Local

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.
Tiffany Jordan strikes a pose outside a small, rural convenience store in Columbia County. Both Jordan and the store are set to be featured in an upcoming film, which begins shooting in August. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Tiffany Jordan strikes a pose outside a small, rural convenience store in Columbia County. Both Jordan and the store are set to be featured in an upcoming film, which begins shooting in August. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Jordan brings film home in pursuit of acting dream

CARL MCKINNEY
Friday, July 17, 2020
A little convenience store on a rural stretch of highway hugged by trees — the perfect vibe for a horror movie.  Most of the film crew would need a map to find the location, which is situated between High Springs and Lake City, but not Tiffany Jordan.

Teachers want answers about reopening plan

CARL MCKINNEY
Friday, July 17, 2020
Teachers are seeking answers from the Columbia County School District about the plan for reopening brick-and-mortar campuses on Aug. 10.  The Columbia Teachers Association met with school officials this week to discuss the looming reopening.
The playground at Columbia City Park is completely ADA accessible, funded in part by a state grant. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

The playground at Columbia City Park is completely ADA accessible, funded in part by a state grant. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

ADA accessible park set to open in county

TONY BRITT
Friday, July 17, 2020
Columbia County is opening its first fully ADA accessible park next week, which will provide a park for county residents where the entire site is accessible to physically-challenged children and their equipment.