Local

Gunner Shaw, 6, reclines on his sister’s wether, ‘Rodeo,’ while in the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds Livestock Barn Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Gunner Shaw, 6, reclines on his sister’s wether, ‘Rodeo,’ while in the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds Livestock Barn Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Fair livestock show ready with new format

TONY BRITT
Thursday, October 29, 2020
A herd of livestock animals came through the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds livestock barn and arena Thursday afternoon.

Local turnout nears 50%

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, October 29, 2020
With two days left during the early voting period, nearly half of Columbia County’s registered voters have already cast their ballots. Through Thursday, 49.62% of the county’s 44,239 voters — 21,952 — had already voted. That includes 13,308 voting during the early voting period, which began Oct.
Sam ‘Buck’ Griffis and his wife, Vickie, donated their 68-acre farm, Sweet Gum Farm, to the North Florida Land Trust. (COURTESY)

Sam ‘Buck’ Griffis and his wife, Vickie, donated their 68-acre farm, Sweet Gum Farm, to the North Florida Land Trust. (COURTESY)

NFLT receives 68-acre donation

TONY BRITT
Thursday, October 29, 2020
A love of land and the Lake City Reporter led to North Florida Land Trust receiving a conservation easement in Columbia County. Sam “Buck” Griffis and his wife, Vickie, donated 68 acres of their Sweet Gum Farm to the trust to make sure it remains free from development.
The Wall That Heals, a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, will be in Lake City from Nov. 5-9. (COURTESY)

The Wall That Heals, a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, will be in Lake City from Nov. 5-9. (COURTESY)

Vietnam Wall replica visiting for Veterans Day

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
As Americans across the country prepare to honor military service members for Veterans Day, residents of Columbia County and the surrounding area will be able to pay homage by visiting a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall that will be in Lake City for five days.

House struck by gunfire

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
A NE Goodvine Way house as well as a car were hit by gunshots late Tuesday night, according to authorities. The Lake City Police Department is still searching for the suspect as it investigates the incident, which was reported around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Columbia County adds 10 covid deaths

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
The number of deaths linked to the covid-19 pandemic in Columbia County increased significantly Wednesday. The Columbia County Health Department announced 10 new deaths from the virus Wednesday, raising the county’s total to 81.
Rides on the midway at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds were set up and assembled Tuesday prior to this weekend’s start of the 66th annual Florida Gateway Fair. (RAY CARPENTER PHOTOGRAPHY)

Rides on the midway at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds were set up and assembled Tuesday prior to this weekend’s start of the 66th annual Florida Gateway Fair. (RAY CARPENTER PHOTOGRAPHY)

‘Bushels of Fun’ expected at Florida Gateway Fair

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
New rides, new shows, new entertainment and a new midway are sure to generate crowds and smiles when the Florida Gateway Fair returns later this week.
Columbia County has set up three business workshops next week to go over the county’s CARES funding programs

Columbia County has set up three business workshops next week to go over the county’s CARES funding programs

County sets CARES workshops

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Looking to disperse more federal assistance funding locally, Columbia County officials are hoping to take the business community out to lunch, or breakfast. The county has set up three business workshops next week to go over the county’s CARES funding programs.

Mad man arrested for firing gunshots

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Upset that someone was looking at him, a Lake City man fired off a couple warning shots Monday morning that led to his arrest, authorities said. According to the Lake City Police Department, 20-year-old Romond Bell III was walking near NE Early Street and NE Dyson Terrace around 8:15 a.m.

Crews chosen for VA’s ‘Shark Tank’

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
A Lake City VA Medical Center employee will appear in a virtual Shark Tank competition against other VA health innovators after her idea has led to more veterans receiving flu vaccinations.