Local

Council accepts Blanche deal

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, August 17, 2020
A $75,000 settlement deal between the developers of the Blanche Hotel, which was accused of failing to fulfill contractual obligations on time, was approved Monday night by the Lake City Council.

Voting precincts open today for primary election

TONY BRITT
Monday, August 17, 2020
Voters have until 7 p.m. today to cast their ballot, whether in person or through vote-by-mail. Residents who opted to use the vote-by-mail method for today’s general primary, must have their ballots back to the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m.

Blanche settlement: $75K

ROBERT BRIDGES
Friday, August 14, 2020
A tentative deal that would pay the city $75,000 has been struck with developers of the Blanche Hotel over claims the contract wasn’t completed on time.  City Manager Joe Helfenberger will recommend the settlement to the Lake City Council at Monday’s virtual meeting.
The city is talking with five private groups about a new home for the Confederate monument. (FILE)

The city is talking with five private groups about a new home for the Confederate monument. (FILE)

City talking with five groups on monument

ROBERT BRIDGES
Friday, August 14, 2020
The city is negotiating with five private groups to provide a possible new home for the Confederate monument at Olustee Park. The Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum is among them.

Local CPAs claim they never heard from county

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, August 14, 2020
The phone never rang for at least a couple local CPA firms. According to Joy Lizotte with Aligned CPA and Harvest CPA’s Caleb Perla, Columbia County  officials never reached out to them about the Request for Proposals to handle the CARES Act funding for local businesses.
Jay Swisher, left, who will be sworn-in as the interim clerk of courts in a private ceremony today, reviews paperwork with Sgt. Mike Sweat of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Judicial Division. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Jay Swisher, left, who will be sworn-in as the interim clerk of courts in a private ceremony today, reviews paperwork with Sgt. Mike Sweat of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Judicial Division. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

'Ready to go': Swisher to be sworn in as interim clerk of courts

TONY BRITT
Thursday, August 13, 2020
Jay Swisher is getting a head start on his new job. Swisher, who ran unopposed for the Columbia County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller position, will be sworn-in today as the interim clerk of court in a private ceremony.

Suwannee school reopening greeted with positive cases

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, August 13, 2020
LIVE OAK — Joining students and teachers in returning to Suwannee County schools this week was an unwelcomed visitor: covid-19. Ted Roush, the superintendent of Suwannee County Schools, confirmed Thursday that there had been a few positive tests in students and staff members within the district.

Scott: You can’t believe everything you read on social media

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, August 13, 2020
Don’t believe everything you read online. County Manager Ben Scott said information circulating on social media this week about how Columbia County selected the firm handling CARES Act funding for local businesses is not accurate. “There’s some misinformation out there,” he said.
Elesia Ford, right, pulls out a cotton swab as she prepares to collect a sample from a person getting tested for covid-19 Wednesday morning at the Southside Sports Complex. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Elesia Ford, right, pulls out a cotton swab as she prepares to collect a sample from a person getting tested for covid-19 Wednesday morning at the Southside Sports Complex. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Testing runs smoothly at Southside Sports Complex

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
The county’s newest covid-19 testing site hit a home run Wednesday. A steady stream of vehicles poured into the Southside Sports Complex on Wednesday morning as the new testing site opened. Tom Moffses, the administrator of the Columbia County Health Department, was appreciative of the new venue.