Local

The Lake City Council agreed to begin negotiations for the purchase of two downtown Millennium Bank properties, which includes one building that is move-in ready. (COURTESY)

The Lake City Council agreed to begin negotiations for the purchase of two downtown Millennium Bank properties, which includes one building that is move-in ready. (COURTESY)

Downtown deposit: Council approves $1.1M purchase of bank buildings

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
City officials took their first step towards addressing a new city hall building, agreeing to begin contract negotiations to purchase two Millennium Bank buildings for $1.1 million.
Historical presentations and special displays will be offered to the community Saturday at the Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum’s Blast Through the Past event. (COURTESY)

Historical presentations and special displays will be offered to the community Saturday at the Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum’s Blast Through the Past event. (COURTESY)

Museum turning back the clock

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
From Rosie the Riveter to Black History Month presentations, a Civil War-era surgery tent and a display featuring the influential women of Columbia County, the Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum will come to life this weekend with living historic presentations.
The barn on David Vining’s property was uprooted Monday afternoon by a tornado that blew through west central Columbia County. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

The barn on David Vining’s property was uprooted Monday afternoon by a tornado that blew through west central Columbia County. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Tornado rips through county

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Monday, February 15, 2021
David Vining has been through this before, but not to this extent. Vining, 76, sat on his back porch Monday around 3:50 p.m. when he noticed a light drizzle. The drizzle soon turned to hail. The hail quickly turned into what Vining described as “a monsoon.

Deputy involved in fatal accident

TONY BRITT
Monday, February 15, 2021
A fatal accident involving a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office patrol car is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. Friday on U.S. Highway 441 near the intersection of Southeast Sprite Loop in southern Columbia County.

Columbia County tops 7,500 covid cases

NEWS STAFF
Monday, February 15, 2021
Nine new cases of the covid-19 coronavirus confirmed Sunday in Columbia County pushed the county’s total past 7,500. According to data released Monday by the Florida Department of Health, there have been 7,501 confirmed cases of the virus in Columbia County.

Jackpot produces early retirement for local

NEWS STAFF
Monday, February 15, 2021
Hitting the jackpot means one Lake City woman can retire early. Linda Gallagher, 58, won a $275,000 jackpot from the Jackpot Triple Play drawing held Jan. 19. “I walked around for weeks with the winning ticket in my purse before realizing we had won,” Gallagher said in a Florida Lottery release.

Deputy involved in fatal crash

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, February 13, 2021
On Friday at approximately 6:30 p.m., a Columbia County deputy was involved in a three-vehicle traffic crash while driving home in his agency patrol car. The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 441 South near SE Sprite Loop.
A conceptual drawing of a new Lake City Hall from Passero Associates, which will be presenting four options for the construction of a new city hall to city officials at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. (COURTESY)

A conceptual drawing of a new Lake City Hall from Passero Associates, which will be presenting four options for the construction of a new city hall to city officials at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. (COURTESY)

Lake City's new digs: City council to consider four proposals for new city hall

TONY BRITT
Friday, February 12, 2021
A new city hall is in the cards for Lake City officials. Just what the finished product will look like is still to be determined.