Columbia County Observer

Werner Enterprises Opens in Columbia County: New Lake City Terminal Goes On-Line

Posted February 26, 2021  06:45 am

COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL –  Werner Enterprises (NASDAQ: WERN), one of America’s premier transportation and logistics providers, announces the opening of its Lake City terminal.

Town of Fort White Utility Slam-Dunk Foiled: Lake City and Private Utility Rain on Fort White - Columbia County Parade

Pt I – The Fort White Columbia County Connection

Posted February 24, 2021  07:04 am

Chief Judge Feagle’s Term Unanimously Extended, Judge’s Updated Court COVID-19 Plan Released

Posted February 21, 2021  06:50 am

COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL –  Chief Judge Mark E. Feagle was unanimously elected to a second two-year term by the Judges of the Third Judicial Circuit on Friday.

Lake City Residents Looking for Police Oversight By a Civilian Complaint Review Board, Not an Advisory Council

Posted February 4, 2021  01:59 pm

LAKE CITY, COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – The first two hours of Monday night’s Lake City, City Council meeting seemed at times like an event being held at the Roman Colosseum. Agitated by recent events, the community's black residents showed up in force to take a stand for meaningful oversight of the Lake City Police Department.

Lake City Vice Mayor Appears Before the County 5 to Discuss City Utility Policy & the City Budget: His Appearance Not Sanctioned by the City Council

Posted January 22, 2021  03:40 pm

OLUMBIA COUNTY, FL –  Last night, Lake City's Vice Mayor / City Utility Advisory Committee Chair, Chris Greene, made a surprise visit to the County 5. Despite Mr. Greene's announced closed-mindedness, the County agreed to join Councilman Sampson's reconstituted City Utility Advisory Committee.

Columbia County's Legislative Delegation Gets a Visual: Bottled Water Is Also About the Bottles

Posted January 20, 2021  02:25 pm

COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL –  As the curtain drew down on yesterday's legislative delegation meeting, the environment, a bellwether issue for Florida, was brought front and center by environmentalist and springs protector Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson. Strikingly, she let everybody know that bottling Florida's spring water is also about the bottles.

Lake City & Columbia County: Finally, On the Cusp of Getting Their Utility Act Together

Posted January 15, 2021  11:59 pm

Lake City, Columbia County, FL – Thursday evening's Utility Sub-Committee meeting brought out many of the movers and shakers of Lake City – Columbia County. After years of bickering, territorial disputes, and myopia, it appears that the City and County are ready to begin talking seriously about the utility future of Lake City – Columbia County.

Lake Shore Hospital Authority Has Been Striking Out For Years. Sitting on a $23 Mil Cash Stash, Now It Has a Chance to Get It Right

Posted January 13, 2021  11:55 pm

COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – In 2005, the Lake Shore Hospital Authority was re-legislated to provide indigent care to Columbia County residents. A lack of vision and Columbia County good ole' boy politics recently led to its hospital's death. With the Lake City Medical Center knocking on the door, indigent care may have another home. 

Lake City Not the Regional Utility Anymore: It's Now Up To the City Council Decide What It Wants the Utility to Be - Time Is Running Out

Posted January 4, 2021  01:20 pm

Lake City, Columbia County, FL – Last Tuesday's Lake City Utility Committee meeting lasted two and a half hours. Lake City's new Assistant City Manager Daniel Sweat, a man with neither water nor wastewater background, nor any institutional knowledge of Lake City utilities, announced that the City Utility is not interested in being Columbia County's regional utility provider.