Local

Hatley to head HCA Lake City nurses

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Krista Hatley is the new chief nursing officer at HCA Lake Hospital and HCA Suwannee Emergency in Live Oak. Hatley, a veteran of HCA Healthcare, was named to the positions Monday.
The Corporal Gary L. Edwards Memorial Gymnasium at the Douglass Center in Live Oak will be getting air conditioning and new classrooms added on as part of a state grant. The site will also include a community center thanks to a different grant. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

The Corporal Gary L. Edwards Memorial Gymnasium at the Douglass Center in Live Oak will be getting air conditioning and new classrooms added on as part of a state grant. The site will also include a community center thanks to a different grant. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Community center projects moving forward in Suwannee County

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
LIVE OAK — State funding will bring two new and two revamped community centers to Suwannee County in the next 18-20 months. Suwannee County Parks and Recreation have gone out to bid on finding design build firms to handle the grant-funded projects, three located in Live Oak and one in Branford.
Lake City Mayor Noah Walker said he’d like to see the city take other avenues like annexation to raise revenue instead of increasing the millage rate. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Mayor Noah Walker said he’d like to see the city take other avenues like annexation to raise revenue instead of increasing the millage rate. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Council opposes tax hike

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Most on the Lake City Council aren’t in favor of new fees or taxes in the upcoming budget cycle. At least, not until they have more data to make a final decision.
Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler (right) said any rumors that Officer Marcus Hardison being shot by another law enforcement officer were not true. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler (right) said any rumors that Officer Marcus Hardison being shot by another law enforcement officer were not true. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

LCPD still investigating shooting of officer

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Lake City police officers continue to investigate the Easter gathering at Annie Mattox Park that ended with an officer shot.
Lake City Attorney Clay Martin said he’d be interested in applying to be the city’s full-time counsel during Monday’s meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Attorney Clay Martin said he’d be interested in applying to be the city’s full-time counsel during Monday’s meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Council supports in-house attorney

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
The Lake City Council took the first baby step on its way to hiring an in-house attorney. The council voted Monday to approve Mayor Noah Walker entering into negotiations with potential hires for the Lake City Attorney position based on parameters suggested by City Manager Don Rosenthal.
Columbia High School JROTC cadets, who are seniors, pose for a photograph after being recognized by other members of the Fighting Tiger Battalion during a military ball on Friday night at American Legion Post 57. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia High School JROTC cadets, who are seniors, pose for a photograph after being recognized by other members of the Fighting Tiger Battalion during a military ball on Friday night at American Legion Post 57. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

JROTC cadets have a ‘ball’

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
The ceremonial side of military life through time-honored traditions and rituals were celebrated by several Columbia High School JROTC cadets when the Fighting Tiger Battalion held its annual military ball Friday evening.
Lake City resident George Hudson speaks to the Lake City Council at its Monday meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City resident George Hudson speaks to the Lake City Council at its Monday meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Council clears first hurdle in new park hours

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Campbell Park near Lake Montgomery could soon be seeing expanded operating hours. The Lake City Council passed the first reading of a resolution Monday that would extend both attractions’ openings to a half-hour before sunrise and a half-hour after sunset. Those times would be based on the U.S.
Kelsie Rodriguez, the pre-kindergarten paraprofessional at Summers Elementary, was named the state’s School-Related Employee of the Year on Thursday, the first Columbia County School District employee to win the prestigious honor. Rodriguez (left) is pictured with Summers VPK teacher Karen McDonald. (COURTESY)

Kelsie Rodriguez, the pre-kindergarten paraprofessional at Summers Elementary, was named the state’s School-Related Employee of the Year on Thursday, the first Columbia County School District employee to win the prestigious honor. Rodriguez (left) is pictured with Summers VPK teacher Karen McDonald. (COURTESY)

Summers para is state’s best

TONY BRITT
Friday, April 18, 2025
When Robert Cooper entered the Summers Elementary School pre-kindergarten classroom on Thursday, Karen McDonald, Kelsie Rodriguez and the students may have thought he was coming to see newly-hatched chicks.
Commissioner Rocky Ford said he thought denying the request to help the Town of Fort White ‘set the county back.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Commissioner Rocky Ford said he thought denying the request to help the Town of Fort White ‘set the county back.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County feuds over aid for Fort White

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 18, 2025
A request to assist Fort White in administering grant funds sparked a heated debate between Columbia County commissioners.