Local

A Chipotle Mexican Grill, like the one pictured in Athens, Ga., is coming to the former Bojangles restaurant location on West U.S. Highway 90. (BRIAN SCHULMAN/Courtesy of Chipotle Mexican Grill)

A Chipotle Mexican Grill, like the one pictured in Athens, Ga., is coming to the former Bojangles restaurant location on West U.S. Highway 90. (BRIAN SCHULMAN/Courtesy of Chipotle Mexican Grill)

Chipotle is on the way

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Folks who have a preference for eating Mexican food will soon have another local option; Lake City is getting a Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant. David Young, Lake City’s Growth Management Director, said the construction permit for the restaurant was picked up Tuesday afternoon.

FGC to require masks this fall

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Smaller classes, a shorter semester and mandatory masks are part of the roadmap Florida Gateway College is using to reopen campus in the fall.  The college is pushing everyone on campus to follow “The Three W’s” — washing hands, watching distance and wearing masks.
The cast and crew of ‘Twelfth Night,’ which is presented this week by Florida Gateway College, includes 22 students and community members. (Courtesy Florida Gateway College)

The cast and crew of ‘Twelfth Night,’ which is presented this week by Florida Gateway College, includes 22 students and community members. (Courtesy Florida Gateway College)

‘Twelfth Night’ coming to Florida Gateway

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
The show must go on, even in the age of covid-19.  Florida Gateway College is presenting four performances of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” this week at the Levy Performing Arts Center.

Disturbance at pawn shop leads to gun, drug charges

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
A convicted felon is back behind bars after he was implicated in a pawn shop disturbance on Tuesday. Theodrick Lawrence Deshae Avinger, 28, of Southwest Thompson Street, was arrested after deputies responded to a firearm-related disturbance at Five Points Pawn on U.S.

Start of school year postponed

CARL MCKINNEY
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
The school year will start a few days later than planned in Columbia County.  Originally set to begin Aug. 10, the date has been pushed back to Aug. 13 to give teachers some additional time to prepare for what is shaping up to be a uniquely challenging school year, said Superintendent Lex Carswell.
Olustee Park, which contains the controversial Confederate monument, may be owned by the county. (FILE photo)

Olustee Park, which contains the controversial Confederate monument, may be owned by the county. (FILE photo)

County may own Olustee Park

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, July 20, 2020
The park in downtown Lake City upon which a controversial Confederate monument sits may be owned by the county, potentially complicating a push to relocate the obelisk-shaped memorial. The monument sits in Olustee Park, which is located near City Hall and the Columbia County Courthouse.

Suspect sought in Sunday shooting

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, July 20, 2020
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is still looking for the culprit in a shooting that sent one man to the hospital Sunday night.  The shooting took place on the 1600 block of East U.S. Highway 90. Deputies responded around 9:55 p.m. Sunday.
Marsha Wallace, Columbia County School Board office information specialist, places a sign on the central office’s door notifying the general public they must wear masks before entering the building. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Marsha Wallace, Columbia County School Board office information specialist, places a sign on the central office’s door notifying the general public they must wear masks before entering the building. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Masks part of CCSD’s new safety guidelines

TONY BRITT
Monday, July 20, 2020
The Columbia County School District, and several local businesses who are part of national retail chains, are requiring visitors to wear facial coverings.

Man arrested for using frying pan as weapon

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, July 20, 2020
An apparent argument over the use of a car Sunday night led to a Lake City man being arrested for hitting an armed victim with a frying pan. According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, 27-year-old Joseph Goodson had left a residence around 9:30 p.m.