Local

Jasper lawyer charged with fraud

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, August 27, 2021
Forging documents landed a Jasper attorney in jail Thursday. Brittany Cooper, a 33-year-old from Jasper, was arrested by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office on a Columbia County warrant on Thursday for uttering a forged instrument and altering a public record or certificate. Sgt.

Lake City sees rash of recent shootings

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 27, 2021
Lake City was plagued by a rash of incidents involving gunfire over the past three days that resulted in the hospitalization of one person but no arrests in any of the three incidents of gun violence. Only one suspect has been identified in the three unrelated incidents.
A pair of craft beer vendors deliver service to an attendee of the 2019 Gateway City Craft Beer & Wine Festival. (FILE)

A pair of craft beer vendors deliver service to an attendee of the 2019 Gateway City Craft Beer & Wine Festival. (FILE)

Back on tap and ready to pour

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, August 26, 2021
The Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce will host one of its biggest events in Lake City despite rising covid cases in the county. The chamber announced Wednesday that the Gateway City Craft Beer & Wine Festival is slated to return on Saturday, Oct. 23.

Commission OKs tax cut

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Columbia County property owners will pay less in taxes next year. At a special meeting Thursday morning, the Columbia County Board of County Commissioners approved its floor budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year as well as setting its millage rate. That rate was set at 7.812, a reduction of 0.

CCS: 10.6% of students out due to covid-19

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, August 26, 2021
The numbers are constantly changing, but more than 10% of the students in the Columbia County Schools were out Thursday because of the covid-19 pandemic. According to data released by the district, 207 students within the district were absent Thursday after a positive covid test.
City Clerk Audrey Sikes (from left) and Records Coordinator Nikki Starling talk to Growth Management Director David Young as the three move boxes to their new temporary offices after mold was found on the first floor at city hall. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

City Clerk Audrey Sikes (from left) and Records Coordinator Nikki Starling talk to Growth Management Director David Young as the three move boxes to their new temporary offices after mold was found on the first floor at city hall. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

City hall shuffle: Mold forces clerk, growth management offices to temporary homes

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
The mold discovered Monday on the first floor of Lake City Hall continues to shuffle city departments.

Humane Society inquiry nets arrest

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
The Lake City-Columbia County Humane Society’s former finance director was arrested Tuesday on charges of stealing from the organization. Brian Hogue-Pua, 26, was arrested on a warrant Tuesday for grand theft. He posted bail and was released from jail in less than an hour Tuesday evening.
New Lake City IT Director Matt Benedetti works on a desktop setup Wednesday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

New Lake City IT Director Matt Benedetti works on a desktop setup Wednesday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

City hires Benedetti as IT director

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
After posting the job on two occasions, the City of Lake City has finally hired a new IT director. Matt Benedetti was hired last week as the city’s new IT director and said he hopes to bring a lot of new ideas to the position. He began work Monday.
Parents and guardians drop off their children at the first day of school on Aug. 11 at Eastside Elementary. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Parents and guardians drop off their children at the first day of school on Aug. 11 at Eastside Elementary. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Declining enrollment: District sees 130 fewer students enrolled since last year

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
The Columbia County School District’s enrollment has dropped for the fourth consecutive year. According to school district student enrollment counts, there were 9,167 students enrolled for the first day of school on Aug.

BOCC to discuss millage Thursday

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
County officials are proposing to give residents a tax break by reducing the millage rate during a special county commission meeting Thursday morning. The meeting will take place 9 a.m. Thursday at the Columbia County School Board Administrative Complex Auditorium, 372 W. Duval St.