Regional

Tim Murphy, center, is congratulated by family members and supporters Tuesday night after winning his re-election bid to the County Commission. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Tim Murphy, center, is congratulated by family members and supporters Tuesday night after winning his re-election bid to the County Commission. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Williams, Murphy re-elected to County Commission

CARL MCKINNEY
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Three County Commission seats were up for grabs on Tuesday, but no challenger was able to score an easy victory against any of the incumbents. One of the races will go to a runoff in November, while the other two ended with a victory for the sitting office holders.

Bradley captures Senate primary

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Seeking to succeed her husband in the Florida Senate, Jennifer Bradley took the first step Tuesday night. Bradley received nearly 60% of the vote to defeat Jason Holifield to win the Republican primary from Florida’s District 5.

Suspects sought from Busy Bee beating

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, August 17, 2020
Racially charged violence broke out at a local Busy Bee early Sunday morning, according to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office report. The incident was initially believed to be a possible hate crime, but deputies later determined the victims may have “possibly enticed the fight,” the report says.

Two killed in area wrecks

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, August 17, 2020
An accident Monday morning on Interstate 10 was deadly, as was a fiery early-morning crash in White Springs. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a tractor-trailer and a sedan were both traveling west on I-10 around 11:20 a.m.

Two additional Columbia County covid-19 deaths reported

NEWS STAFF
Monday, August 17, 2020
Two additional deaths linked to the covid-19 coronavirus were announced for Columbia County over the weekend. The Columbia County Health Department announced the death of a 74-year-old man and a 78-year-old woman Saturday after they contracted the virus.
Rum Island Park in Fort White has been closed for nearly a year for renovations, including wooden fencing and aluminum stairways that provide access to the springs. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Rum Island Park in Fort White has been closed for nearly a year for renovations, including wooden fencing and aluminum stairways that provide access to the springs. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Renovation nearly complete at Rum Island Park

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 14, 2020
FORT WHITE — Nearly a year after it closed for renovations, county officials say Rum Island Park is expected to reopen by the end of the month. Rum Island Park initially closed Sept. 9, 2019, for construction and renovation work. Since then the park has seen months of construction.

FGC fall semester begins Monday

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 14, 2020
Students from around the area will continue their pursuit of a college education when fall semester classes at Florida Gateway College begin Monday morning.

Three covid-19 deaths added in Columbia

NEWS STAFF
Friday, August 14, 2020
Three more Columbia County residents have died from the covid-19 coronavirus. The Columbia County Health Department announced the deaths Friday of a 102-year-old woman, an 88-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man. There are now 24 deaths in the county linked to the virus.

Holtzclaw’s devotion to education recalled

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, August 13, 2020
O’BRIEN — James “J.M.” Monroe Holtzclaw worked for more than just peanuts. In addition to spending most of his life as a farmer, Holtzclaw also worked just as hard for students in Suwannee County, where he spent 32 years as a member of the Suwannee County School Board.