Local

Bat beating lands woman in jail

TONY BRITT

Monday, April 26, 2021

A Columbia County woman was arrested Thursday afternoon after she allegedly used an aluminum baseball bat to attack a female following a disagreement. Heather Marie Cutler, 36, was charged with aggravated battery in connection with the incident.

A family gravesite in Oaklawn Cemetery with an overturned tombstone, dilapidated brick wall and high grass is a common site at the local cemetery. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Cemetery clean-up: City to address rundown appearance of Oaklawn Cemetery

TONY BRITT

Friday, April 23, 2021

Bricks from the entrance are cracked or missing. Weeds and grass have overgrown portions of the fencing. A tree is growing through an unidentified Confederate soldier’s headstone and other grave stones around Oaklawn Cemetery are similarly broken, unreadable and in disrepair.

Lori North at her desk. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

North aims to help others in tough situations

TONY BRITT

Friday, April 23, 2021

More than 20 years ago, Lori North had an unplanned pregnancy and didn’t know what she was going to do. “I could not even imagine abortion, but it was hard because I didn’t have a whole lot of people in my corner,” she said.

The 2021 Parade of Homes will feature six new homes from six different builders. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Homes on parade this weekend

NEWS STAFF

Thursday, April 22, 2021

The premier new home-building event, the 2021 Parade of Homes, will showcase new construction and modern home designs in six new homes open to the public on Saturday and Sunday.

City hosting community yard sale event Saturday

TONY BRITT

Thursday, April 22, 2021

The downtown area adjacent to Lake DeSoto will be teeming with activity Saturday, as local residents looking for inexpensive wares can purchase items at the inaugural City of Lake City Community Yard Sale Event. The Community Yard Sale, hosted by the City of Lake City, will take place from 8 a.m.

Lake City Mayor Stephen Witt greets the crowd at the 2020 Olustee Battle Festival. The festival is returning in 2022, although no parade is currently scheduled. (FILE)

Return of Olustee: Organizers bringing festival back in 2022

TONY BRITT

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

It’s back. After covid forced the cancellation of the 2021 Olustee Battle Festival, Columbia County’s biggest and oldest festival is set to return in February. The Olustee Festival is scheduled to take place Feb.

Another shooting at apartment complex

NEWS STAFF

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Another week, another shooting at a northern Lake City apartment complex. The Lake City Police Department received reports around 7:18 p.m. Tuesday of gunshots heard at the Cedar Park Apartment Complex. It was the fourth shooting at the apartment complex on NW Bascom Norris Drive in two weeks.

Nickolas Steward, foreground, portrays a skateboarder during a theatrical presentation Wednesday at the National Guard Armory during local National Youth Leadership Week festivities. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

CHS, Belmont students get a taste of bureaucracy, government

TONY BRITT

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Several middle and high school students from Columbia High School and Belmont Academy met and heard from local business owners and other community partners during an afternoon program Wednesday where the students later had an opportunity to showcase their skills in hosting a meeting using...

Summer camps returning to FGC

NEWS STAFF

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

After a covid-induced cancellation a year ago, youth summer camps are back at Florida Gateway College. School officials plan to host eight camps — sponsored by Nutrien — which are open to area youth ages 8-14. According to FGC, more camps could potentially be added.

Shanekia Bing holds up one of her products along with a page from her U.S. trademark for her hair product line. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Patented success: Bing trademarks her Alirra hair product line

JAMIE WACHTER

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Shanekia Bing wasn’t doing hair. In fact, the Lake City resident had no interest in doing people’s hair. She was so steadfast against it, she ended up launching a business and just recently receiving a patent and trademark for her hair product line, Alirra.