Local

The GNC store at 680 W. Duval St. is set to reopen Thursday morning after recovering from a February fire. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

The GNC store at 680 W. Duval St. is set to reopen Thursday morning after recovering from a February fire. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

GN-See you soon, Lake City

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Health nuts of Columbia County, rejoice. The Lake City GNC Country Mill store at 680 W. Duval St. is set for its grand reopening Thursday after several weeks of clearing some legal hurdles after a fire in the facility back in February. The store will also resume its normal hours of 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Carpenter nabbed for jewelry heist

NEWS STAFF
Monday, June 28, 2021
A Lake City couple hired a contractor for cabinet work. Now, that carpenter may wish he’d never taken the job. Virgil Wayne Moss, 38, was arrested Friday after being accused of stealing and selling roughly more than $10,000 worth of jewelry from an elderly couple.
Law enforcement officers gather outside a building at the intersection of SW Main Boulevard and SW Ivan St. Monday afternoon after a man barricaded himself inside. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Law enforcement officers gather outside a building at the intersection of SW Main Boulevard and SW Ivan St. Monday afternoon after a man barricaded himself inside. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Man surrenders after well-being check involved SWAT team

NEWS STAFF
Monday, June 28, 2021
A well-being check that resulted in the Columbia County SWAT team called in for assistance ended peacefully Monday night. After Lake City Police Officers responded to a residence off SW Ivan St.

CCSO: Employee no ‘Lucky Duck’

NEWS STAFF
Monday, June 28, 2021
For many casino-goers, it’s a mantra that remains true. For one Lake City woman, there may be new meaning to the phrase “The house always wins.” Kiara Michele Murphy, 25, was arrested Friday after she was accused of stealing money from the Lucky Duck Arcade at 1252 E. Duval St.

CCS Meet the Teacher, orientation dates set

NEWS STAFF
Monday, June 28, 2021
Summer is in full swing, but the Columbia County Schools are already looking forward to the next academic year. Back to School Orientation and Meet the Teacher dates have been set for all the schools within the Columbia County School District and will be held early in August.
Ami Mitchell Fields was named the interim city manager by the Lake City Council on Monday. Fields was fired as the city’s human resources director earlier this month. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Ami Mitchell Fields was named the interim city manager by the Lake City Council on Monday. Fields was fired as the city’s human resources director earlier this month. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Council: Communication, teamwork key to city’s transition

TONY BRITT
Friday, June 25, 2021
How does the City of Lake City move forward after removing its city manager from his post this week with a depleted administrative staff? According to members of the Lake City Council, communication is paramount to the city positively progressing through the transition.

City owes Helfenberger 12 weeks severance

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, June 25, 2021
Removed from office and placed on suspension Monday night, Joe Helfenberger will continue to be paid by the City of Lake City for quite some time. Lake City officials finalized the resolution temporarily removing Helfenberger from his city manager post Thursday.
Kaleigh Clements, a Lake City Middle School student, arranges packs of bottle rockets Thursday at the CHS FFA Chapter TNT fireworks tent. Proceeds raised from the sales will be used to help fund the CHS FFA program. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Kaleigh Clements, a Lake City Middle School student, arranges packs of bottle rockets Thursday at the CHS FFA Chapter TNT fireworks tent. Proceeds raised from the sales will be used to help fund the CHS FFA program. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

FFA fireworks stand ready for business

TONY BRITT
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Unpacking, stacking and organizing goods and splays extended to the Walmart parking lot Thursday morning. Students and volunteers spent hours doing the same with fireworks for the Columbia High FFA fireworks fundraiser in a tent in the parking lot.
Lee Pinchouck (left), Rotary Club of Lake City immediate past president, reads the oath installing Meagan Logan as the club’s first female president Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lee Pinchouck (left), Rotary Club of Lake City immediate past president, reads the oath installing Meagan Logan as the club’s first female president Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Logan makes Rotary history

TONY BRITT
Thursday, June 24, 2021
The routine act of installing a new Rotary Club of Lake City president Thursday afternoon was anything but. When she took the oath of office Thursday, Meagan Logan became the first female president in the club’s nearly 100-year history.