Local

CCSO Deputy Fogell recalled as great friend

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has suffered a death in the family. Beloved by the people he worked with for his hardworking nature and his penchant for playing jokes on coworkers, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Detention Deputy Brian Fogell died Monday night at his home.

Rodriguez served with a smile

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Carlos Rodriguez’s uniform on most days consisted of a gun, badge and a smile. No matter the situation, the former officer with the Lake City Police Department and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office protected and served with a smile.
Alligator Lake Recreation Area may soon become city property as the council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance to annex the land into the city limits. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Alligator Lake Recreation Area may soon become city property as the council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance to annex the land into the city limits. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

City to annex Alligator Lake

TODD WILSON
Monday, September 21, 2020
Alligator Lake Recreation Area, a Columbia County owned park off Country Club Road in Lake City, may soon fall inside Lake City’s contiguous city limits if the Lake City Council proceeds with its plan of friendly annexation.

West side getting fire station

TONY BRITT
Monday, September 21, 2020
The west side of Lake City will soon have a fire station in its own backyard. The city has earmarked $1.7 million in its 2020-21 fiscal budget for construction of a west side fire station, which will be built on Hall of Fame Drive.
The Lake City Mall was evacuated Sunday after a suspicious object was found with wires hanging out of it. It was later determined the object was a sub sandwich. (COURTESY)

The Lake City Mall was evacuated Sunday after a suspicious object was found with wires hanging out of it. It was later determined the object was a sub sandwich. (COURTESY)

Hoagie hoax suspect sought

TONY BRITT
Monday, September 21, 2020
Law enforcement investigators continue searching for the sandwich connoisseur who favors extra wires on his or her foot-long sub.

LSHA board approves minimal tax

TONY BRITT
Monday, September 21, 2020
Over almost before it began, the Lake Shore Hospital Authority board approved its budget in a brief meeting Monday. In a meeting that lasted less than 15 minutes, where no one from the public made any comments, the Lake Shore Hospital Authority Board approved its proposed $28,423,765 total budget.

Meth dealer sentenced to 15 years in federal prison

NEWS STAFF
Monday, September 21, 2020
JACKSONVILLE — Distributing methamphetamine on the side roads of Columbia County landed a Lake City man in federal prison for 15 years. Benajmin Hank Ratliff, 37, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Marcia M. Howard for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

City adopts $60 million budget

TODD WILSON
Monday, September 21, 2020
Lake City Councilors approved the city’s $60 million annual budget and held its millage rate at the same 4.9000 rate as last year during Monday night’s meeting. Councilors voted 5-0 to approve the budget and the millage rate.

LCPD: Hoax object creates bomb scare

NEWS STAFF
Sunday, September 20, 2020
The Lake City Police Department responded to a suspicious item found at the Lake City Mall on Sunday. Responding officers observed a cylindrical shaped object with multiple writes protruding from it and around a concrete pillar near a fire hydrant.