Local

Carlos Mendez uses a JT 20 Ditchwitch directional boring drill while instilling pipe that will house fiber-optic cable. Hargray Fiber is building a totally fiber-based network in Lake City to provide high speed internet, business telephone services and cable television. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Carlos Mendez uses a JT 20 Ditchwitch directional boring drill while instilling pipe that will house fiber-optic cable. Hargray Fiber is building a totally fiber-based network in Lake City to provide high speed internet, business telephone services and cable television. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Speeding along: Hargray crews busy building fiber optic lines.

TONY BRITT
Thursday, April 29, 2021
Orange caution cones have become a common sight around Lake City. Many of those cones serve as barriers as construction crews install orange pipes that will house fiber optic cable. From west of Interstate 10, through the downtown area along U.S. Hwy.
Lake City Gateway Airport manager Florence Straugh. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Gateway Airport manager Florence Straugh. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Dream job come true

TONY BRITT
Thursday, April 29, 2021
The ideal job for a person who grew up as an aircraft buff might be an aircraft mechanic or a pilot. With more than two decades of experience in the business, the newest general manager at Lake City Gateway Airport has somewhat similar dreams to pilot the airport to greater heights.

Hydroponic greenhouse taking root

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, April 29, 2021
A 24-acre parcel on the north side of Lake City will soon sprout a hydroponic greenhouse. Green Life Farms announced this month plans for a 400,000 square foot greenhouse, which is expected to begin operations early next year.
Columbia High School track coach Lawrence Davis met with local officials to discuss funding to improve the track at Tiger Stadium. The asphalt hasn’t been upgraded since Davis took the job in 1995. (FILE)

Columbia High School track coach Lawrence Davis met with local officials to discuss funding to improve the track at Tiger Stadium. The asphalt hasn’t been upgraded since Davis took the job in 1995. (FILE)

Getting on track? Davis requests TDC support for track resurfacing.

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Is Columbia County prime to become the next hot spot to host track competitions for the area? Lawrence Davis, the Columbia High School track coach, believes it is and he’s touting his idea to local officials hoping to get funding to improve the CHS track.

LCMS admins violated policy

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Two Lake City Middle School administrators violated district policies stemming from a January incident involving a student being kicked, according to a school district investigation.
The Suwannee River Water Management District provided grant funding to the Columbia County School District for the ‘Quality Water, Quality Life’ project at the Columbia Career and Adult Education center. Pictured are Lindsey Covington (from left), the communications and outreach coordinator for the SRWMD, and Janora Crow and Kaye Johnson from Columbia Career and Adult Education. (COURTESY)

The Suwannee River Water Management District provided grant funding to the Columbia County School District for the ‘Quality Water, Quality Life’ project at the Columbia Career and Adult Education center. Pictured are Lindsey Covington (from left), the communications and outreach coordinator for the SRWMD, and Janora Crow and Kaye Johnson from Columbia Career and Adult Education. (COURTESY)

CCS receives water resource funding

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
A water quality project at the Columbia Career and Adult Education center has received grant assistance from the Suwannee River Water Management District.

City hosting downtown market events

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Downtown Lake City area is expected to become a hot spot for weekend activity with a series of events scheduled by city officials. The city will host its Spring Market from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 8, in downtown Olustee Park.
Columbia High junior Marchela Stroud shows off a pair of custom shoes she makes through her business, ‘Your Idea My Creation.’ (COURTESY)

Columbia High junior Marchela Stroud shows off a pair of custom shoes she makes through her business, ‘Your Idea My Creation.’ (COURTESY)

Young entrepreneurs show off businesses

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Young entrepreneurs put their businesses on display Saturday, concluding the Young Leaders festivities. At the rescheduled Art & Entrepreneurial Festival at the Lake City Woman’s Club, among the creative businesses presented were “Creatori,” “Your Idea My Creation” and “Spell Bound.
Bradley Franks (from left), of Bradley Franks Construction, talks to Stuart Morris, Jon Morris, Ashley Morris and Nora Morris on Sunday as the Morris family looks through a Bradley Franks home featured in the 2021 Parade of Homes. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Bradley Franks (from left), of Bradley Franks Construction, talks to Stuart Morris, Jon Morris, Ashley Morris and Nora Morris on Sunday as the Morris family looks through a Bradley Franks home featured in the 2021 Parade of Homes. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Crowd flocks to Parade of Homes weekend

TONY BRITT
Monday, April 26, 2021
Like many others on the 2021 Parade of Homes, Jon and Ashley Morris hope to begin building their own home in the near future. For Morris, who owns Ridgepoint Design in town, the parade also provided a chance to see some of his products finished.