Local

Elks will host annual Christmas Eve toy party

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, December 17, 2020
The Lake City Elks Lodge will host its annual Christmas toy party for Lake City families on Christmas Eve. The event will begin at 5 p.m., Thursday, December 24, at the Lodge in downtown Lake City. Children and their adult parent or guardian should line up at the lakefront entrance to the lodge.
Ryleigh Harden gets a ride on a shopping cart from Lake City Police Department Lt. Andy Miles while Christmas shopping during the Shop with a Cop program Wednesday morning at Walmart. Thirty local children were able to go Christmas shopping with LCPD officers during the event. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Ryleigh Harden gets a ride on a shopping cart from Lake City Police Department Lt. Andy Miles while Christmas shopping during the Shop with a Cop program Wednesday morning at Walmart. Thirty local children were able to go Christmas shopping with LCPD officers during the event. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Shop with a Cop helps grant Christmas wishes

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Ten Lake City Police Department vehicles lined the street outside Walmart Wednesday morning as 15 Lake City Police Department officers formed a semi-circle and discussed a plan of action.
Good Samaritans may have helped save a man’s life Tuesday when he had a medical emergency while driving and ran into the Publix building. (COURTESY)

Good Samaritans may have helped save a man’s life Tuesday when he had a medical emergency while driving and ran into the Publix building. (COURTESY)

Quick-thinking shoppers help save man’s life

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Quick thinking and even quicker reactions by several local Good Samaritans may have saved a man’s life Tuesday afternoon.
The Scott family floats down the Ichetucknee River in this file photo from the 2016 summer tubing season. Tubing may no longer be allowed on the Upper Ichetucknee according to a plan proposed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. (FILE)

The Scott family floats down the Ichetucknee River in this file photo from the 2016 summer tubing season. Tubing may no longer be allowed on the Upper Ichetucknee according to a plan proposed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. (FILE)

Down the tubes: DEP plan calls for no more tubing on Upper Ichetucknee

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
FORT WHITE — Lazy summer days of tubing down the entire Ichetucknee River may be floating away. During a virtual public hearing Tuesday morning, Florida Department of Environmental Protection officials unveiled a plan to ban tubing on the Upper Ichetucknee, the shallow end of the spring run.

CCS: School optional this week

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Skipping school will be excused — at least the remainder of this week — by the Columbia County Schools. The district announced Tuesday afternoon that the remainder of the week is optional for students as the number of covid cases and quarantines rise within the district.
Santa Claus rides through the snow on the back of a fire truck to the Winter Wonderland at Florida Gateway College on Saturday. (ROB WOLFE/Special to the Reporter)

Santa Claus rides through the snow on the back of a fire truck to the Winter Wonderland at Florida Gateway College on Saturday. (ROB WOLFE/Special to the Reporter)

Getting in the spirit: Christmas festivals, parade a hit

TONY BRITT
Monday, December 14, 2020
A wave of Yuletide spirit enveloped Columbia County during the weekend as Christmas festivals were held around the county on Saturday.
Genesis Wormely (from left) looks on as Abigayle Chadwick gets help in hitting a tennis ball from Dolly Robinson, Lake City Columbia Community Tennis Association president, during the ceremony opening The Tennis Courts at Youngs Park on Monday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Genesis Wormely (from left) looks on as Abigayle Chadwick gets help in hitting a tennis ball from Dolly Robinson, Lake City Columbia Community Tennis Association president, during the ceremony opening The Tennis Courts at Youngs Park on Monday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Youngs Park tennis courts in full swing

TONY BRITT
Monday, December 14, 2020
For the first time in months, tennis balls were flying at the Youngs Park tennis courts. The tennis balls screaming all over the courts weren’t errant shots during a match, but the ceremonial opening chosen by the City of Lake City and the Lake City Columbia Community Tennis Association.
Workers from North Florida Glass work last week on placing new windows over the stained glass windows at the First Baptist Church of Lake City. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Workers from North Florida Glass work last week on placing new windows over the stained glass windows at the First Baptist Church of Lake City. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Handled with care: FBC moves to protect stained glass windows

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, December 11, 2020
For 95 years, the stained glass windows protected the First Baptist Church of Lake City sanctuary from the elements. Now, the church has returned the favor.
Inga Dwyer, Toys for Tots coordinator for Columbia and Suwannee counties, unpacked a box of games last month to prepare for the Christmas season. The local program is completely booked solid through Dec. 24. (FILE)

Inga Dwyer, Toys for Tots coordinator for Columbia and Suwannee counties, unpacked a box of games last month to prepare for the Christmas season. The local program is completely booked solid through Dec. 24. (FILE)

Toys for Tots overwhelmed by demand

TONY BRITT
Friday, December 11, 2020
This year’s increased need for toys is overwhelming the local Toys for Tots office. With 14 days remaining until Christmas, Inga Dwyer, Toys for Tots coordinator for Columbia and Suwannee counties, said she is booked solid.