Local

Council: No CARES funding for station

TONY BRITT
Monday, July 19, 2021
Residents and business owners on the westside of Lake City will soon have added fire protection after city officials approved construction contracts for the new westside fire station Monday night.
A plane carrying a Isaac Bell and Micah Bell stops on the grass after taking the two youngsters up during the Young Eagles Rally. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

A plane carrying a Isaac Bell and Micah Bell stops on the grass after taking the two youngsters up during the Young Eagles Rally. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Young Eagles soar at rally

TONY BRITT
Monday, July 19, 2021
The constant pop-pop and whirl of planes starting and shutting off their engines was a common sound Saturday morning at Cannon Creek Airpark.
Chandler Thompson (left) shows his cow, Outlaw, as exhibitor judge George Richburg, tells the audience about the steer during Saturday’s Dixie Cattle Invitational. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Chandler Thompson (left) shows his cow, Outlaw, as exhibitor judge George Richburg, tells the audience about the steer during Saturday’s Dixie Cattle Invitational. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Registers’ cattle shows a popular draw

TONY BRITT
Monday, July 19, 2021
With years of experience in the show cattle industry, Dan and Stacie Register are looking to provide a start to others. Over the weekend, the Registers had close to 200 visitors and several hundred head of cattle as guests in western Columbia County.

Spoofing costs victim $8K

NEWS STAFF
Monday, July 19, 2021
Returning a phone call recently, the person thought they were talking with a Lake City police officer. However, the Lake City Police Department announced in a release Monday, the victim instead was tricked by a “spoofed” phone number and was swindled out of $8,000.
Burnham

Burnham

Fire chief claims clerk retaliated in complaint

TONY BRITT
Friday, July 16, 2021
Lake City’s fire chief has filed a complaint against the city clerk, accusing her of retaliation. In a complaint sent to Mayor Stephen Witt on July 2, Fire Chief Randy Burnham said City Clerk Audrey Sikes retaliated against him for questioning the city’s public records request platform.

Fire station construction contract before council

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, July 16, 2021
The Lake City Council may light a fire under a second fire station project Monday. At its regular meeting, the council will consider approving contracts with the architect and contractor on a new fire station on the west side of Lake City, which would then be expected to be completed within a year.
Easton Helsel (left), 5, makes a face with Jacob English (far right) during the Christ Central Vacation Bible School session Wednesday night as Emery Helsel, 4, looks on while English gives them drawstring book bags. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Easton Helsel (left), 5, makes a face with Jacob English (far right) during the Christ Central Vacation Bible School session Wednesday night as Emery Helsel, 4, looks on while English gives them drawstring book bags. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Family affair: Roughly 550 attend ‘VBX 2021: Expedition’ Bible retreat

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Vacation Bible School took on a new meaning for Christ Central Ministries parishioners Wednesday evening. Several hundred children and adults gathered at the church campus for “VBX 2021: The Expedition.

Shots fired after food refused

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Upset over refusing to eat his late-night meal, authorities say a Lake City man threw a bag a food at a woman’s face before punching her and later firing multiple shots at individuals early Wednesday morning. A Columbia County Sheriff’s Office report states that around 12:20 a.m.