Local

The county commission retained ownership of Olustee Park in downtown Lake City, home of the Battle of Olustee Confederate Monument, at Thursday’s meeting. (FILE)

County captures Olustee: Board denies quitclaim deed to city, retains ownership of park

TONY BRITT

Thursday, April 1, 2021

The Battle of Olustee took place more than 150 years ago in Baker County, but the battle of the Olustee Monument is just beginning to hit its stride, albeit, under new — and old — ownership.

Clockwise from top left: Sydni Jones, Jaxon Evans, Lucy Evans, David Evans

Abducted children found safe in Branford

JAMIE WACHTER

Thursday, April 1, 2021

BRANFORD — Two children, reported abducted by their biological parents on Wednesday evening, were found safe in a nearby motel a day later. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office announced early Thursday afternoon that Lucy and Jaxon Evans were safely recovered from the Steamboat Inn in Branford.

Officers walk with a man after they talked him down from the roof of Bulk Nation on Thursday afternoon. The man had been yelling and throwing clothes off the top of the building. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Man talked down off rooftop

TONY BRITT

Thursday, April 1, 2021

An agitated man was talked down off the roof of a Gleason Place building Thursday afternoon by first responders. The man, who authorities did not identify, was on the roof for less than 30 minutes before he came down and taken into custody.

Jesenia Minniefield, owner of Dulce Bakery & Sweets Shop, replenishes desserts during the Little Black Dress Mixer on Wednesday evening. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Black dress affair: Local businesswomen enjoy Chamber celebration

TONY BRITT

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Local women business owners were celebrated and honored Wednesday by the Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. They also were given the opportunity to get dressed up and have a little fun at the Little Black Dress Mixerat the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds exhibit hall.

County considering Olustee quitclaim

NEWS STAFF

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Who controls Olustee Park — and the Battle of Olustee Confederate monument that resides in it — could finally be decided. The Columbia County Board of County Commissioners are expected to consider a quitclaim deed on the downtown Lake City park at its 5:30 p.m.

Advisory committee OKs city utility master plan

JAMIE WACHTER

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

A city-wide utilities master plan may finally be on the horizon for the City of Lake City. At Wednesday afternoon’s city utility advisory committee meeting, the group unanimously approved Jones Edmunds performing a master plan of the city’s utilities.

(Clockwise from top left) Sydni Jones, Jaxon Evans, Lucy Evans, David Evans

Couple wanted in early night parental abduction case

NEWS STAFF

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Detectives are actively investigating a parental abduction which occurred on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at approximately 5:15 p.m. The suspects are Sydni Jones, 23, and David Evans, 24. The children have been identified as Jaxon Evans, 4, and Lucy Evans, 2.

Regar and Hogue-Pua

Humane society: Pair stole $15K

TONY BRITT

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Two former Lake City-Columbia County Humane Society employees are facing a lawsuit alleging they stole $15,800 from the animal shelter. The suit, which was filed March 17 in Columbia County Court by the humane society, accuses the pair of conversion, civil theft and unjust enrichment.

Emergency avoided: city nixes meeting

JAMIE WACHTER

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

There wasn’t an emergency at City Hall after all. Little more than 12 hours after city officials called for an emergency meeting to be held Tuesday evening, it was canceled. City Manager Joe Helfenberger said the cancellation, which was announced around 10 a.m.

Suwannee close to pre-covid jobless rate

NEWS STAFF

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Things are almost back to normal in Suwannee County. According to data released by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity late last week, Suwannee County’s February unemployment rate neared its pre-pandemic levels.