Local

Lt. Dwight Boozer (from left) of the Lake City Fire Department, stands with Lake City Middle School Principal Robert Cooper, Columbia County Fire Rescue Chief Jeff Crawford and Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter. (COURTESY)

Lt. Dwight Boozer (from left) of the Lake City Fire Department, stands with Lake City Middle School Principal Robert Cooper, Columbia County Fire Rescue Chief Jeff Crawford and Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter. (COURTESY)

First responders to lace ’em up for charity

TONY BRITT
Friday, July 9, 2021
For most of the year, local First Responders put on their uniforms daily with the prospect that they may have to risk their lives to save a resident’s life. That’s just the selfless part of their jobs.
The Lake Shore Hospital Authority board may request the return of 12 properties back from the City of Lake City near the intersection of Franklin Street and Marion Avenue. The land was donated for the construction of a new city hall. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

The Lake Shore Hospital Authority board may request the return of 12 properties back from the City of Lake City near the intersection of Franklin Street and Marion Avenue. The land was donated for the construction of a new city hall. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

LSHA may seek new city hall property back

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, July 8, 2021
Land donated for a new Lake City Hall may be pulled back from the city. The Lake Shore Hospital Authority board will discuss, and possibly act on, a request for the city to return 12 parcels donated for that use at its meeting Monday. The LHSA board meets at 5:15 p.m.

Cold case murder suspect arrested

TONY BRITT
Thursday, July 8, 2021
A long-time “person of interest” in a 2015 murder case was arrested last week after serving time in a Georgia prison for an unrelated crime. Printiss Cortez Donaldson, 32, was arrested on a murder warrant Friday in connection with the 2015 murder of Kharah Asia Norman. Sgt.

Reporter’s parent company announces new leadership

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, July 8, 2021
After 32 years of guiding Community Newspapers Inc. (CNI), co-owners Tom Wood and Dink NeSmith are turning over the corporate leadership to new co-chief executive officers. Effective Thursday, longtime chief financial officer (CFO) and vice president Mark Major replaced NeSmith as president.
Lake City Reporter Publisher Todd Wilson (left) meets with GulfCoast Financial Services Founder and CEO John Kuykendall and President Brent Kuykendall to discuss a First Responders Appreciation Lunch set for Friday. (COURTESY)

Lake City Reporter Publisher Todd Wilson (left) meets with GulfCoast Financial Services Founder and CEO John Kuykendall and President Brent Kuykendall to discuss a First Responders Appreciation Lunch set for Friday. (COURTESY)

First Responders appreciation luncheon planned

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
GulfCoast Financial and the Lake City Reporter will partner to provide a free lunch to First Responders in the Lake City and Columbia County community on Friday as a show of appreciation. The event is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A water oak tree that was uprooted when Tropical Storm Elsa passed through Columbia County rests on Ray Shealy’s craft shed. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

A water oak tree that was uprooted when Tropical Storm Elsa passed through Columbia County rests on Ray Shealy’s craft shed. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Tropical Storm Elsa brings tornadoes, steady rain to local area

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
COLUMBIA CITY — While she didn’t pack the overall wallop projected, Tropical Storm Elsa still provided more of a punch than John Murray Jr. was expecting. Murray, who lives in the Oakfield Acres subdivision on SW Dunlop Glen, said a tornado touched down on his property around 6:30 a.m.
Neville Taylor (from left), a Columbia County Public Works employee, helps Micah Taber and Lisa Taber as they fill sandbags at the Columbia County Public Works Construction Yard Tuesday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Neville Taylor (from left), a Columbia County Public Works employee, helps Micah Taber and Lisa Taber as they fill sandbags at the Columbia County Public Works Construction Yard Tuesday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Residents finalize preparations ahead of Elsa

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
As Tropical Storm Elsa neared Florida on Tuesday, local residents were making preparations for the potential local impact.
Artist Lisa Pifer, born legally blind, is set to be the featured artist for July at the Gateway Art Gallery. (COURTESY)

Artist Lisa Pifer, born legally blind, is set to be the featured artist for July at the Gateway Art Gallery. (COURTESY)

Legally blind artist to be honored

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
Born legally blind, Lisa Pifer can’t accurately describe what she can and can’t see. “To me, everything looks clear,” she said. “But I’m not sure what clear is.” But when it comes to her art, Pifer knows how her eyesight has affected her craft.

I-75 wreck leaves Orlando teen in critical condition

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
An Orlando teenager is in critical condition after rear-ending another car on Interstate 75 Monday night. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, northbound traffic had stopped near the U.S. Highway 90 exit at mile marker 427 around 7:44 p.m.