Local

Karla Rodriguez, an Eastside Elementary School kindergarten teacher, places classroom schedules in packets as she prepares her classroom for the beginning of school on Monday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Karla Rodriguez, an Eastside Elementary School kindergarten teacher, places classroom schedules in packets as she prepares her classroom for the beginning of school on Monday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County students return to class Monday

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 21, 2020
The long wait is over. Columbia County students last attended classes in brick and mortar school buildings on March 13, one day before their spring break was scheduled to begin, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Missing man found dead in wooded area

NEWS STAFF
Friday, August 21, 2020
Two days after he was reported missing, a Columbia County man was found dead. Dylan Sweat, 26, left his home on NW Ethelind Court around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
William Highland, Columbia School District Transportation Department driver and safety trainer, uses a cordless electrostatic sprayer to disinfect a school bus on Thursday afternoon while preparing for the upcoming school year which begins on Monday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

William Highland, Columbia School District Transportation Department driver and safety trainer, uses a cordless electrostatic sprayer to disinfect a school bus on Thursday afternoon while preparing for the upcoming school year which begins on Monday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Spick and span: Cleaning, disinfecting prioritized as schools set to open

TONY BRITT
Thursday, August 20, 2020
The Columbia County School District is just days away from starting the 2020-21 school year and district officials are making the final preparations before classes begin Monday.
A virtual auction will be held today on the former Klausner Lumber One site in Live Oak. (SUWANNEE DEMOCRAT)

A virtual auction will be held today on the former Klausner Lumber One site in Live Oak. (SUWANNEE DEMOCRAT)

Bidding to begin on Klausner mill

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, August 20, 2020
LIVE OAK — Let the bidding begin. A virtual auction will be held today between three companies for the assets of the former Klausner Lumber One site in Live Oak.  Mercer International was designated the stalking horse bidder by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on Aug. 12.

OUR OPINION: Keep police funding right where it is

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
The social justice warriors who always have something to say at City Council meetings have gone too far with their suggestion to defund the Lake City Police Department. The suggestion was made by a local activist Sylvester Warren on Monday night and it is ludicrous. Mr.

Headed back to the big screen

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Sick of streaming movies at home? Miss that big-screen experience?  If you do, then there’s good news.  Regal Cinemas is reopening theaters nationwide, including the one in Lake City. The local Regal 90 will welcome audiences back on Friday, Aug. 28.

Retiree loses life savings to scam

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
It’s one of the most common scam tactics in the age of the personal computer, and it’s still going strong but with a new twist.  First, the victim gets a phone call or email from a hacker pretending to be an employee with a tech giant like Microsoft or Apple.

Library hosting youth art contest

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Local youngsters who have a penchant for creating artwork will have an opportunity to showcase their skills in the inaugural Columbia County Public Library 2020 Youth Art Contest. The contest is open to youngsters 10-18 years old who are amateur artists. There is no fee to enter the competition.
Noah Walker, right, congratulates Jake Hill after the election results came in Tuesday night for the City Council District 12 seat. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Noah Walker, right, congratulates Jake Hill after the election results came in Tuesday night for the City Council District 12 seat. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Durrett, Keen, Murphy win

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
It was a good night to be an incumbent. A pair of incumbents retained their seats on the County Commission, while a third is headed to a runoff for his seat. Incumbents also won re-election to the Lake City Council and the Columbia County School Board.