Local

Council considering lien amnesty

TONY BRITT
Thursday, December 31, 2020
City officials are hoping to gain momentum for their plan to reduce the amount of blighted properties in the city by initiating a lien amnesty program for a year. During a November city council workshop session, Joe Helfenberger, city manager, unveiled the proposed program.
The traditional New Year’s Day meal in the American South includes pork (good fortune and wisdom), greens (money), cornbread (gold) and black-eyed peas (health and coins). (COURTESY)

The traditional New Year’s Day meal in the American South includes pork (good fortune and wisdom), greens (money), cornbread (gold) and black-eyed peas (health and coins). (COURTESY)

Out with the old: The traditions that mark New Year’s festivities

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Each New Year’s Eve, we traditionally gather among friends to bid farewell to the old year as we welcome the new. The tradition of marking the passage of time and the coming of another year is as old as civilization, and many of our own traditions are rooted in both ancient and modern rituals.
Columbia High School JROTC color guard cadets present the colors for the 2018 Memorial Day Service at the Lake City VA Medical Center. Columbia High School JROTC cadets will present the colors at the Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 12 leading up to the Next Era Energy 250 truck race. (FILE)

Columbia High School JROTC color guard cadets present the colors for the 2018 Memorial Day Service at the Lake City VA Medical Center. Columbia High School JROTC cadets will present the colors at the Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 12 leading up to the Next Era Energy 250 truck race. (FILE)

Ladies and gentlemen, present the colors

TONY BRITT
Thursday, December 31, 2020
A trip to Daytona International Speedway has 1st Sgt. Trena Dettmer convinced the Columbia High JROTC program is on the right track. The CHS JROTC Color Guard will present the nation’s and state’s colors at Daytona in February leading up to the Next Era Energy 250 truck race.
Brian Sellers was the first employee at Lake City Medical Center to receive the covid-19 vaccine on Monday. Sellers works in the emergency room at the hospital, which started vaccinating employees Monday with the Moderna vaccine. (COURTESY)

Brian Sellers was the first employee at Lake City Medical Center to receive the covid-19 vaccine on Monday. Sellers works in the emergency room at the hospital, which started vaccinating employees Monday with the Moderna vaccine. (COURTESY)

First in line: LCMC begins vaccinating employees

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
The covid-19 vaccine has begun rolling out in Columbia County. The Lake City Medical Center started vaccinating frontline health care workers Monday, with nearly 70 internal hospital employees and physicians receiving the vaccine.
A room filled with customers await their turn at the Columbia County Tax Collectors Office on Tuesday afternoon. Activity at the office has increased as the end of the year approaches and people look to pay their taxes and other fees. The office will be closed Thursday and Friday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

A room filled with customers await their turn at the Columbia County Tax Collectors Office on Tuesday afternoon. Activity at the office has increased as the end of the year approaches and people look to pay their taxes and other fees. The office will be closed Thursday and Friday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Tax collector’s year-end rush slower than usual

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
The rush is on. The Columbia County Tax Collector’s Office has seen its usual spike in customers as the final days of 2020 wind down. Tuesday afternoon the lobby, service area and drive-through all had lines as people attempted to complete transactions before the end of the year.
Kenzie Dungan cuts holes in a banner to allow wind to flow through the banner as she and other FFA students and volunteers prepared to open the Columbia FFA Fireworks stand Monday afternoon. Proceeds raised from the fireworks sales will benefit students in the Columbia FFA chapters. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Kenzie Dungan cuts holes in a banner to allow wind to flow through the banner as she and other FFA students and volunteers prepared to open the Columbia FFA Fireworks stand Monday afternoon. Proceeds raised from the fireworks sales will benefit students in the Columbia FFA chapters. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

FFA selling fireworks for fundraiser

TONY BRITT
Monday, December 28, 2020
The Columbia FFA is looking to close out 2020 with a bang. The program is selling fireworks this week in the Lake City Walmart’s parking lot for its annual fundraiser. The tent was set up Sunday and the supplies arrived Monday.

Health dept. taking vaccine sign-ups

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, December 28, 2020
Patience is not only a virtue, but a necessity for those awaiting a covid-19 vaccine. The Columbia County Health Department is making preparations for distributing the vaccine once it is received, including taking registrations from those residents, 65 years and older, who wish to be vaccinated.
Longtime Lake City banker Gil Miller will retire from Drummond Community Bank this week after 43 years in banking and 57 years overall working in finance. He has worked for several area banks as a lending officer during his career. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Longtime Lake City banker Gil Miller will retire from Drummond Community Bank this week after 43 years in banking and 57 years overall working in finance. He has worked for several area banks as a lending officer during his career. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Miller, long-time Lake City banker, to retire

TODD WILSON
Monday, December 28, 2020
Gil Miller, a longtime banking loan officer in the Lake City market, will retire this week after 43 years in banking and 57 years overall working in the financial industry. He will retire from Drummond Community Bank in Lake City on December 31.