Local

Thomas Barritt, former director of the Lake City-Columbia County Humane Society, has been named the interim president of the humane society’s board of directors. (FILE)

Thomas Barritt, former director of the Lake City-Columbia County Humane Society, has been named the interim president of the humane society’s board of directors. (FILE)

Humane Society announces new board chief, thrift store

NEWS STAFF
Monday, January 18, 2021
The Lake City-Columbia County Humane Society is beginning 2021 with several changes. The humane society installed an interim board president after its former president resigned after 10 years and the agency is also planning to open a thrift store near the end of the month.
Jay Lambert pulls wire from a large spool while working on upgrades at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena. The facility is adding more RV campsites for events. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Jay Lambert pulls wire from a large spool while working on upgrades at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena. The facility is adding more RV campsites for events. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Rodeo arena adding more RV spaces

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 15, 2021
The Florida Gateway Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena is getting an upgrade that will allow it to corral more visitors into its RV camping facilities. For the past few days staff workers with Walt Graham Electric worked digging trenches and adding cables that will enable the campsite to double its capacity.

Who will be the utility player?

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 15, 2021
The key to hitting a grand slam in economic development may come from a utility player. As in the provider of utilities for Columbia County moving forward.

Small pool keeps county looking

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 15, 2021
Hoping for a deeper pool of candidates to swim through, Columbia County officials will continue to advertise its open county manager position. Prior to Friday’s 5 p.m. application deadline, only 14 candidates had applied.

Legislative delegation is coming to town

NEWS STAFF
Friday, January 15, 2021
Local residents and governments will have their state legislative delegates’ ear next week. On Tuesday, Rep. Chuck Brannan (R-Macclenny) and Sen. Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island) will visit both Suwannee and Columbia counties to hold legislative delegation hearings.

Gray joins Drummond Community Bank team

NEWS STAFF
Friday, January 15, 2021
Heather Gray, a veteran in Lake City banking circles, has joined the staff at Drummond Community Bank in Lake City. Gray is Drummond’s new Private Banker for the Columbia County Market. In this role, she will be responsible for providing unique and exceptional customer service.

CCSO searching for missing mom, baby

NEWS STAFF
Friday, January 15, 2021
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking help in locating a missing woman and her 1-month old child. According to a CCSO release, Kristinia Wood (also known as Kristal Wood or Kristinia Hammond) left a Columbia County residence Tuesday with her 1-month-old daughter, Madileigh Kinnear.
Rocky Ford, county commission chairman, discussed a regional utility at Lake City’s utility advisory committee meeting Tuesday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Rocky Ford, county commission chairman, discussed a regional utility at Lake City’s utility advisory committee meeting Tuesday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Regional utility on horizon?

TONY BRITT
Thursday, January 14, 2021
One week after county officials balked at joining a joint city-county utility committee, county commission chairman Rocky Ford delivered a curveball to the city Thursday night.
Lawrence Barrett, Florida Gateway College president, prepares to cut the ribbon Thursday afternoon at the grand opening of the college’s new multipurpose building in the former Boys Club of Columbia County facility. Joining Barrett were FGC officials, Florida Chancellor of Career Technical Programs Henry Mack and local dignitaries and residents. (COURTESY FLORIDA GATEWAY COLLEGE)

Lawrence Barrett, Florida Gateway College president, prepares to cut the ribbon Thursday afternoon at the grand opening of the college’s new multipurpose building in the former Boys Club of Columbia County facility. Joining Barrett were FGC officials, Florida Chancellor of Career Technical Programs Henry Mack and local dignitaries and residents. (COURTESY FLORIDA GATEWAY COLLEGE)

FGC unveils new multipurpose building

TONY BRITT
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Florida Gateway College began a new chapter for its community services with the grand opening of its new multipurpose building Thursday afternoon.