party 200 years in the making

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, November 18, 2021
It’s a celebration 200 years in the making. In honor of Lake City and Columbia County’s bicentennial, county historian Christopher Esing and a host of civic organizations are hosting the Founder’s Day Festival in downtown Lake City this weekend.
Vinnie ‘The Army Guy’ Retzlaff, a 14-year-old from Green Bay, will be in Lake City for the Toys for Tots toy run. (COURTESY)

Vinnie ‘The Army Guy’ Retzlaff, a 14-year-old from Green Bay, will be in Lake City for the Toys for Tots toy run. (COURTESY)

‘Army Guy’ excited for Legion event

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, November 18, 2021
What started as a Halloween costume has become much larger. Vinnie “The Army Guy” Retzlaff, a 14-year-old from Green Bay, Wisconsin, has become a staunch support of veterans and veteran’s issues the past three years after his Halloween costume became a hit.
Paula Vann (middle) accepts her plaque last month. (COURTESY)

Paula Vann (middle) accepts her plaque last month. (COURTESY)

Vann ‘humbled’ by service award

TONY BRITT
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Paula Vann, the Columbia County Tourist Development Council executive director, was recently recognized by state tourism officials for serving on the Destination Florida Board of Directors. Vann was given the plaque during the Destination Florida annual meeting in Wesley Chapel in late October.
A construction crew works on digging ground for a new roundabout near Bascom Norris Drive. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

A construction crew works on digging ground for a new roundabout near Bascom Norris Drive. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

DOT closing 41 overnight

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, November 18, 2021
U.S. Highway 41 North will be closed overnight the beginning of next week. The Florida Department of Transportation announced Thursday afternoon that overnight lane closures on the road is expected Sunday and Monday near Bascom Norris Drive due to the construction of a new roundabout.

McDonald’s serving Golden Grant funds

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Would you like a Golden Grant with that? North Florida McDonald’s owners are offering $40,000 in Golden Grants to positively impact the lives of kindergarten through 12th-grade students.
Sarah Trimm, a local country music artist, will perform Saturday for the first time on the SOS Cafe front porch. (COURTESY)

Sarah Trimm, a local country music artist, will perform Saturday for the first time on the SOS Cafe front porch. (COURTESY)

Music Park hosting front porch debuts

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Debut performances are on the docket for the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park this weekend. Country artist Lorna Greenwood will perform on the SOS Cafe’s front porch for the first time tonight. Sarah Trimm is Saturday’s musical guest at the park.

Our opinion: City council: Freeze seat, drop drama

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, November 18, 2021
The best course of action the Lake City Council can take in regard to filling its council seat vacancy is to sit tight and do nothing. This is the best action this group can take for the good of the residents and the city business people it serves. Leave the seat vacant. Do nothing. Move on.