Local

Tourism impact here $200M

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Some just stop in town to shop, sleep and eat before continuing their trek to Disney World or Universal Studios. Others come to town for attractions like Ichetucknee Springs or the Olustee Battle Festival.  Regardless of why they’re here, they all spend money — and a lot of it.
Members of the public gather at Richardson Community Center to discuss the fate of Lake Shore Hospital. The company that runs services at the hospital wants to get out. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Members of the public gather at Richardson Community Center to discuss the fate of Lake Shore Hospital. The company that runs services at the hospital wants to get out. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

LSHA chief tells locals uncertainty abounds for Shands Lake Shore

CARL MCKINNEY
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Lake Shore Hospital is hemorrhaging money to the tune of millions a year, and the odds of survival are uncertain.  A grim diagnosis was delivered Tuesday night during a town hall-style meeting at Richardson Community Center, where fears about the hospital’s downfall were front and center.
Jennifer Williamson, owner of Right Way Automotive, is down to a handful of vehicles to sell, with little hope of getting more anytime soon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Jennifer Williamson, owner of Right Way Automotive, is down to a handful of vehicles to sell, with little hope of getting more anytime soon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Used car market takes a hit from coronavirus

TONY BRITT
Monday, June 22, 2020
Of all the businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic — restaurants and bars among them — who would have guessed that used car dealers would be right in there? Jennifer Williamson, owner of Right Way Automotive, said the pandemic has sapped her inventory nearly dry.

Blanche deal still hung up on dates

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, June 22, 2020
The high-dollar deal that Lake City officials made with a Valdosta-based developer to incentivize renovations at the historic Blanche Hotel downtown is being revisited due to delays with finishing the project.

Good Samaritan pays the price, say cops

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, June 22, 2020
When a man offered to give someone else a ride earlier in June, the good deed did not go unpunished. The passenger returned the favor by stealing the vehicle, which he kept until deputies apprehended him on Friday, according to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office report.
Glenel Bowden, a civil-rights activist, former Lake City Council member and former congressional staffer, greets the crowd at a unity rally against racism. The rally came as part of the aftermath of the death of George Floyd. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Glenel Bowden, a civil-rights activist, former Lake City Council member and former congressional staffer, greets the crowd at a unity rally against racism. The rally came as part of the aftermath of the death of George Floyd. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Unity rally draws 3 separate crowds

CARL MCKINNEY
Saturday, June 20, 2020
A rally to promote unity drew three separate crowds to Olustee Park in downtown Lake City on Saturday.  One the side of the park closest to City Hall, people gathered around a Black Lives Matter banner and spoke of the need for Americans of all backgrounds to stand against racism.
Doug Udell of Live Oak holds his purple heart, one of seven he received after Vietnam. Udell came out alive, but his friend, Joseph Pecora, wasn’t so lucky, kicking off the decades-long search for the fallen friend’s family. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Doug Udell of Live Oak holds his purple heart, one of seven he received after Vietnam. Udell came out alive, but his friend, Joseph Pecora, wasn’t so lucky, kicking off the decades-long search for the fallen friend’s family. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Vietnam vet Doug Udell keeps 54-year-old promise, finds family of fallen buddy

CARL MCKINNEY
Friday, June 19, 2020
LIVE OAK — Fifty-four years later, Doug Udell was finally able to keep his promise.  The conversation dredged up unpleasant memories from the war. It got unbearable after about an hour, so Udell handed off the phone to his son and left the room.  There was nothing else to say anyway.

BOCC waives garbage fees for the coming fiscal year

CARL MCKINNEY
Friday, June 19, 2020
A temporary tax cut for Columbia County households will put millions back into the pockets of local residents in economic pain from the covid-19 crisis, officials say.  The county is waiving its residential garbage assessment for the coming fiscal year, amounting to a tax cut in the ballpark of $3.
The 30-year-old woman died some time ago, but the death was miscategorized under another county,

The 30-year-old woman died some time ago, but the death was miscategorized under another county,

3rd covid-19 death recorded in Columbia County

CARL MCKINNEY
Friday, June 19, 2020
The death of a 30-year-old woman in Columbia County has been linked to covid-19, marking three confirmed fatalities here related to the virus.  The woman died some time ago, but the death was miscategorized under another county, a health official told the Reporter.

Man wanted for fleeing cops flees, is caught, say cops

CARL MCKINNEY
Friday, June 19, 2020
Weeks after giving authorities the slip in a car chase that spanned from Columbia to Alachua counties, a local man wanted for evading and eluding law enforcement pushed his luck by challenging deputies to a second pursuit, according to reports.  He lost the rematch.