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Newsweek recently named First Federal Bank of Florida as the best small bank in the state for the second consecutive year. (FILE)

Newsweek recently named First Federal Bank of Florida as the best small bank in the state for the second consecutive year. (FILE)

FFB earns second consecutive bank honors

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, October 16, 2021
For the second year in a row, First Federal Bank was named by Newsweek as the Best Small Bank in Florida. The distinction comes in Newsweek’s annual Best Banks rankings. First Federal, which has 23 branches, is headquartered in Lake City.
A full load of overturned building trusses shut down a portion of Bascom Norris Drive on Friday afternoon after the load shifted on the trailer coming out of a turn. (RAY CARPENTER/Special to the Reporter)

A full load of overturned building trusses shut down a portion of Bascom Norris Drive on Friday afternoon after the load shifted on the trailer coming out of a turn. (RAY CARPENTER/Special to the Reporter)

Overturned load spills out onto Bascom Norris Dr.

TONY BRITT
Saturday, October 16, 2021
A tractor trailer, carrying a local of building trusses, had its load shift which resulted in the truck overturning a shutting down a portion of Bascom Norris Drive on Friday afternoon.
Lake City Reporter Publisher Todd Wilson (from left), Sports Editor Jordan Kroeger, CNI President Mark Major, Reporter Tony Britt, Editor Jamie Wachter and Assistant Editor Morgan McMullen pose with the President’s Award for Outstanding Journalism. (CHRIS RATLIFF/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Reporter Publisher Todd Wilson (from left), Sports Editor Jordan Kroeger, CNI President Mark Major, Reporter Tony Britt, Editor Jamie Wachter and Assistant Editor Morgan McMullen pose with the President’s Award for Outstanding Journalism. (CHRIS RATLIFF/Lake City Reporter)

Reporter earns top editorial honors

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, October 16, 2021
The Lake City Reporter earned the 2020 President’s Award, the top journalism award from Community Newspapers, Inc., company officials announced last week.

O’Hern ‘excited and grateful’ to be Chamber head

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, October 14, 2021
The Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce has found its new executive director. He just so happened to already work in the building. Brandon Beil, the Chamber board president, announced Thursday morning that Joey O’Hern is the new leader of the business organization.
Douglas

Douglas

Douglas aims to fill vacant city positions

TONY BRITT
Thursday, October 14, 2021
Although he’s newly appointed as the Lake City Council District 14 representative, Stephen A. Douglas is taking the seat with high expectations and a plan to keep the city moving forward. “It feels good — it’s a relief,” he said of getting the appointment to serve as the new city councilor.
Stephen A. Douglas, left, is congratulaed by Mike McKee, of Florida Gateway College, after Douglas was appointed to the Lake City Council on Wednesday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Stephen A. Douglas, left, is congratulaed by Mike McKee, of Florida Gateway College, after Douglas was appointed to the Lake City Council on Wednesday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

By appointment: Council chooses Douglas after ranking

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
The Lake City Council finally has its fifth member, though it wasn’t without controversy. A ranked-choice vote from the previously four-member council, followed by a formal vote on the matter, gave the nod to Lake City native and business owner Stephen A.

Smoky haze evacuates Walmart

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Nearly 100 people were evacuated from Walmart Wednesday morning when a smoky haze temporarily enveloped the store’s interior. A call to the Lake City Fire Department sent fire trucks racing to the retail store around 7:35 a.m.
The rest areas along Interstate 10 in Columbia and Suwannee counties, just west of Interstate 75, are being replaced. That work will cause overnight lane closures on I-10, starting today. (COURTESY)

The rest areas along Interstate 10 in Columbia and Suwannee counties, just west of Interstate 75, are being replaced. That work will cause overnight lane closures on I-10, starting today. (COURTESY)

DOT: I-10 lanes closed overnight

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Portions of Interstate 10 will be closed overnight in Columbia and Suwannee counties. The Florida Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that starting at 8 p.m. today, motorists on I-10 can expect to see one lane of traffic closed near the rest areas just west of Interstate 75.