Local

Kimberly Rice pumps $30 worth of gas into her vehicle Tuesday afternoon where she paid $4.25 per gallon of unleaded at the Stop N Go on Main Boulevard. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Kimberly Rice pumps $30 worth of gas into her vehicle Tuesday afternoon where she paid $4.25 per gallon of unleaded at the Stop N Go on Main Boulevard. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Gas prices reach record-high levels in Florida

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Surpassing a new state record high, there’s no end in sight on the rising gas prices. Most local gas stations were charging around $4.07 per gallon Monday for unleaded, but by mid-afternoon on Tuesday, fuel prices at area gas stations were in the $4.19-$4.39 per gallon range.
Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) speaks during Tuesday’s Rules Committee hearing. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) speaks during Tuesday’s Rules Committee hearing. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Senate considers ‘eclipse’ on your right to know

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
TALLAHASSEE — The sun may be setting on Floridians’ right to know. The Florida Senate’s Rules Committee advanced HB 7049, a bill that would reduce transparency with public notice, on Tuesday afternoon by a 9-6 vote, sending it to the full Senate floor, where it is set to be heard today.

Council targets safety following armed incident

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Lake City Councilors and residents aired safety concerns Monday following an incident with an armed man at City Hall last month. During Monday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Stephen Witt and the other three council members all addressed the incident.
An FDOT map highlights the stretch of U.S. Highway 90 that will be under construction starting next week. (COURTESY)

An FDOT map highlights the stretch of U.S. Highway 90 that will be under construction starting next week. (COURTESY)

U.S. 90, Bascom Norris set to see new construction efforts

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Construction will begin next week on 3.3 miles of U.S. Highway 90. That will come after installation for drainage infrastructure and repaving began Tuesday and wraps up on Friday on Bascom Norris Drive, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. The resurfacing project on U.S.

Man leads LCPD on high-speed chase

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
A routine traffic stop Sunday morning led to a chase for a Lake City police officer. While checking a driver’s records after a stop a little after 6 a.m. Sunday, the officer was passed by 30-year-old Bryan Oliver heading south on SW Main Blvd. Just one problem.

LC woman arrested over gas station theft scheme

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
LIVE OAK — Filling up on fraudulent refunds has landed a former convenience store manager in jail. Taylena Ammons, a 39-year-old Lake City woman, was arrested Monday on a warrant following a fraud scheme operated at the Sunstop Convenience Store at the intersection of U.S.
Columbia High welding teacher Darryl Thomas and his wife, Jan, stand with their brand new Buick Encore, a prize Thomas won for being named the Columbia County School District’s Teacher of the Year. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia High welding teacher Darryl Thomas and his wife, Jan, stand with their brand new Buick Encore, a prize Thomas won for being named the Columbia County School District’s Teacher of the Year. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Thomas awarded new car as Teacher of the Year

TONY BRITT
Monday, March 7, 2022
School district administrators, members of the Columbia High School faculty and students gathered in front of the school’s welding shop Monday afternoon for a celebration.

Council may soon have manager candidates

TONY BRITT
Monday, March 7, 2022
Lake City officials may get to begin looking at their next new crop of city manager applicants as soon as the next city council meeting and, potentially, begin interviews the following week.

LCPD, FDLE investigates toddler death

NEWS STAFF
Monday, March 7, 2022
An investigation into the death of a 23-month-old Lake City child continues. Officers from the Lake City Police Department were dispatched to SW Theresa Court at 11:44 a.m. Friday to the report of an unresponsive child.

FHP: Single-car crash kills one

NEWS STAFF
Monday, March 7, 2022
ELLISVILLE — A 65-year-old Lake City man is dead after he was involved in a single vehicle car crash Monday. The incident occurred at 5:18 p.m. near the U.S. Highway 441 and Interstate 75 off ramp.