Local

Thomas wants $140K salary

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
The cost of hiring a new city manager is going up. Thomas Thomas, the Lake City Council’s top choice to fill its vacant top administrative position, responded to the city’s employment terms Wednesday afternoon and is seeking a $140,000 annual salary and a start date that is two months away.
Columbia High School student Kaiden Hodson is grabbed by Colin Jolliffee and Schmari Lockley during Wednesday’s dress rehearsal for the ‘Murder at the Orient Express’ mystery dinner theater production scheduled for Friday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia High School student Kaiden Hodson is grabbed by Colin Jolliffee and Schmari Lockley during Wednesday’s dress rehearsal for the ‘Murder at the Orient Express’ mystery dinner theater production scheduled for Friday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

CHS mystery theater offering spoof of ‘Murder on the Orient Express’

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Columbia High School thespians are providing a weekend evening with dinner — and entertainment. The school’s annual mystery dinner theater event will take place 6 p.m. Friday at the Norman Choice Performing Arts Center on the CHS campus.
Heather Law was named the 2021 Realtor of the Year for the Lake City Board of Realtors. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Heather Law was named the 2021 Realtor of the Year for the Lake City Board of Realtors. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Law keeps up family tradition, named Realtor of the Year six years after her mother

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
After spending 17 years as a kindergarten teacher, Heather Law took a brave life-changing step toward the family business and became a full-time Realtor. Under the tutelage of her mother, Law crafted her skills and a little more than five years later her career-changing decision was rewarded.
Former Third Judicial Circuit State Attorney Jeff Siegmeister will plead guilty to extortion and bribery charges filed against him. The maximum combined sentence for his charges carry 129 years in prison. (FILE)

Former Third Judicial Circuit State Attorney Jeff Siegmeister will plead guilty to extortion and bribery charges filed against him. The maximum combined sentence for his charges carry 129 years in prison. (FILE)

Siegmeister pleading guilty

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
JACKSONVILLE — The former Third Judicial Circuit’s state attorney’s stay behind bars will be extended indefinitely. In a telephonic status conference in U.S.
Sailor Hunter (left) plays on the jungle gym playset erected at Columbia City Park in July 2020. (FILE)

Sailor Hunter (left) plays on the jungle gym playset erected at Columbia City Park in July 2020. (FILE)

Columbia City Park now award-winning

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Columbia County’s first ADA inclusive park has proven to be an award winner — based on fan feedback. The Columbia City Park, 1614 SW Bishop Avenue, was the recipient a PlayCore award, which was based on QR code user feedback about the park.
NorthStar Family Resource Center Manager Philip Mobley (left) gives a lesson on building strategies for non-profits. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

NorthStar Family Resource Center Manager Philip Mobley (left) gives a lesson on building strategies for non-profits. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Non-profit summit well-received

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
The library at Florida Gateway College was busy with activity Tuesday morning.

Manager contract meeting nixed

TONY BRITT
Monday, January 24, 2022
Finalizing a deal for a new city manager will have to wait. At least a few days. The Lake City Council’s special meeting scheduled for Monday evening was canceled Monday afternoon, rescheduling the meeting for 8 a.m. Saturday.

$500K set aside for home repair

TONY BRITT
Monday, January 24, 2022
Low-income senior citizens may have a helping hand in making emergency repairs to their homes. The Columbia County Board of County Commissioners set aside $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding last week to address the home repair needs of local low-income seniors.

Lake City man arrested on animal cruelty charge

NEWS STAFF
Monday, January 24, 2022
Two months after a dog was shot, a Lake City man was arrested for animal cruelty. According to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office report, 65-year-old John Hitchcock shot a dog in western Columbia County around 6:20 p.m. on Nov. 29.
The Lake City Council has rescheduled a special meeting to discuss contract terms with Thomas Thomas for its city manager position until Saturday. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

The Lake City Council has rescheduled a special meeting to discuss contract terms with Thomas Thomas for its city manager position until Saturday. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

City cancels special meeting; now set for Saturday

NEWS STAFF
Monday, January 24, 2022
The Lake City Council won’t be meeting to review contract terms with Thomas Thomas this evening after all. The council’s special meeting was canceled Monday afternoon and rescheduled for 8 a.m. Saturday morning.