Local

Sherrie Thomas (clockwise from left), Tracy Duckett, and Tammy Hartley, Columbia County Tax Collectors Office employees, show Kyle Keen, Columbia County tax collector, information on the new ORION software Tuesday afternoon. The tax collectors office will be closed Monday while employees take a day of in-service training to learn the new system. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Sherrie Thomas (clockwise from left), Tracy Duckett, and Tammy Hartley, Columbia County Tax Collectors Office employees, show Kyle Keen, Columbia County tax collector, information on the new ORION software Tuesday afternoon. The tax collectors office will be closed Monday while employees take a day of in-service training to learn the new system. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Tax office employees spending holiday learning ORION system

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
For some, Presidents Day is an annual holiday, but for the Columbia County Tax Collector’s Office, it’s an opportunity for continued learning. Employees at the tax office will spend Monday in an all-day in-service training session on a new computer software program. “This year for Feb.
Firefighters with the Live Oak Fire Department battle a house fire on Lisle Ave. NE on Monday morning. The house sustained ‘considerable damage.’ (COURTESY SUWANNEE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE)

Firefighters with the Live Oak Fire Department battle a house fire on Lisle Ave. NE on Monday morning. The house sustained ‘considerable damage.’ (COURTESY SUWANNEE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE)

Fire inflicts ‘considerable damage’

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, February 8, 2021
LIVE OAK — A house nearly 100 years old sustained “considerable damage” in a fire Monday morning. The Live Oak Fire Department responded to the call of a fire on Lisle Ave. NE near Duval St. around 9 a.m. Monday.

LSHA finalizes city land donation

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, February 8, 2021
Finalizing the donation of 12 parcels of property to the city for a new Lake City Hall, the Lake Shore Hospital Authority retained access to the hospital campus on Monday.
Burney Ratliff, reacts to being named the 2022 Columbia County Teacher of the Year, during his Zoom computer connection as Glenn Palmer, Pathways Academy assistant principal, smiles and cheers in the background. (COURTESY)

Burney Ratliff, reacts to being named the 2022 Columbia County Teacher of the Year, during his Zoom computer connection as Glenn Palmer, Pathways Academy assistant principal, smiles and cheers in the background. (COURTESY)

Virtual disbelief: Quarantining Ratliff named Columbia County's top teacher

TONY BRITT
Friday, February 5, 2021
Lex Carswell’s message Thursday should been taken as a prophecy. “I don’t think anything summarizes covid like tonight,” said Carswell, the Columbia County Schools superintendent, as he addressed a crowd attending the 2021-22 Teacher of the year banquet in the Blanche Hotel ballroom.
Strawberry shortcake will be one of the many tasty treats served up at the Strawberry Fest Feb. 13-14 at the Suwannee County Fairgrounds. (COURTESY)

Strawberry shortcake will be one of the many tasty treats served up at the Strawberry Fest Feb. 13-14 at the Suwannee County Fairgrounds. (COURTESY)

Organizers plan sweet, fun Strawberry Fest

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, February 5, 2021
LIVE OAK — Looking for a North Florida location, organizers are hopeful they found a sweet spot for their Strawberry Fest at the Suwannee County Fairgrounds. The festival will be held Feb. 13-14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is $6 with free parking. Children 2-and-under are free.
A practical nursing student from Riveroak Technical College assists checking in a patient for their covid-19 vaccine. Students from the college are helping the health departments in Suwannee and Lafayette counties with their vaccine events. (COURTESY)

A practical nursing student from Riveroak Technical College assists checking in a patient for their covid-19 vaccine. Students from the college are helping the health departments in Suwannee and Lafayette counties with their vaccine events. (COURTESY)

Riveroak nursing students aid in vaccine rollout

NEWS STAFF
Friday, February 5, 2021
LIVE OAK — In administering covid-19 vaccines, the health departments in Suwannee and Lafayette counties had a helping hand: nursing students.