Lake City News

Published: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 6:01 a.m. Last Modified: Monday, November 23, 2009 at 11:02 p.m. POLICE BEAT Three charged in Columbia burglary A Lake City man drove two people , one his teenage son, to a home that was under construction so the pair could steal electrical wiring Sunday, Columbia County Sheriff's deputies alleged.

A multi-agency law enforcement operation shut down a North Florida/South Georgia drug trafficking operation Monday following a lengthy investigation, say authorities.

During the early morning hours of Sunday, November 22, Columbia County Sheriff's Office Deputies arrested three Columbia County residents for burglary to a home that was under construction.

At approximately 1:20 a.m., Deputy Josh Joyner was actively patrolling the area of County Road 240 and Ichetucknee Avenue, due to recent burglaries in the area. While checking a home under construction, Deputy Joyner encountered a female subject running out of the garage. Deputy Joyner was able to detain her. Deputy Joyner noticed a male subject attempting to hide in the garage. Both subjects were detained until back-up units could arrive.

"It's butt ugly on the other side of that line," said Bill Brinton of Scenic America, talking about the Florida-Georgia border.

John L. Garner of the Florida Department of Transportation was taking comments Friday on a proposed pilot program to remove non-conforming billboards from scenic areas along Interstate 75. It would allow new billboards in less scenic areas

"We view this program as a double-edged sword," said Harvey Campbell, Executive Director of the Columbia County Tourist Development Council. "On one hand, we are a strong proponent of the I-75 beautification project and certainly believe that billboards are a mixed bag. They are extremely important to the economic lifeline of particularly our smaller businesses that don't have the ability to advertise in magazines like Southern Living."

The proposed pilot project focuses on old billboards on Interstate 75, from the Georgia/Florida line to Wildwood.

"It's very apparent to me, as soon as you drive to Lake City, you see the difference, in terms of landscaping, tree ordinances and signage has, in terms of terms of how the area looks," said Charles T. Woods of the Gainesville City Beautification Committee.

Published: Friday, November 13, 2009 at 6:01 a.m. Last Modified: Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 10:24 p.m. Motorcyclist killed in Columbia County A Fort White man was killed Thursday morning when he lost control of his motorcycle on Columbia County Road 133 and struck a cement culvert.

Published: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 7:42 a.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 7:42 a.m. A Homeless Veteran's Stand Down will be held Friday in Lake City and free transportation has been arranged for vets in several rural counties.

Lake City Police Chief Argatha Gilmore notified Capt. Rudolph Davis, the second-ranking officer in the department, that his services were no longer needed.

In a letter, Chief Gilmore wrote: "For the past several weeks I have observed and assessed my immediate command structure. As a result of my assessments, I have determined it is in the best interest of the Lake City Police Department and our citizens that we establish a more effective leadership team.

"Therefore, effective immediately, your services as a Captain of this department are no longer needed.

The driver of a crash that killed a man in Suwannee County back in 2008 is on trial.

"Mom, I'm going to help you get a cell phone in Lake City when I get off work. See you tonight, I love you." Those were the last words Ruby Votano heard from her son Joshua Franklin Votano, 28, around 6:15 a.m. on June 30, 2008.

Donald Robert Davis Jr., 30 , was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter by a Suwannee County jury Thursday in the 2008 death of 28-year-old Joshua Votano of Lake City.

Friday, November 6, 2009 BALDWIN - The closed - and recently expanded - prison near Baldwin is being considered as a possible home for low-security federal prisoners from foreign countries.

Three people were shot early Sunday morning outside the American Legion post in Lake City and the Columbia County Sheriff's Office has named a 19-year-old suspect in the case.

This October 2002 photo provided by the Equal Justice Initiative shows Terrance Graham, 15, in Jacksonville, Fla.

COLUMBIA COUNTY Lake Jeffery Road Daytime lane closures begin Monday after 8:30 a.m. between West Duval Street and the CSX railroad crossing for a new resurfacing project.

Published: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 8:42 p.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 8:43 p.m. A Lake City man was hospitalized with serious injuries after his car was hit by another motorist on State Road 47 in Columbia County Tuesday afternoon, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A Lake City man who raced across Hamilton and Suwannee counties in a stolen tow truck was arrested east of Live Oak early Saturday, sheriff's records show.

Marco Rubio, a candidate for the U.S. Senate and former state Speaker of the House, spoke to a packed house at Lake City Community College Thursday.

Bobby Cribbs, 47, and Janice Cribbs, 47, of Lake City were seriously injured when a SUV turned in front of them at the intersection of State Road 47 (U.S. 441) and Interstate 10 Wednesday morning.

Cribbs was driving a Buick four-door, going south on State Road 47, approaching the intersection with Interstate 10 at 7:50 a.m. A GMC SUV, turning left onto the on-ramp for westbound Interstate 10 from northbound State Road 47, crossed into the path of the Buick, causing a collision.

The driver of the SUV and a passenger fled from the crash and ran through the Oaks & Pines RV Park and into a wooded area.

Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputies and Florida Highway Patrol Troopers set up a line around the area. Department of Corrections K-9 officers were called to the scene ant the tracked the fugitives, who were arrested without further incident.

The driver was identified as Joshua D. Smith, 21, and the passenger was Anthony R. Taylor, 23. Both are from Knoxville, Tennessee.

Wed, Oct 14 2009 11:10:23 Tags : HUB Industrial Supply,shopping cart interface,HUB LAKE CITY, FL, October 14, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- HUB Industrial Supply, Inc today announced a new web site with an improved shopping cart interface, in addition to double digits sales growth for the year.

A 19-year-old is arrested and charged with D.U.I. for crashing a car load of teenagers over the summer.