Local

9/11 memorial ceremonies scheduled in Columbia, Suwannee

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, September 8, 2021
Twenty years ago, a pair of highjacked planes crashed into New York’s twin towers as the first act of a deadly attack. A similar attack occurred at the Pentagon in Virginia with a fourth plane crashing in a Pennsylvania field as it was headed toward Washington, D.C. The Sept.
Stevie-Lea Doyle with the Partnership for Strong Families tells Columbia County’s legislative delegation about the need for additional foster families and support. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Stevie-Lea Doyle with the Partnership for Strong Families tells Columbia County’s legislative delegation about the need for additional foster families and support. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Partnership: More foster families needed

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, September 7, 2021
More foster families are needed in Columbia County. The  Partnership For Strong Families announced that roughly 100 more children are utilizing the agency’s services compared to traditionally as agency representatives requested continued funding and legislative support for new services.
Lake City’s Interim City Manager Ami Fields reads off a list of her accomplishments in the two-plus months she has been in office at Tuesday’s City Council meeting as the council considered evaluating her performance. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City’s Interim City Manager Ami Fields reads off a list of her accomplishments in the two-plus months she has been in office at Tuesday’s City Council meeting as the council considered evaluating her performance. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

NO ACTION TAKEN: Council tables Fields’ evaluation after lengthy discussion

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, September 7, 2021
Ami Mitchell Fields’ job is safe for another day. The Lake City Council decided not to act on an agenda item at Tuesday night’s meeting that could’ve seen Fields removed as the interim city manager.

Man killed in wreck at I-10, I-75 interchange

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, September 7, 2021
An Okeechobee man was killed Tuesday morning after his pickup collided with a semi-truck on Interstate 10. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 53-year-old was headed north on Interstate 75 around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday when he pulled onto the I-10 westbound entrance ramp.
Randy Burnham worked for the Lake City Fire Department for more than 30 years, including the past 2.5 as fire chief. Burnham passed away Sunday after a nearly month-long battle with covid-19. (COURTESY/Lake City Fire Department)

Randy Burnham worked for the Lake City Fire Department for more than 30 years, including the past 2.5 as fire chief. Burnham passed away Sunday after a nearly month-long battle with covid-19. (COURTESY/Lake City Fire Department)

Randy Burnham: ‘A firefighter’s firefighter’

TONY BRITT
Monday, September 6, 2021
Known as a firefighter’s firefighter, respected for his business acumen and no nonsense manner and admired for his leadership qualities, Lake City Fire Chief Randy Burnham died Sunday around lunch time.

Fields faces harassment complaint

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, September 6, 2021
A member of the Lake City Police Department is accusing the city’s interim city manager of creating a hostile work environment. At its 6 p.m. meeting today, the Lake City Council will hear and discuss a complaint filed late last month by Greg Burnsed against Ami Mitchell Fields.
Rain (from left), Ivan, Nicolette and Theodore Sacino float down the Ichetucknee on their tubes Monday afternoon while celebrating Labor Day. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Rain (from left), Ivan, Nicolette and Theodore Sacino float down the Ichetucknee on their tubes Monday afternoon while celebrating Labor Day. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Summer’s end leads to busy springs

TONY BRITT
Monday, September 6, 2021
FORT WHITE — Despite cloudy weather and hit or miss showers, thousands still ventured into Ichetucknee Springs State Park on Monday to celebrate the final holiday of summer.
The Columbia County Board of County Commissioners approved a new districting map for elections, which is based on the results of the 2020 U.S. Census. (COURTESY)

The Columbia County Board of County Commissioners approved a new districting map for elections, which is based on the results of the 2020 U.S. Census. (COURTESY)

County redistricting map approved

TONY BRITT
Monday, September 6, 2021
Despite receiving U.S. Census information in August, the Columbia County Redistricting Committee managed to submit a redistricting map — on time — to county officials that was adopted Thursday.