Local

Three locals hospitalized following ATV accident

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Three Lake City residents, including an 11-year-old child, were hospitalized Tuesday evening after the ATV vehicle they were riding on ran into a sports utility vehicle. The mishap occurred around 7 p.m. Tuesday on County Road 246 at the intersection of County Road 131.
Stephen and Amy Smith with ‘Big John’ a 12-foot alligator they hunted and caught in the 15-acre pond behind their home off Lake Jeffery Road. (COURTESY STEPHEN AND AMY SMITH)

Stephen and Amy Smith with ‘Big John’ a 12-foot alligator they hunted and caught in the 15-acre pond behind their home off Lake Jeffery Road. (COURTESY STEPHEN AND AMY SMITH)

Monster gator meets his match

CARL MCKINNEY
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Exhausted from the five-hour struggle against the beast, Amy Smith felt a shiver in her spine when “Big John” was dragged out of the water.  She didn’t think it would be that big. Seeing the full length of the behemoth alligator, she felt stupid for daring to challenge the creature on its turf.

CCS losing students en masse

CARL MCKINNEY
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Students have left the Columbia County public school system en masse during the past six months in favor of alternatives outside the in-person and remote-learning options offered by the district.

Circle K construction set to kick off

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
The wait for a new Circle K in Lake City is nearly over. City officials say construction work linked to the convenience store and gas station appears to be just days from beginning following close to a year of waiting for the project.
Jessica Richards (from left), a Summers Elementary School kindergarten teacher, looks on as Jayden Wilson watches his parents Ashley DeFreitas and Ryan DeFreitas wave good-bye to him on the first day of school. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Jessica Richards (from left), a Summers Elementary School kindergarten teacher, looks on as Jayden Wilson watches his parents Ashley DeFreitas and Ryan DeFreitas wave good-bye to him on the first day of school. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

'A great day': Masks popular as students return to school

TONY BRITT
Monday, August 24, 2020
Delayed twice, Columbia County’s first day of school went off without a hitch Monday. “The first day has been great,” said Hope Jernigan, assistant superintendent of elementary schools for the Columbia County School District.

Deputy helps save man’s life, spots him on stolen bike

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, August 24, 2020
A habitual traffic offender who lived through an overdose thanks to first responders was riding around on a stolen motorcycle when he was recognized by a deputy who previously helped to save his life, according to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office report.
Jeff Siegmeister, the former state attorney, addresses county commissioners in August 2017. Charging documents were filed Thursday in federal court alleging a bribery scheme involving a "high-ranking" member of the State Attorney's office identified as "J.S." (FILE)

Jeff Siegmeister, the former state attorney, addresses county commissioners in August 2017. Charging documents were filed Thursday in federal court alleging a bribery scheme involving a "high-ranking" member of the State Attorney's office identified as "J.S." (FILE)

Feds allege corruption in State Attorney’s Office

CARL MCKINNEY
Friday, August 21, 2020
A federal probe uncovered high-level corruption at the State Attorney’s Office, newly filed court documents allege.
Ashley Gerondale, Lake City Columbia County Humane Society animal adoptions manager, plays with a smiling “Boomer” on Friday afternoon after a walk. The humane society will start construction on the James Montgomery Animal Wellness Center in the next few weeks. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Ashley Gerondale, Lake City Columbia County Humane Society animal adoptions manager, plays with a smiling “Boomer” on Friday afternoon after a walk. The humane society will start construction on the James Montgomery Animal Wellness Center in the next few weeks. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Humane Society looking to raise funds for new building

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 21, 2020
Looking to construct a building, the Lake City-Columbia County Humane Society is also trying to build up some funding. As it prepares to begin construction on the James Montgomery Wellness Center on the humane society’s NW Shelter Glen campus, the organization is also hoping to raise $130,000.