Local

Columbia County Recreation Department employees Courtney Rowe (from left), Lynda Caldwell and Chad Owens practice preparing and distributing meals in the Richardson Community Center cafeteria Thursday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Recreation Department employees Courtney Rowe (from left), Lynda Caldwell and Chad Owens practice preparing and distributing meals in the Richardson Community Center cafeteria Thursday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Rec department taking part in ‘No Kid Hungry’ program

TONY BRITT
Thursday, July 30, 2020
The Columbia County Recreation Department, in partnership with the Richardson Community Center/Annie Mattox North Advisory Board (RCC/AMN), were recently awarded a $6,000 grant from the Florida Recreation and Parks Association (FRPA).
P. DeWitt Cason, who has served as the Columbia County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller for 32 years, stands outside the Columbia County Courthouse on Wednesday afternoon. Cason recently submitted his resignation papers to Gov. Ron DeSantis with plans to leave office 2 p.m. Aug. 14. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

P. DeWitt Cason, who has served as the Columbia County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller for 32 years, stands outside the Columbia County Courthouse on Wednesday afternoon. Cason recently submitted his resignation papers to Gov. Ron DeSantis with plans to leave office 2 p.m. Aug. 14. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Leaving office: Cason submits resignation; last day set for Aug. 14

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Much has changed since DeWitt Cason first took office. When Cason was first elected as the clerk of court for Columbia County in 1988, the office didn’t even have a fax machine.

Deputy punched cuffed suspect

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
A “quite disturbing” video shows a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office deputy punching a traffic stop suspect who had already been handcuffed and subdued, the Public Defender’s Office wrote in a recently surfaced memo.

Local voters mailing it in

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Election officials can’t predict how the coronavirus pandemic will affect overall turnout for the August primary, but they say one thing is certain — a lot of people are voting by mail.

Columbia, Fort White ready for graduation ceremonies

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
It’s almost time to give the county’s high school seniors a proper sendoff. Graduation ceremonies are upon us at Columbia and Fort White high schools.  The CHS graduation ceremony is scheduled to take place at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. FWHS will hold its ceremony at 9 p.m. Friday.
Long-time County Commission District 1 incumbent Ron Williams squares off with challenger Kyle Green during a Q&A session at a Republican-sponsored event Saturday night. Local GOP Chairman Hunter Peeler acted as moderator. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Long-time County Commission District 1 incumbent Ron Williams squares off with challenger Kyle Green during a Q&A session at a Republican-sponsored event Saturday night. Local GOP Chairman Hunter Peeler acted as moderator. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Local, state candidates answer questions at GOP rally

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, July 27, 2020
Republican candidates for local and regional office talked about God, guns and liberty at a GOP political rally Saturday night.

CCS start delayed to August 24

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, July 27, 2020
The start date for the school year has been pushed back again, Columbia County school officials announced this week.  Students are now set to begin classes Aug. 24. The school district initially planned for an Aug. 10 start date, which was then pushed to Aug.