Local

Siegmeister trial pushed back

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, June 24, 2021
JACKSONVILLE — The extortion and bribery trial of the former Third Judicial Circuit state attorney was delayed a month. Co-defendant Marion Michael O’Steen requested a continuance Monday, which U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard granted Wednesday, pushing the trial back to September.

Armed robbers remain at large

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Going to take a leisurely smoke proved to be more dangerous than the Surgeon General’s warning for a Lake City resident Wednesday morning, when an armed gunman appeared from behind a car and attempted to rob the victim during the morning smoke break.
The remains of the house at 441 Northwest Madison Street after a fire destroyed much of the property in and surrounding the home. (COURTESY)

The remains of the house at 441 Northwest Madison Street after a fire destroyed much of the property in and surrounding the home. (COURTESY)

Late-night fire guts home, displaces family of 5

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
A structure fire late Tuesday night gutted a local home and left a family of five displaced. “The house was well involved in the rear and the structure had smoke bellowing out every opening,” said Lake City Fire Department Lt.
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 fires city manager, hires former HR director as interim

TONY BRITT
Monday, June 21, 2021
It’s a new era at Lake City Hall. The Lake City Council removed Joe Helfenberger from the city manager post and suspended him for 45 days at Monday’s regular council meeting.

Crime rate falls in city, county

TONY BRITT
Monday, June 21, 2021
Crime in Columbia County continues to drop, according to the latest data from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s 2020 Annual Unified Crime Report which was released Monday.
The LCPD is hosting a “Cuffing Cancer Cookout” next month to raise funds for LCPD Officer Taylor Sapp’s fight against cancer. (COURTESY)

The LCPD is hosting a “Cuffing Cancer Cookout” next month to raise funds for LCPD Officer Taylor Sapp’s fight against cancer. (COURTESY)

Cuffing Cancer Cookout planned

NEWS STAFF
Friday, June 18, 2021
The Lake City Police Department is looking to lock up cancer. The LCPD is hosting a “Cuffing Cancer Cookout” next month to raise funds for LCPD Officer Taylor Sapp’s fight against cancer.
A group of volunteers from Columbia County helps in packaging meals during the recent Meals Of Hope event. (COURTESY)

A group of volunteers from Columbia County helps in packaging meals during the recent Meals Of Hope event. (COURTESY)

Columbia County group helped address food insecurity

TONY BRITT
Friday, June 18, 2021
A contingent of Columbia County residents recently spent several hours volunteering their time to address food insecurity in Northeast Florida.

Shooting suspect turns himself in

NEWS STAFF
Friday, June 18, 2021
A Lake City man turned himself into police Friday morning after allegedly shooting an unidentified man in the chest Thursday night. Marcus Octavius Jones, 30, 424 SE Nassau St.
Jean Hamm (left) plays Connect Four with her grandson, Titan Turner, 9, during the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Summer Nights event Friday night at Five Points Elementary School. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Jean Hamm (left) plays Connect Four with her grandson, Titan Turner, 9, during the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Summer Nights event Friday night at Five Points Elementary School. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Resource officers host summer fun event

TONY BRITT
Friday, June 18, 2021
There was a heavy law enforcement presence at Five Points Elementary School Friday evening as a huge crowd of children and their parents flocked to the school’s multi-purpose activity area.