Regional

Rotary Club of Lake City Treasurer Mike Tatem stacks boxed-lunch meals at noon Thursday inside the welcome center at Parkview Baptist Church. Rotarians drove through the covered drop-off area of the church, picked up a lunch, then returned home or to their offices before tuning in to the club’s first-ever virtual meeting via the on-line platform Zoom. The club normally meets at noon on Thursdays. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Rotary Club of Lake City Treasurer Mike Tatem stacks boxed-lunch meals at noon Thursday inside the welcome center at Parkview Baptist Church. Rotarians drove through the covered drop-off area of the church, picked up a lunch, then returned home or to their offices before tuning in to the club’s first-ever virtual meeting via the on-line platform Zoom. The club normally meets at noon on Thursdays. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Rotary Club goes Zoom

TODD WILSON
Thursday, April 9, 2020
Lake City Rotary Club members experienced their first combination drive-through dining and virtual meeting experience Thursday after picking up lunch in a motorcade line, then retiring to their homes or offices to experience an on-line meeting for the first time in the club’s 98-year history.
Columbia County Tax Collector’s Office customer service representatives Miranda Lee, left, and Annette LeMay assist customers in the drive-through lanes at the courthouse annex office Wednesday afternoon. The tax collector’s office has been closed to foot traffic since March 26, but continues to assist customers with limited transactions in the drive-through. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Tax Collector’s Office customer service representatives Miranda Lee, left, and Annette LeMay assist customers in the drive-through lanes at the courthouse annex office Wednesday afternoon. The tax collector’s office has been closed to foot traffic since March 26, but continues to assist customers with limited transactions in the drive-through. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Tax collector’s office still helping residents despite obstacles

TODD WILSON
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
It may be a less-than-ideal setting, but the service being provided by the Columbia County Tax Collector’s Office staff during the past two weeks has been essential and embraced by the public.
The StrongerThanC-19 community action survey is designed to gather information to help the DOH track and slow the spread of the virus.

The StrongerThanC-19 community action survey is designed to gather information to help the DOH track and slow the spread of the virus.

Florida Department of Health launches covid-19 survey

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
The Florida Department of Health launched a community action survey on Tuesday called StrongerThanC-19, designed to help Florida in the fight against the spread of covid-19.
Ellianos manager Lorrain Gleason hands a custom frozen coffee creation through the drive-up window at the business location on U.S. 90 West Tuesday morning in Lake City. Ellianos serves a variety of gourmet Italian coffee and operates a double-drive-through-only business. The company, which is a Lake City-based franchise, has seen business increase during the coronavirus pandemic. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Ellianos manager Lorrain Gleason hands a custom frozen coffee creation through the drive-up window at the business location on U.S. 90 West Tuesday morning in Lake City. Ellianos serves a variety of gourmet Italian coffee and operates a double-drive-through-only business. The company, which is a Lake City-based franchise, has seen business increase during the coronavirus pandemic. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

A business perfectly suited for the times: Ellianos hardly had to change a thing

TODD WILSON
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Ellianos, the drive-through coffee server, may have the perfect pandemic business model.
LifeSouth is partnering with medical centers in Florida, Georgia and Alabama to help aid recovery of covid-19.

LifeSouth is partnering with medical centers in Florida, Georgia and Alabama to help aid recovery of covid-19.

Recovered covid-19 patients could save others

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Those who have recovered from covid-19 may be able to help those suffering from the virus. At least, that’s what LifeSouth is hoping for. LifeSouth is partnering with medical centers in Florida, Georgia and Alabama to help aid recovery of covid-19.
LCMC officials watch the event unfold from the hospital’s roof Sunday night. The Orchard Community Church, which organized the event, estimated that a couple hundred automobiles participated. (TRAVIS LEE/Special to the Reporter)

LCMC officials watch the event unfold from the hospital’s roof Sunday night. The Orchard Community Church, which organized the event, estimated that a couple hundred automobiles participated. (TRAVIS LEE/Special to the Reporter)

Local church holds vigil for healthcare workers at LCMC

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, April 6, 2020
A couple hundred vehicles parked outside Lake City Medical Center on Sunday blew their horns in unison at 8:30 p.m., a sign to let the hospital staff and patients know that others were praying for them.
Artist’s rendition of the Blanche Hotel renovation project. The developer says the wait for the project to be complete is nearly over. (COURTESY IDP)

Artist’s rendition of the Blanche Hotel renovation project. The developer says the wait for the project to be complete is nearly over. (COURTESY IDP)

City to mull more time for Blanche

CARL MCKINNEY
Monday, April 6, 2020
The developer behind the Blanche Hotel Renovation project wants extra time from Lake City Hall to finish the work.  Integrity Development Partners had until Feb. 1 to finish the project, plus a two-month grace period, under the terms of a contract that netted the company millions from taxpayers.
Catholic Charities Regional Director Suzanne Edwards inspects a carton of raisins delivered to the organization’s Florida Gateway Food Bank. Demand for food assistance is surging while the economy is in a holding pattern. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Catholic Charities Regional Director Suzanne Edwards inspects a carton of raisins delivered to the organization’s Florida Gateway Food Bank. Demand for food assistance is surging while the economy is in a holding pattern. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Who’s going to feed the hungry? Suzanne Edwards of Catholic Charities is already making plans

CARL MCKINNEY
Friday, April 3, 2020
Millions of Floridians are about to be hungry, and they’re looking to a statewide network of just 12 food banks to save them from their suffering.
Long-term care providers were told to quickly report to county health departments any positive or suspected cases of Covid-19, the deadly respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.

Long-term care providers were told to quickly report to county health departments any positive or suspected cases of Covid-19, the deadly respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.

Heading off Covid-19 in long-term care

NEWS STAFF
Friday, April 3, 2020
Florida health officials said Thursday that preventing “community spread” of the novel coronavirus through the state’s long-term care industry has become a top concern.