Local

Wilson pushes for pay bump to $80K

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
The problem is a familiar one for Cliff Wilson. Wilson, the Third Judicial Circuit public defender, is down two attorneys in his office to help cover cases over the seven-county circuit. Looking for a pair of new helpers, Wilson is getting no interest.
Volunteers work on making beds for the Lake City chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace on Sept. 13 during a ‘Bunks Across America’ bed build at the Christian Service Center. The group of 50 volunteers made 25 beds that will help make sure children in the area have a bed to sleep in. (COURTESY)

Volunteers work on making beds for the Lake City chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace on Sept. 13 during a ‘Bunks Across America’ bed build at the Christian Service Center. The group of 50 volunteers made 25 beds that will help make sure children in the area have a bed to sleep in. (COURTESY)

Local chapter takes part in national bed build

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
The Sleep In Heavenly Peace non-profit held its seventh annual “Bunks Across America” bed build earlier this month. The national goal was to build 10,000 beds through 250 chapters and 15,000 volunteers from Sept. 6-13. The Lake City chapter held its BAA build on Sept.
Bellamy Beaver hangs out with students at Eastside Elementary School during his visit Friday to talk about water conservation. (COURTESY)

Bellamy Beaver hangs out with students at Eastside Elementary School during his visit Friday to talk about water conservation. (COURTESY)

Bellamy Beaver goes to school

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
By Heather Futch and Paulette Tomlinson UF/IFAS Columbia County Extension A pair of Columbia County elementary schools had a special visitor Friday.
Columbia County Assistant Fire Chief Lance Hill (rom left) and Fire Chief Jeff Crawford look over the county’s newest fire truck that arrived Thursday. The truck, which was purchased for $480,393, is an Advanced Life Support unit, capable of pumping 1,250 gallons of water per minute and carries 1,000 gallons of water and can haul five firefighters. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Assistant Fire Chief Lance Hill (rom left) and Fire Chief Jeff Crawford look over the county’s newest fire truck that arrived Thursday. The truck, which was purchased for $480,393, is an Advanced Life Support unit, capable of pumping 1,250 gallons of water per minute and carries 1,000 gallons of water and can haul five firefighters. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

CCFR adds new ALS truck, equipment for firefighters

TONY BRITT
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Columbia County Fire Rescue has added a new frontline vehicle to its fleet of firefighting vehicles. Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford said the fire engine was delivered Thursday. “It will be replacing one of our older vehicles that was on our front line,” he said.
Dylan Adams with the Haymar Group talks about the 80-door duplex project on Turner Avenue with the Columbia County Economic Development Advisory Board on Thursday. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Dylan Adams with the Haymar Group talks about the 80-door duplex project on Turner Avenue with the Columbia County Economic Development Advisory Board on Thursday. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Duplex project OK’d for tax rebate

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 20, 2025
For just the second time, Columbia County’s Economic Development Advisory Board is backing a residential housing development incentive from the county.
Kelly Luker credited Veterans Service Officer Ronnie Beasley for helping push for compensation for his father’s death. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Kelly Luker credited Veterans Service Officer Ronnie Beasley for helping push for compensation for his father’s death. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County millage rates remain stable at 7.815

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Columbia County is holding pat with its millage rate to fund a newly approved budget for the next fiscal year. The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously during its Thursday meeting to implement a 7.815-mill rate on county residents. While the rate remains the same, it does stand 6.
Columbia County School District Career and Technical Education Director Angela Coppock said the district is excited about the partnership with the county’s Economic Development office that is launching Career Café. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County School District Career and Technical Education Director Angela Coppock said the district is excited about the partnership with the county’s Economic Development office that is launching Career Café. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County, schools launching Career Café

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Columbia County’s economic development office has worked with the Columbia County School District to unveil a new program aimed at helping open up employment possibilities for students. The inaugural Career Café will be held Nov. 7 at 9:30 a.m.
County Commissioner Kevin Parnell wants to see the county’s Land Development Regulations changed to include language about the appeals process after a borrow pit was approved in District 1 without his, or the area residents’, knowledge. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County Commissioner Kevin Parnell wants to see the county’s Land Development Regulations changed to include language about the appeals process after a borrow pit was approved in District 1 without his, or the area residents’, knowledge. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County looks into updating LDRs

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, September 20, 2025
County zoning applications are getting a makeover. Melissa Garber, Columbia County’s assistant building and zoning director, told the Board of County Commissioners at its Thursday meeting that due to an issue that had come across her desk, zoning applications will be submitted to P&Z staffers.
Columbia County Unified 911 Center dispatchers who recently attended a training session in Lake County were: Jimmy Redmond (from left), Travis Czaban, Victoria Chatigny, Crystal Craig and Beth Roberts. (COURTESY)

Columbia County Unified 911 Center dispatchers who recently attended a training session in Lake County were: Jimmy Redmond (from left), Travis Czaban, Victoria Chatigny, Crystal Craig and Beth Roberts. (COURTESY)

Dispatchers receive state incident response training

TONY BRITT
Saturday, September 20, 2025
A group of local dispatchers recently completed a training session where they obtained the training and credentials enabling them to serve others during emergencies.