Local

Children atop the Trinity United Methodist Church float wave at the crowd as the float heads down Marion Avenue during Monday’s MLK Jr. parade. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Children atop the Trinity United Methodist Church float wave at the crowd as the float heads down Marion Avenue during Monday’s MLK Jr. parade. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Hundreds gather at parade to honor Martin Luther King Jr.

TONY BRITT
Monday, January 20, 2020
Hundreds of local residents braved cold temperatures and high winds Monday morning to participate in or watch the annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade.
Green & Williams

Green & Williams

Campaign placard in MLK parade draws fire

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, January 20, 2020
Political drama reared its head during Lake City’s Monday morning parade honoring the life of Martin Luther King Jr., after a challenger for local office got involved in a political dispute with his incumbent rival, who happened to be one of the event’s main organizers.

Spring cleaning, anyone?

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, January 20, 2020
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to wait until spring, Lake City officials say as they invite people to help tidy up the town.  The city is hosting a cleanup day on Feb. 1 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Crash claims a life, closes US 90

NEWS STAFF
Sunday, January 19, 2020
A head-on crash claimed the life of a Lake City woman late Saturday. Jane Kaufman, 64, was killed when the westbound 2009 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by John Thomas Hinrichs, 27, Lake City, crossed the center line of U.S. 90 near NW Noegal Road at 9:53 p.m.

Florida man breaks into house, naps on couch

CARL MCKINNEY
Friday, January 17, 2020
He bears the name of an infamous outlaw, but behaved more like Goldilocks when he broke into a home this week and napped on a couch inside, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. And his explanation reportedly sounded like a scene from “Alice in Wonderland.

Record month for housing

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 17, 2020
December was an outstanding month for local real-estate agents, and sales figures were predicated by sellers receiving nearly 98% of the original list price.
Megan Gatzke (left), gives her father, Alan Gatzke, a kiss on the check at the same time as her mother, Mary Gatzke. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Megan Gatzke (left), gives her father, Alan Gatzke, a kiss on the check at the same time as her mother, Mary Gatzke. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

FWES math teacher named Teacher of the Year

TONY BRITT
Thursday, January 16, 2020
A veteran educator with more than 40 years’ experience as a school administrator, teacher, bus driver and even a custodian when necessary can add a new line to his resume — Columbia County Schools’ Teacher of the Year.
Steve Nelson (from left), Columbia School Board chairman poses with Candace Starling and Lex Carswell, Columbia Schools’ Superintendent after Starling, a CHS secretary, was named the 2020 School-Related Employee of the Year Award winner Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Steve Nelson (from left), Columbia School Board chairman poses with Candace Starling and Lex Carswell, Columbia Schools’ Superintendent after Starling, a CHS secretary, was named the 2020 School-Related Employee of the Year Award winner Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

CHS secretary Candace Starling recognized for going the extra mile

TONY BRITT
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Operating amid organized chaos is often what it takes when working as a Columbia High School secretary.

Sheriff getting 5 Fords, not 10

CARL MCKINNEY
Thursday, January 16, 2020
The art of haggling was on full display at Thursday night’s Columbia County Commission meeting, where the board negotiated with Sheriff Mark Hunter to cut his $402,000 request for new vehicles in half.  The Sheriff’s Office budgeted for 10 vehicles this year.