Local

Local voters mailing it in

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Election officials can’t predict how the coronavirus pandemic will affect overall turnout for the August primary, but they say one thing is certain — a lot of people are voting by mail.

Columbia, Fort White ready for graduation ceremonies

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
It’s almost time to give the county’s high school seniors a proper sendoff. Graduation ceremonies are upon us at Columbia and Fort White high schools.  The CHS graduation ceremony is scheduled to take place at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. FWHS will hold its ceremony at 9 p.m. Friday.
Long-time County Commission District 1 incumbent Ron Williams squares off with challenger Kyle Green during a Q&A session at a Republican-sponsored event Saturday night. Local GOP Chairman Hunter Peeler acted as moderator. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Long-time County Commission District 1 incumbent Ron Williams squares off with challenger Kyle Green during a Q&A session at a Republican-sponsored event Saturday night. Local GOP Chairman Hunter Peeler acted as moderator. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Local, state candidates answer questions at GOP rally

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, July 27, 2020
Republican candidates for local and regional office talked about God, guns and liberty at a GOP political rally Saturday night.

CCS start delayed to August 24

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, July 27, 2020
The start date for the school year has been pushed back again, Columbia County school officials announced this week.  Students are now set to begin classes Aug. 24. The school district initially planned for an Aug. 10 start date, which was then pushed to Aug.

Akhimie resigns from assistant city manager position

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, July 27, 2020
The No. 2 appointed official at Lake City Hall has stepped down from his position. Assistant City Manager Vince Akhimie tendered his resignation on July 6. “It was mutual,” said City Manager Joe Helfenberger. “He wanted to do other things, and I wished him well.

City changes funding process for Olustee, community events

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, July 27, 2020
Community events, including the Olustee Battle Festival in downtown Lake City, will no longer automatically get funding from the city. Event organizers will now have to request money from the City Council, which will allocate money from a single $16,000 pot, said City Manager Joe Helfenberger.

Home invasion attack leads to hospitalization

TONY BRITT
Monday, July 27, 2020
A Lake City man was hospitalized this weekend after he was attacked in his home Saturday night by five unidentified men in a home invasion incident. According to information from the Lake City Police Department, around 8:40 p.m.
A Confederate monument sits in Olustee Park in downtown Lake City. The park is owned by the City of Live Oak, property appraiser records show. (FILE photo)

A Confederate monument sits in Olustee Park in downtown Lake City. The park is owned by the City of Live Oak, property appraiser records show. (FILE photo)

City owns Olustee Park

CARL MCKINNEY
Friday, July 24, 2020
A historian helping Lake City officials research the background of a controversial Confederate monument downtown says the city, which is facing calls to move the Civil War memorial, doesn’t own the land beneath it. Property appraiser records say otherwise.