Local

Ed Higgins (back row from left), Andra Higgins and Sharron O’Quinn join with Mary Higgins for her 106th birthday party. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Ed Higgins (back row from left), Andra Higgins and Sharron O’Quinn join with Mary Higgins for her 106th birthday party. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Higgins celebrates 106th birthday

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Mary Higgins’ 106th birthday bash didn’t disappoint. The Savannah, Ga., native celebrated her milestone Monday among friends and family at the Bedrock Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Lake City.
Lake Shore Hospital Authority Attorney Todd Kennon said Meridian responded on a short timeline to a recent letter from City Attorney Clay Martin about conditions the city would like to see in the agreement to resolve the zoning dispute. (FILE)

Lake Shore Hospital Authority Attorney Todd Kennon said Meridian responded on a short timeline to a recent letter from City Attorney Clay Martin about conditions the city would like to see in the agreement to resolve the zoning dispute. (FILE)

Hospital future back in city’s hands

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
The ongoing negotiations of the future of the main Lake Shore Hospital and the zoning dispute surrounding it is now back in the City of Lake City’s hands.
Five Points Elementary School Principal Brandi Keen (left) and Melrose Park Elementary School Principal Makeba Murphy (right) hold the time capsules prior to their burial as Columbia County Public Schools Foundation Director Dianna Swisher and Superintendent Keith Couey look on. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Five Points Elementary School Principal Brandi Keen (left) and Melrose Park Elementary School Principal Makeba Murphy (right) hold the time capsules prior to their burial as Columbia County Public Schools Foundation Director Dianna Swisher and Superintendent Keith Couey look on. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Time capsules mark end of schools

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
The final swan song for two elementary school buildings that have served the school district for more than 70 years was commemorated with a pair of silver canisters buried on the west side of the Columbia County School District administrative office for the next 25 years.
Donald Hollingsworth (right) opened up Holly Electric 30 years ago with help from his family. His son, Donald II (left), is now an equal partner in the Lake City-based business. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Donald Hollingsworth (right) opened up Holly Electric 30 years ago with help from his family. His son, Donald II (left), is now an equal partner in the Lake City-based business. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Holly Electric celebrates 30th anniversary

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Three decades ago a local electrician started a business with a goal to provide a quality service and give back to the community.
The Gainesville Police Department honored 12 Columbia County deputies and six communication officers on Friday with Police Service Awards for their help in capturing a fleeing murder suspect last year. (COURTESY)

The Gainesville Police Department honored 12 Columbia County deputies and six communication officers on Friday with Police Service Awards for their help in capturing a fleeing murder suspect last year. (COURTESY)

Gainesville PD honors local deputies, dispatchers

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
A dozen Columbia County deputies and six more dispatchers have been honored for their help in capturing a fleeing Gainesville murder suspect last year.
Lake Shore Hospital Authority Trustee Jerry Bullard said he wanted to use the bid process to dispose of an 11.2-acre parcel on the eastern side of the downtown campus. (FILE)

Lake Shore Hospital Authority Trustee Jerry Bullard said he wanted to use the bid process to dispose of an 11.2-acre parcel on the eastern side of the downtown campus. (FILE)

LSHA looks for bids on property

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
The Lake Shore Hospital Authority is now accepting bids on land on the eastern edge of its downtown Lake City campus. During a brief meeting Monday night, the LSHA board unanimously approved to accept sealed bids for the next 30 days on 11.2 acres of land off NE Lake Drive.
Shanetha Anthony (from left) and Damarrick Hendon, look through Eastside Elementary School items that were pulled from a time capsule to the school’s final walkthrough on Thursday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Shanetha Anthony (from left) and Damarrick Hendon, look through Eastside Elementary School items that were pulled from a time capsule to the school’s final walkthrough on Thursday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Trip down memory lane: Former students enjoy time back at Eastside

TONY BRITT
Friday, June 6, 2025
Bulldozers and other heavy machinery were parked in several different spots around the Eastside Elementary School campus on Thursday afternoon, but people ignored the obvious signs of demolition on campus and headed to their old familiar spaces.
County Attorney Joel Foreman said the $565,789 settlement for the land acquisition was a good deal, noting eminent domain would wind up costing the county a lot more. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County Attorney Joel Foreman said the $565,789 settlement for the land acquisition was a good deal, noting eminent domain would wind up costing the county a lot more. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

$500K land acquisition sours county on paving dirt roads

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, June 6, 2025
Spending more than $500,000 to acquire property to convert dirt roads to paved ones was a “hard pill to swallow” for the Columbia County Commission. It’s one the commission doesn’t aim to have to do again.
Columbia County Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan updated the Rotary Club of Lake City on Thursday about this year’s hurricane season, which is expected to be above normal. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan updated the Rotary Club of Lake City on Thursday about this year’s hurricane season, which is expected to be above normal. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Morgan updates on active storm season expected

TONY BRITT
Friday, June 6, 2025
Columbia County was impacted by several hurricanes during active storms seasons in 2023 and again in 2024.