Local

The Lake City Medical Center will build an additional $36 million expansion to its campus starting in July. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

The Lake City Medical Center will build an additional $36 million expansion to its campus starting in July. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

LCMC set to expand ER, bed capacity

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
The changing look of Lake City Medical Center continues. As a $9 million, 12-bed expansion winds down this month, the hospital has announced an additional $36 million expansion to the hospital’s campus.

City, county officials ready for countywide cleanup on Saturday

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
Spring cleaning is taking on a new meaning for Columbia County residents. City and county officials have scheduled the first countywide cleanup day for Saturday with hopes of sprucing-up local roadsides, yards, cemeteries and other areas. The countywide cleanup event will take place 8 a.m.
Columbia High School graduate Aagust Anderson has attended every day of school for the past 13 years. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia High School graduate Aagust Anderson has attended every day of school for the past 13 years. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

CHS alum’s perfect attendance not unheard of in her family

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
With the exception of a few random holidays here and there, Christmas break, summer break and spring break, there was a good bet Aagust Anderson could be found at school.

CHS Class of ’21 concludes unique year

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
The Class of 2021 had a unique high school experience: covid-19 forcing school closures followed by pandemic restrictions slowly lifting. For more than 400 Columbia High School students, those experiences will end later this week when they get their diplomas.
Joel Grecian poses with his $100 and thank-you note from Waste Pro. (COURTESY)

Joel Grecian poses with his $100 and thank-you note from Waste Pro. (COURTESY)

Waste Pro employee awarded for dedication

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
A local Waste Pro employee’s dedication recently paid off with a “Franklin” Award of $100. A Lake City resident was struggling this spring with setting his yard waste out on a collection in May when Waste Pro’s Joel Grecian stopped on his route to explain the proper method.
Buddy Williams, Suwannee County’s chief deputy, said the sacrifices America’s service men and women have made are the reason the country can come back stronger and better than before. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Buddy Williams, Suwannee County’s chief deputy, said the sacrifices America’s service men and women have made are the reason the country can come back stronger and better than before. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Williams stresses importance of Memorial Day, sacrifice

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, May 31, 2021
LIVE OAK — Buddy Williams was almost part of the problem. When the Suwannee County chief deputy was first asked to be the guest speaker at Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony, Williams said he needed to check to see if his family had any plans.
A Fort White High School graduate hugs one of her teachers Friday night during the commencement ceremony. (JACOB PRICE/Special to the Reporter)

A Fort White High School graduate hugs one of her teachers Friday night during the commencement ceremony. (JACOB PRICE/Special to the Reporter)

FWHS sends off close-knit graduates

TONY BRITT
Monday, May 31, 2021
FORT WHITE — The Class of 2021 may be the smallest graduating class in FWHS Principal Keith Couey’s 10 years at the school. But that small group of 93 that were celebrated Friday night with commencement at Arrowhead Stadium is also one that shares a tight bond.

SCSO investigating cattle rustling

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, May 31, 2021
LIVE OAK — For the second time this spring, the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office is on the lookout for cattle rustlers. Nineteen head of “good shape, high-end commercial Brangus” were stolen in April or May from a farm off 171st Road in western Suwannee County.

Infrastructure top priority for federal funds

TONY BRITT
Friday, May 28, 2021
Infrastructure improvements and providing financial assistance to local business owners appear to be Columbia County officials’ top priorities for federal pandemic relief funding. Columbia County is set to receive $13.9 million from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act.