Local

Chamber back to drawing board

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, August 2, 2021
The search is back on for the Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber hosted meet-and-greets with executive director finalists Jeffrey Hunt and Tish Sheesley on July 22-23, but the Board of Directors has instead decided to continue looking for a new director.
Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter speaks to the media at Monday’s press conference. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter speaks to the media at Monday’s press conference. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Deputy arrested for theft

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, August 2, 2021
Following a short investigation, a Columbia County deputy has been arrested for grand theft.

CCSO deputy arrested following theft investigation

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, July 31, 2021
A deputy with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has been arrested and placed on administrative leave following an investigation into theft. Early Friday morning, the CCSO received complaint from a resident alleging a deputy had stolen money from a vehicle during a call for service.
An independent investigation at Branford High School revealed grade changing and misuse of independent study courses centered around a former assistant principal with the school. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

An independent investigation at Branford High School revealed grade changing and misuse of independent study courses centered around a former assistant principal with the school. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Inquiry uncovers cheating scandal at Branford High School

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, July 30, 2021
BRANFORD — A former Branford High School assistant principal is accused of “serious misconduct,” including grade manipulations and violations of test security protocols, by an independent investigator retained by the Suwannee County School District this spring. Scott Seagle with Coppins Monroe, P.
The Millennium Bank Building at 173 Hillsboro Street, along with a smaller bank building at 338 N. Marion Ave., were bought for $1.1 million in February. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

The Millennium Bank Building at 173 Hillsboro Street, along with a smaller bank building at 338 N. Marion Ave., were bought for $1.1 million in February. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

New City Hall construction plans underway

TONY BRITT
Friday, July 30, 2021
The planned construction of a new city hall building has been altered.
Lake City Medical Center is nearing capacity, with 88 out of 93 inpatient beds at the facility being utilized while all 17 ICU beds were taken by patients. (FILE)

Lake City Medical Center is nearing capacity, with 88 out of 93 inpatient beds at the facility being utilized while all 17 ICU beds were taken by patients. (FILE)

Nearing capacity: All ICU beds at LCMC in use after surge in local covid cases

TONY BRITT
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Hospital admissions are rising right along side the number of covid-19 cases. With the recent resurgence in covid cases, Lake City Medical Center has neared capacity. According to numbers reported Monday to the U.S.
Lake Shore Hospital hasn’t been in use since August last year. (FILE)

Lake Shore Hospital hasn’t been in use since August last year. (FILE)

Hospital closure hits pocketbooks

TONY BRITT
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Health care options didn’t just take a hit when Shands Lake Shore Hospital closed last fall. Local taxing authorities also suffered a blow.

One killed in late-night chase

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, July 29, 2021
A chase late Wednesday night that criss-crossed the heart of Lake City ended with a fatal wreck on U.S. Highway 90 just west of downtown. When a Columbia County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull over a vehicle for a traffic infraction around 11:30 p.m.