Local

Sen. Jennifer Bradley opened the Suwannee County legislative delegation hearing by warning of $2 billion-plus in state budget cuts. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Budget concerns tackled at SuwCo hearing

JAMIE WACHTER

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

LIVE OAK — The tone for Tuesday morning’s Suwannee County legislative delegation hearing was set early. In her opening remarks at the Suwannee County Coliseum, Sen.

Lollipop lease a sticky situation

TONY BRITT

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

The city’s potential lease agreement with Lollipop Child Care, or the George & Warren Foundation, has turned into a sticky situation. Most of the discussion in a nearly three-hour meeting Tuesday night centered around the city’s proposed leasing of the Girls Club buildings.

Sara Carter, stands on the steps of the Columbia County Courthouse on Friday afternoon. Carter, 42, has been serving as the Columbia County Court judge for roughly two weeks. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Courting history: Carter settling in as county’s first female judge

TONY BRITT

Monday, January 18, 2021

After close to two decades of working with clients as an attorney, Sara Carter wondered what life would look like from the other side of the bench.

County calling covid-19 list

TONY BRITT

Monday, January 18, 2021

With the phones ringing off the hook at both the Columbia County Health Department and the Board of County Commissioners’ office, local officials are looking to reverse that trend.

Thomas Barritt, former director of the Lake City-Columbia County Humane Society, has been named the interim president of the humane society’s board of directors. (FILE)

Humane Society announces new board chief, thrift store

NEWS STAFF

Monday, January 18, 2021

The Lake City-Columbia County Humane Society is beginning 2021 with several changes. The humane society installed an interim board president after its former president resigned after 10 years and the agency is also planning to open a thrift store near the end of the month.

Jay Lambert pulls wire from a large spool while working on upgrades at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena. The facility is adding more RV campsites for events. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Rodeo arena adding more RV spaces

TONY BRITT

Friday, January 15, 2021

The Florida Gateway Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena is getting an upgrade that will allow it to corral more visitors into its RV camping facilities. For the past few days staff workers with Walt Graham Electric worked digging trenches and adding cables that will enable the campsite to double its capacity.

Who will be the utility player?

TONY BRITT

Friday, January 15, 2021

The key to hitting a grand slam in economic development may come from a utility player. As in the provider of utilities for Columbia County moving forward.

Small pool keeps county looking

TONY BRITT

Friday, January 15, 2021

Hoping for a deeper pool of candidates to swim through, Columbia County officials will continue to advertise its open county manager position. Prior to Friday’s 5 p.m. application deadline, only 14 candidates had applied.

Legislative delegation is coming to town

NEWS STAFF

Friday, January 15, 2021

Local residents and governments will have their state legislative delegates’ ear next week. On Tuesday, Rep. Chuck Brannan (R-Macclenny) and Sen. Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island) will visit both Suwannee and Columbia counties to hold legislative delegation hearings.

Gray joins Drummond Community Bank team

NEWS STAFF

Friday, January 15, 2021

Heather Gray, a veteran in Lake City banking circles, has joined the staff at Drummond Community Bank in Lake City. Gray is Drummond’s new Private Banker for the Columbia County Market. In this role, she will be responsible for providing unique and exceptional customer service.