Local

Shayne Morgan, Columbia County Emergency Management director, holds a WeatherSTEM monitor that was struck by lightning earlier this year. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Shayne Morgan, Columbia County Emergency Management director, holds a WeatherSTEM monitor that was struck by lightning earlier this year. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

County getting a better read on the weather

TONY BRITT
Monday, October 11, 2021
Columbia County residents now have access to newly installed weather tracking equipment that provides and collects real-time weather data.
Suwannee County Fire Rescue’s Lt. Jacob Doyle (from left), Tad Cervantes and Adam McCook with Emmy after rescuing the six-month-old beagle puppy from a sinkhole Saturday. (COURTESY)

Suwannee County Fire Rescue’s Lt. Jacob Doyle (from left), Tad Cervantes and Adam McCook with Emmy after rescuing the six-month-old beagle puppy from a sinkhole Saturday. (COURTESY)

Firemen ‘shine’ in rescue mission

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, October 11, 2021
LIVE OAK — When Emmy snuck into the cow pasture next to their house Saturday, the Skinners didn’t think much of it. Their six-month-old beagle had gone exploring in the field previously.
Helfenberger

Helfenberger

Manager search dragging on

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Nearly two months into the process and Lake City officials say it appears the search for a new city manager is going nowhere fast. On Aug. 16, the Lake City Council approved utilizing S.
Students at Columbia High School gather around a pair of boxes containing donated canned and dry foods to be given to charity. (COURTESY)

Students at Columbia High School gather around a pair of boxes containing donated canned and dry foods to be given to charity. (COURTESY)

Charitable giving: Schools collecting food items for Catholic Charities

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, October 9, 2021
One can of food can make a huge difference. The Columbia County Schools’ canned food drive to support Catholic Charities’ Thanksgiving baskets is underway at all 14 schools in the district.

School tax headed to ballot

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Columbia County voters will have their say about helping fund the construction of two new elementary schools. The Columbia County Board of County Commissioners unanimously agreed Thursday to place the referendum of a half-cent sales tax on the November 2022 general election ballot.

Teen killed in late-night wreck

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, October 9, 2021
One teenager was killed Thursday night and four others injured in a single-vehicle wreck south of Lake City. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a sedan traveling south on SW Tustenuggee Avenue around 10:40 p.m. Thursday traveled off the road near SW Minnie Glen and struck a tree.

DOT: U.S. 41 lanes to be closed at night

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Nighttime lane closures are expected this week on U.S. Highway 41 north of Lake City. The Florida Department of Transportation said crews from Anderson Columbia will begin repairing and replacing sidewalks and ADA ramps along the road as part of the $6.1 million project on the highway.

LifeSouth needs blood, heroes

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, October 9, 2021
LifeSouth is need of heroes. According to a release from the community blood centers, there is a national blood shortage and thus, a continued need for blood donors, especially type O.