Local

Those are a few of the ways the virus has made it more difficult to guide families through their time of need, local funeral directors say. 

Those are a few of the ways the virus has made it more difficult to guide families through their time of need, local funeral directors say. 

Funerals in the age of Covid-19: Harder to say goodbye now

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic is affecting all walks of life — and beyond. Funerals are smaller, traditional church services are being forgone in favor of graveside proceedings and simple acts of human kindness, like hugging a grieving widow, are off limits.

SCSO: Man exposed self to intimidate witness

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
A domestic violence dispute between two men Tuesday afternoon ended with an arrest after one of the participants displayed his genitals in an attempt to stop the other from speaking to law enforcement, according to a Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office report.  Around 2:39 p.m.

Paramedic admits theft of drugs

CARL MCKINNEY
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
A paramedic with Suwannee County Fire Rescue secretly extracted liquid pain medication from more than 50 vials of narcotics over the past year, attempting to cover his tracks by refilling the containers with an unknown substance, likely saline, officials say.
CHS Principal Trey Hosford oversees the distribution of distance-learning packets on Monday, when classes resumed following an extended spring break. Physical schools statewide are still closed to students, forcing school districts to either adopt online classes or pen-and-paper distance-learning methods. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

CHS Principal Trey Hosford oversees the distribution of distance-learning packets on Monday, when classes resumed following an extended spring break. Physical schools statewide are still closed to students, forcing school districts to either adopt online classes or pen-and-paper distance-learning methods. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Back in school, but not in class: Distance learning now set to go through at least May 1

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, March 30, 2020
Spring break lasted longer than usual due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the vacation is over for Columbia County’s public school students — even if many of them still feel like they’re off the hook.

3 jailed in odd flurry of ‘emergency’ calls

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, March 30, 2020
Three 911 abusers were arrested on Sunday: one faked a medical emergency to get out of an arrest; another one called dispatchers to inquire about the address of a famous country singer, among other questions, then yelled obscenities at a dog; and a third was a repeat offender known for making bogus...
Burkett, Shackelford & Wiltgen

Burkett, Shackelford & Wiltgen

3 guards jailed in inmate beating

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, March 30, 2020
Three guards at Hamilton Correctional were taken into custody Thursday after they “brutally beat” an inmate, according to state prison officials.
A stolen Dodge Ram pickup, left, is seen after it was spun out and wrecked in Gainesville. (COURTESY CCSO)

A stolen Dodge Ram pickup, left, is seen after it was spun out and wrecked in Gainesville. (COURTESY CCSO)

Robbery suspect nabbed after I-75 chase, wreck

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, March 30, 2020
She pulled over and surrendered. He did not, instead hopping in the the driver’s seat of a stolen Dodge Ram pickup and taking off before sheriff’s deputies eventually slammed into him to end the chase following a Sunday morning robbery. The incident began shortly after 9 a.m.