Local

Budget boosts FGC’s plans

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, May 3, 2021
Florida Gateway College has already broken ground on its new STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) building earlier this spring, but it may now require additional space. In the 2021-22 budget passed last week by the Florida Legislature, FGC was allocated $6.

City eyes finalizing $2.2M in grants

TONY BRITT
Monday, May 3, 2021
City officials are looking to finalize the paperwork and follow the necessary steps to get $2.2 million in federal grant funding to make improvements at two hangars used by HAECO.

Man charged with aggravated battery after stabbing

NEWS STAFF
Monday, May 3, 2021
A stabbing, possibly with a dinner fork, at a Lake City apartment early Saturday morning led to an arrest on aggravated battery charges. According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, 32-year-old Eric Gabel stabbed a victim in the right hand while also taking the victim’s iPhone around 1:30 a.

Threatening to ‘light up’ family member leads to arrest

NEWS STAFF
Friday, April 30, 2021
A Columbia County man, who was arrested Thursday, faces several domestic violence charges after he allegedly shoved a family member with an open hand and later threatened the victim with a pistol. Damarquis Antwan Williams, 30, was charged with aggravated assault with a weapon and simple battery.

Local man arrested after threatening victim with knife

NEWS STAFF
Friday, April 30, 2021
BRANFORD — A 67-year-old knife-wielding man was arrested Thursday after allegedly threatening to kill a Branford resident. Donald Lewis Bailey, 67, was charged with aggravated assault (with deadly weapon without intent to kill) in connection with the case.

Pregnancy Care Center to hold virtual fundraiser

TONY BRITT
Friday, April 30, 2021
The heart-wrenching tale of a baby that was saved by it’s mother’s decision to utilize abortion pill reversal services offered by the Pregnancy Care Center will be one of many featured testimonials as the agency holds its annual fundraiser next week.
Carlos Mendez uses a JT 20 Ditchwitch directional boring drill while instilling pipe that will house fiber-optic cable. Hargray Fiber is building a totally fiber-based network in Lake City to provide high speed internet, business telephone services and cable television. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Carlos Mendez uses a JT 20 Ditchwitch directional boring drill while instilling pipe that will house fiber-optic cable. Hargray Fiber is building a totally fiber-based network in Lake City to provide high speed internet, business telephone services and cable television. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Speeding along: Hargray crews busy building fiber optic lines.

TONY BRITT
Thursday, April 29, 2021
Orange caution cones have become a common sight around Lake City. Many of those cones serve as barriers as construction crews install orange pipes that will house fiber optic cable. From west of Interstate 10, through the downtown area along U.S. Hwy.
Lake City Gateway Airport manager Florence Straugh. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Gateway Airport manager Florence Straugh. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Dream job come true

TONY BRITT
Thursday, April 29, 2021
The ideal job for a person who grew up as an aircraft buff might be an aircraft mechanic or a pilot. With more than two decades of experience in the business, the newest general manager at Lake City Gateway Airport has somewhat similar dreams to pilot the airport to greater heights.

Hydroponic greenhouse taking root

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, April 29, 2021
A 24-acre parcel on the north side of Lake City will soon sprout a hydroponic greenhouse. Green Life Farms announced this month plans for a 400,000 square foot greenhouse, which is expected to begin operations early next year.