Local

Ronnie Brannon, the Columbia County Tax Collector for the past 16 years, will be retiring in early January. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Ronnie Brannon, the Columbia County Tax Collector for the past 16 years, will be retiring in early January. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Brannon ready for retirement

TONY BRITT
Saturday, December 26, 2020
Ronnie Brannon doesn’t appear to be a guy that easily gets excited, but by uttering the word “retirement,” a smile begins to curl on his lips, his eyes shine with anticipation, and he begins to speak faster than normal. Though he won’t say it, his excitement about retirement is evident.
Columbia County is currently taking applications for its next county manager. David Kraus, the interim manager, is one of the eight candidates that have already applied. (FILE)

Columbia County is currently taking applications for its next county manager. David Kraus, the interim manager, is one of the eight candidates that have already applied. (FILE)

Open for business: County accepting applications for next manager

TONY BRITT
Saturday, December 26, 2020
Columbia County county officials are looking to shore up their administrative ranks in 2021 by hiring a new county manager. Approximately 90 days ago, Ben Scott tendered his resignation as county manager and notified officials he would be leaving the post at the end of the year.

Attempted air joyride grounded

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
When his stolen car got stuck in the ditch in front of the Lake City Gateway Airport on Monday, the suspect attempted to fly the coop. Literally. According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Kenneth James Keith Jr.
Construction workers use an excavator and other heavy machinery Tuesday afternoon while working on U.S. Highway 90 during a sheet piling operation to stabilize the roadway. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Construction workers use an excavator and other heavy machinery Tuesday afternoon while working on U.S. Highway 90 during a sheet piling operation to stabilize the roadway. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Providing stability: Sheet piling installed to stabilize U.S. 90 East

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Before applying the finishing touches on a U.S. Highway 90 resurfacing project, one portion of the road needed more stable footing. That section of Duval Street (U.S.

Masked suspects flee after shooting

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
A shooting Monday night at a Lake City hotel that included one person killed has authorities searching for multiple suspects. According to the Lake City Police Department, multiple gunshots were reported around 9:15 p.m. Monday at the Days Inn off N. U.S. Highway 441.

Covid causes unhappy holidays for Bowdens

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
As the number of deaths and positive covid-19 cases increase, most people just see numbers. For one local resident, though, those numbers now carry a face with them and he is imploring others to take measures to protect themselves while they can.

Hill offers Koberlein apology

TONY BRITT
Monday, December 21, 2020
Two weeks after wanting the city attorney fired, Councilman Jake Hill wanted to bury the hatchet. At the Lake City Council’s meeting Monday night Hill issued a public apology to Fred Koberlein, the city’s attorney, after surprisingly calling for his termination Dec. 8.

City unveils joint utility committee

TONY BRITT
Monday, December 21, 2020
The county will get representation on a city utility committee. Sort of. During Monday’s Lake City Council meeting, the council approved an update of its own utility committee while also devising a joint committee featuring both city and county officials.