Local

Columbia County Health Department Administrator Tom Moffses (right) speaks to the Kiwanis Club of Lake City on Tuesday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Health Department Administrator Tom Moffses (right) speaks to the Kiwanis Club of Lake City on Tuesday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Moffses ready for covid ‘to be over’

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Columbia County’s soaring covid-19 infection rate, which was the highest in the state, is one that local officials expect to last for another month.

Cops: Teen abducted, sexually assaulted

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Abducted and sexually assaulted, a teen helped Lake City police catch her captor early Sunday morning. According to a Lake City Police Department report, the teen used coded messages with Lake City Dispatch at 2:25 a.m. Sunday to find her without Larry Eady Jr.
A pickup truck and a sedan collided around 3:42 p.m. on Monday afternoon on State Road 47, causing the death of a 65-year-old High Springs woman. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

A pickup truck and a sedan collided around 3:42 p.m. on Monday afternoon on State Road 47, causing the death of a 65-year-old High Springs woman. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White fatality: 65-year-old woman killed in wreck Monday

NEWS STAFF
Monday, August 16, 2021
FORT WHITE — A 65-year-old High Springs woman was killed and the 67-year-old man riding in the car was seriously injured when their vehicle was struck by a pickup truck while they were attempting a U-turn on State Road 47 Monday afternoon.
Mariah Carson, who is enrolled at Florida Gateway College for Fall 2021 courses as a criminal justice major, leaves the school bookstore with educational supplies on Monday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Mariah Carson, who is enrolled at Florida Gateway College for Fall 2021 courses as a criminal justice major, leaves the school bookstore with educational supplies on Monday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

FGC ‘strongly encourages’ masks

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, August 16, 2021
Florida Gateway College is once again pushing the “Wolfpack’s Three W’s” — washing hands, watching distance and wearing masks — but aren’t requiring the final ‘W’ this fall.

City chooses manager search firm

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, August 16, 2021
The Lake City Council has found its search firm to help find a permanent city manager. Two weeks after postponing discussion of the topic, the council approved by a 3-2 vote Monday night to hire S. Renee Narloch & Associates, a Tallahassee-based firm.

Columbia, Suwannee delegation hearings set

NEWS STAFF
Monday, August 16, 2021
Local residents, as well as government officials, will have a chance to address state legislators next month. Sen. Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island), the chairwoman of the legislative delegations in both Columbia and Suwannee counties, has announced the hearings will both be held Tuesday, Sept.
The City of Lake City released its 2021-22 budget proposal on Friday ahead of next week’s budget workshops. (FILE)

The City of Lake City released its 2021-22 budget proposal on Friday ahead of next week’s budget workshops. (FILE)

6% tax hike on table for Lake City

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 13, 2021
A 6% tax increase has been proposed by the City of Lake City. In its proposed 2021-22 budget released Friday ahead of budget workshops next week, city administration set the budget based on a millage rate of 5.2209 mills, a 6% increase over the rollback rate of 4.9253. The current rate is 4.
The American Banker recently listed First Federal Bank of Florida as the top mid-tier bank in the state. (FILE)

The American Banker recently listed First Federal Bank of Florida as the top mid-tier bank in the state. (FILE)

First Federal deposits more recognition

NEWS STAFF
Friday, August 13, 2021
Another year, another honor deposited by First Federal Bank. American Banker recently listed First Federal, which is headquartered in Lake City, as the top mid-tier bank in Florida and one of the best in that classification — 26th out of 282 institutions rated — in the country.
A Friday evening update from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Tropical Depression Fred’s center making landfall near the Florida panhandle on Monday. (COURTESY/NOAA)

A Friday evening update from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Tropical Depression Fred’s center making landfall near the Florida panhandle on Monday. (COURTESY/NOAA)

Fred’s threat to Columbia County continues to fade westward

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 13, 2021
Tropical Depression Fred’s forecasted impacts on Columbia County are appearing to lessen as the storm continues on its current trajectory, even as it’s predicted to strengthen.