Local

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.
Sadie House (from left), Christian Service Center assistant director, Ben Walker and Mike House load goods into a Christian Service Center client’s vehicle Monday. (COURTESY)

Sadie House (from left), Christian Service Center assistant director, Ben Walker and Mike House load goods into a Christian Service Center client’s vehicle Monday. (COURTESY)

Christian Service Center provides for 36 needy families

TONY BRITT
Monday, December 21, 2020
Santa Claus won’t be delivering gifts for a few more days, but his helpers at the Christian Service Center were busy providing gifts Monday.

Elks will host annual Christmas Eve toy party

NEWS STAFF
Monday, December 21, 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.
Construction equipment and supplies sit adjacent next to the Duval Place Professional Office plaza Friday, where a portion of the building is being renovated to house the county’s Tourist Development Council and Economic Development offices. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Construction equipment and supplies sit adjacent next to the Duval Place Professional Office plaza Friday, where a portion of the building is being renovated to house the county’s Tourist Development Council and Economic Development offices. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

TDC getting new digs

TONY BRITT
Friday, December 18, 2020
A new year will bring a new home for the Columbia County Tourist Development Council. And the TDC doesn’t even have to move far. The office will remain in the same building, but staff will be moving to a new area of the Duval Place Professional Office plaza on U.S. Highway 90.