Local

CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter Kyle Green, left, and Ron Williams, right, candidates for the District 1 seat on the Board of County Commissioners, both stressed the importance of economic development for the future of Columbia County. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter Kyle Green, left, and Ron Williams, right, candidates for the District 1 seat on the Board of County Commissioners, both stressed the importance of economic development for the future of Columbia County. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

County Commission candidates discuss jobs, infrastructure at forum

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, August 3, 2020
A slew of candidates from three County Commission races appeared on stage Monday night for the first evening of the Lake City Reporter’s multi-day political forum for the August primary, which boasted an all-new format that sought to foster a more conversational tone.
Drew Law smiles prior to Columbia’s commencement ceremony Saturday night. (RAY CARPENTER/Lake City Reporter)

Drew Law smiles prior to Columbia’s commencement ceremony Saturday night. (RAY CARPENTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia, Fort White graduate Class of ’20

TONY BRITT
Monday, August 3, 2020
Students in the local Class of 2020 were finally able to get their diplomas during commencement exercises at Fort White and Columbia high schools this weekend — some four months after classes ended due to the covid-19 global pandemic.
Cappadony & Rogers

Cappadony & Rogers

Child’s broken bones lead to abuse charges

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, August 3, 2020
A 5-month-old child suffered broken bones for more than two weeks before being taken to the ER, deputies say, leading to the arrest of two women — one of them the biological father who is in the process of transitioning.

Candidates excited for LCR forum

CARL MCKINNEY
Friday, July 31, 2020
Campaign season will enter full swing next week with a three-part candidate forum hosted by the Lake City Reporter, which will feature a new roundtable discussion-type format.
Columbia County Recreation Department employees Courtney Rowe (from left), Lynda Caldwell and Chad Owens practice preparing and distributing meals in the Richardson Community Center cafeteria Thursday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Recreation Department employees Courtney Rowe (from left), Lynda Caldwell and Chad Owens practice preparing and distributing meals in the Richardson Community Center cafeteria Thursday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Rec department taking part in ‘No Kid Hungry’ program

TONY BRITT
Thursday, July 30, 2020
The Columbia County Recreation Department, in partnership with the Richardson Community Center/Annie Mattox North Advisory Board (RCC/AMN), were recently awarded a $6,000 grant from the Florida Recreation and Parks Association (FRPA).
P. DeWitt Cason, who has served as the Columbia County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller for 32 years, stands outside the Columbia County Courthouse on Wednesday afternoon. Cason recently submitted his resignation papers to Gov. Ron DeSantis with plans to leave office 2 p.m. Aug. 14. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

P. DeWitt Cason, who has served as the Columbia County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller for 32 years, stands outside the Columbia County Courthouse on Wednesday afternoon. Cason recently submitted his resignation papers to Gov. Ron DeSantis with plans to leave office 2 p.m. Aug. 14. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Leaving office: Cason submits resignation; last day set for Aug. 14

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Much has changed since DeWitt Cason first took office. When Cason was first elected as the clerk of court for Columbia County in 1988, the office didn’t even have a fax machine.

Deputy punched cuffed suspect

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
A “quite disturbing” video shows a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office deputy punching a traffic stop suspect who had already been handcuffed and subdued, the Public Defender’s Office wrote in a recently surfaced memo.