Local

West side getting fire station

TONY BRITT
Monday, September 21, 2020
The west side of Lake City will soon have a fire station in its own backyard. The city has earmarked $1.7 million in its 2020-21 fiscal budget for construction of a west side fire station, which will be built on Hall of Fame Drive.
The Lake City Mall was evacuated Sunday after a suspicious object was found with wires hanging out of it. It was later determined the object was a sub sandwich. (COURTESY)

The Lake City Mall was evacuated Sunday after a suspicious object was found with wires hanging out of it. It was later determined the object was a sub sandwich. (COURTESY)

Hoagie hoax suspect sought

TONY BRITT
Monday, September 21, 2020
Law enforcement investigators continue searching for the sandwich connoisseur who favors extra wires on his or her foot-long sub.

LSHA board approves minimal tax

TONY BRITT
Monday, September 21, 2020
Over almost before it began, the Lake Shore Hospital Authority board approved its budget in a brief meeting Monday. In a meeting that lasted less than 15 minutes, where no one from the public made any comments, the Lake Shore Hospital Authority Board approved its proposed $28,423,765 total budget.

Meth dealer sentenced to 15 years in federal prison

NEWS STAFF
Monday, September 21, 2020
JACKSONVILLE — Distributing methamphetamine on the side roads of Columbia County landed a Lake City man in federal prison for 15 years. Benajmin Hank Ratliff, 37, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Marcia M. Howard for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

City adopts $60 million budget

TODD WILSON
Monday, September 21, 2020
Lake City Councilors approved the city’s $60 million annual budget and held its millage rate at the same 4.9000 rate as last year during Monday night’s meeting. Councilors voted 5-0 to approve the budget and the millage rate.

LCPD: Hoax object creates bomb scare

NEWS STAFF
Sunday, September 20, 2020
The Lake City Police Department responded to a suspicious item found at the Lake City Mall on Sunday. Responding officers observed a cylindrical shaped object with multiple writes protruding from it and around a concrete pillar near a fire hydrant.
The Boys Club at Teen Town has been closed by the city, which pulled $700,000 in recreation funding in order to help balance the general fund budget. The Girls Club has also closed. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

The Boys Club at Teen Town has been closed by the city, which pulled $700,000 in recreation funding in order to help balance the general fund budget. The Girls Club has also closed. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Recess is over: City pulls $700k in funding from children’s activities

TONY BRITT
Friday, September 18, 2020
For nearly half a century, Lake City youth had a refuge at the Girls Club and Boys Club at Teen Town.  That all changed this spring, when the after-school and summer programs offered at the clubs were shuttered by the city due to the covid-19 pandemic during spring break.
Rotary Club of Lake City President Lee Pinchouck talks to members connecting to a club meeting via Zoom technology as he positions an iPad to video broadcast club activities from the podium behind him prior to the start of Thursday’s meeting. The Rotary Club of Lake City is offering its members hybrid meetings each week either in person or virtually via Zoom. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Rotary Club of Lake City President Lee Pinchouck talks to members connecting to a club meeting via Zoom technology as he positions an iPad to video broadcast club activities from the podium behind him prior to the start of Thursday’s meeting. The Rotary Club of Lake City is offering its members hybrid meetings each week either in person or virtually via Zoom. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Rotary: ‘Do-goodery,’ positive attitudes can’t be stopped

TODD WILSON
Friday, September 18, 2020
Club leadership will be the first to say it: “Do-goodery” can’t be stopped. That’s the message coming from the Rotary Club of Lake City. Like many civic clubs across the country, local Rotarians have battled since March to remain active and cohesive through the pandemic.
Airman Hunter Peisel, a Lake City native and Columbia High School graduate, is serving aboard the USS Ronald Reagan in the Indo-Pacific region. (COURTESY Navy Office of Community Outreach)

Airman Hunter Peisel, a Lake City native and Columbia High School graduate, is serving aboard the USS Ronald Reagan in the Indo-Pacific region. (COURTESY Navy Office of Community Outreach)

Lake City native serves aboard USS Ronald Reagan in Pacific

NEWS STAFF
Friday, September 18, 2020
PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) — Lake City native and Columbia High School graduate Hunter Peisel is serving aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), which is continuing to conduct operations in the Indo-Pacific region.  Airman Peisel, an aviation boatswain’s mate (handling), is a flight deck firefighter.
Jamie Bell, public engineer with Jones Edmunds and Associates, presents the preliminary engineering report and the first phase of the wastewater treatment facility to the County Commission on Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Jamie Bell, public engineer with Jones Edmunds and Associates, presents the preliminary engineering report and the first phase of the wastewater treatment facility to the County Commission on Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Sewer surprise: Facility’s first phase will cost $13M

TONY BRITT
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Columbia County officials are moving forward with a wastewater treatment facility on the east side of Lake City at the North Florida Mega Industrial Park, although the project will cost more than initial projections suggested. The county was the recipient of a $10.