Local

Firefighters battle a structure fire that destroyed four apartments in the Columbia Arms Apartment Complex Saturday. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Firefighters battle a structure fire that destroyed four apartments in the Columbia Arms Apartment Complex Saturday. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Blaze damages four apartments

TONY BRITT
Monday, February 1, 2021
An afternoon blaze gutted several apartments in the Columbia Arms apartment complex Saturday afternoon. The fire occurred in the building that houses apartments 101-102  and 201-202 at 1428 S.
The Q-Time 777 casino is located on East Duval Street. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

The Q-Time 777 casino is located on East Duval Street. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

One killed in Q-Time casino shooting

TONY BRITT
Saturday, January 30, 2021
A disgruntled internet casino customer was shot and killed Saturday morning by a security guard after the patron opened fire inside the Q-Time 777 casino, authorities said. The investigation is ongoing and the victim’s identity has not been released.
An abandoned house sits on Broadway is listed as owing lien fees at $25 per day since September 2019. The city has several such properties with lien fees topping $4.5 million. The city’s lien amnesty program could reduce the amount of blighted properties in the city. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

An abandoned house sits on Broadway is listed as owing lien fees at $25 per day since September 2019. The city has several such properties with lien fees topping $4.5 million. The city’s lien amnesty program could reduce the amount of blighted properties in the city. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Fines? No problem

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 29, 2021
City officials are on the cusp of initiating a new program that will wipe more than $4.5 million in fees off the books — fees that even one city council member’s spouse is accused of owing.
A small airplane flipped over on a grass airstrip in O’Brien on Friday afternoon after its front wheel broke after landing. (COURTESY SUWANNEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

A small airplane flipped over on a grass airstrip in O’Brien on Friday afternoon after its front wheel broke after landing. (COURTESY SUWANNEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

Pilot airlifted after plane crash

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, January 29, 2021
O’BRIEN — A training flight on a new plane ended with the pilot airlifted to a hospital Friday. A small aircraft flipped over on the grass O’Brien Airpark runway off 117th Drive near 208th St. around 3 p.m. Friday after landing from a flight. Suwannee County Sheriff Sam St.

Worship Room hosting free community dinner

NEWS STAFF
Friday, January 29, 2021
A free homemade meal is being served up Tuesday night at The Worship Room. The community dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the church, located at 162 NW Ridgewood Ave. in Lake City, behind Caring Hands Animal Hospital.

CCSO to face suit over bite

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, January 28, 2021
A Lake City man intends to sue the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for “negligent, intentional, egregious and excessive acts” by deputies during an October 2020 traffic stop.
Nick Stewart reacts to Rose Brocchi playing a dead woman during dress rehearsal for the Columbia High dinner/theater production of ‘The Bold, the Young, and the Murdered.’ The CHS drama club and culinary arts program will host the play tonight and tomorrow at the Norman L. Choice Performing Arts Center. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Nick Stewart reacts to Rose Brocchi playing a dead woman during dress rehearsal for the Columbia High dinner/theater production of ‘The Bold, the Young, and the Murdered.’ The CHS drama club and culinary arts program will host the play tonight and tomorrow at the Norman L. Choice Performing Arts Center. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Dinner and a murder

TONY BRITT
Thursday, January 28, 2021
A guilty pleasure of life is being able to sit with friends and family on a cold winter evening and enjoy a good ol’ murder mystery.
Mike Null and Dolly Robinson from the Lake City Columbia County Tennis Association speak during a presentation Wednesday afternoon at the Columbia County Tourist Development Council meeting. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Mike Null and Dolly Robinson from the Lake City Columbia County Tennis Association speak during a presentation Wednesday afternoon at the Columbia County Tourist Development Council meeting. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

TDC eyeing economic bounce back

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Canceled sports tournaments, travelers staying home and restaurants changing their service delivery were all common place last year as the local tourism industry had to deal with the impact of a global pandemic.