Local

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.
FPL employees and their families protest on the corner of Duval Street and Marion Avenue Wednesday afternoon over vaccine mandates at Florida Power and Light. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

FPL employees and their families protest on the corner of Duval Street and Marion Avenue Wednesday afternoon over vaccine mandates at Florida Power and Light. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

The jab, or the job: FPL employees protest vaccine requirement

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
The jab or the job — that’s the decision facing some Florida Power and Light employees. Several local FPL employees don’t like having to choose between getting a covid-19 vaccine or lose their job.