+ PLUS >> Local jobless rates rise; still better than state average, 2A PREP FOOTBALL PREP FLAG FOOTBALL FHSAA announces new Suwannee routs classes, districts visiting Bradford See Page 1B See Page 1B TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM LCPD officer arrested, placed A rowdy good time on admin. leave Herrera charged City Police Department, Officer Jason Herrera. The with simple release stated that officers battery following learned Herrera placed his altercation. hands on the victim at one point during the altercation, Staff report resulting in his arrest for A Lake City police officer simple battery. was placed on administra- Herrera has been placed tive leave after his arrest on administrative leave Saturday following an pending the outcome of an altercation at a local conve- investigation by the Lake nience store. City Police Department’s According to a Lake Office of Professional City Police Department Standards. release, officers responded “As police officers, we are around 9:27 p.m. Saturday held to a higher standard,” to the Sunstop convenience said Police Chief Argatha store at 1101 N. Marion St. Gilmore in a prepared state- regarding a dispute. ment. “For this reason, we Authorities determined also conduct administrative that one of the two subjects investigations after any inci- involved in the altercation dent of this nature involving was a member of the Lake one of our officers.” Homeless Photos by RAY CARPENTER/Special to the Reporter man arrested The Florida Gateway Pro Rodeo’s three-day festivities concluded Sunday afternoon with events like steer wres- for kidnapping tling in the midafternoon sun. Patrons, vendors, participants By TONY BRITT According to the call- [email protected] er, Simmons was inside her apart- all pleased with 2021 rodeo A homeless Columbia ment County man kidnapped threaten- a female acquaintance’s ing her By MORGAN MCMULLEN ning weather. Due to roommate at gunpoint, room- [email protected] the timing of the annual stole her car and hid out mate, and festivities, the previous in a camper before being she fled While the covid-19 year’s rodeo occurred just arrested Friday eve- Simmons the area. pandemic has taken before covid restrictions ning, according to police Sgt. more events than it has forced a majority of events reports. Mike Lee, Lake City given, the annual Florida to drastically change their Bobby John Simmons, Police Department public Gateway Pro Rodeo was operating procedures or 23, was charged with information officer, said not among its casualties cancel them entirely. kidnapping, aggravated the woman and her room- after it went on as planned Now, with covid vac- battery, vehicle theft, mate live at the Lake City over the weekend. cines rolling out for a possession of a firearm Villas, on Haywood Loop, Roughly 2,000 guests large sum of Floridians by a convicted felon, in an area behind Lake attended Friday’s open- and Americans in general, discharging a firearm City Middle School. ing-night festivities at festival goers felt at ease in public and robbery Officers quickly the Florida Gateway with attending the annual in connection with the responded to the apart- Fairgrounds. Attendees rodeo to feel a sense of case. He was booked into ment complex, but found were treated to various getting life back to a more Children also got to participate in the rodeo festivities the Columbia County that the apartment was rodeo events including recognizable state. with the Mutton Bustin’ event. Detention Facility with- empty. calf roping, steer wres- “It’s actually better out bond. Authorities were able tling and a brief magic (than last year)”, Ron According to a Lake to talk to the original show by the rodeo clown. Bostic, a 48-year-old Lake over the top for him. owner of the food truck City Police Department caller, who drove to the Guests were also free City resident, said. Bostic The abundance of hun- Smokin’ Like Ya Like It, release, on Friday, a Lake City Public Safety to roam around the fair- said he had been to the gry and trusting cus- said that even though woman told authorities building. She told author- grounds to the various previous six rodeos and tomers also made anoth- he was booked solid for she was fleeing from a ities that the suspect was food trucks, beverage that the first responders er group very happy events in Texas, Nebraska man who was threatening stands and merchandise tribute at the beginning of throughout the weekend: her with a firearm. KIDNAP continued on 3A tables in the mild eve- the evening’s events put it vendors. Doug Jones, the RODEO continued on 6A City council changes utility committee again Greene requests resulted in Councilman voted in favor of its Utility motion as presented by Mr. city’s utility advisory com- the advisory board. Chris Greene requesting Advisory Committee con- (Todd) Sampson,” Greene mittee would be composed However, when it was removal from that he be removed from sisting of two city council said. “I do support the res- of council members Greene time for a vote Monday, advisory group. the committee Monday members, two county com- olution as it is drawn up… and Sampson. Greene was Rocky Ford, the chair- night. missioners, the city manag- Every time we come up to serve as chairman. man of the Columbia By TONY BRITT During er, the county manager, the here, we change the make- Non-council mem- County Board of County [email protected] the Lake city’s utility director and the up of the committee and so bers would be Paul Dyal, Commissioners, addressed City county economic develop- I think the time of changing the executive director of the council and noted that Change has been a con- Council ment director. The motion the makeup of the commit- utilities for the city; City the county had selected two stant in the makeup ok the meeting, was adopted by a 4-1 mar- tee has ended and it’s time Manager Joe Helfenberger representatives to serve on Lake City Utility Advisory city officials gin, with Greene casting the to take action.” and Daniel Crapps. Mayor the committee. He said he Committee the past few went off dissenting vote. The agenda item for a StephenWitt would serve as months. The latest change Greene script and “I don’t support the resolution indicated the the Ex-officio member of UTILITY continued on 3A Vol. 146, No. 254 Opinion . 4A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER (386) 752-1293 Advice & Comics . 5A Sports . 1B SUBSCRIBE TO 84 61 THE REPORTER: Classified . 3B-4B Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 Mostly cloudy, 2A 2A TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER Talking through it QUICK HITS Scripture of the Day “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.” — Acts 4:10, 12 (KJV) Thought for Today The secret of happiness is something to do. — John Burroughs, 1837-1921, American author Winning Lottery Numbers Pick 3: (Sunday p.m.) 2-1-0 Pick 4: (Sunday p.m.) 6-5-4-8 Fantasy 5: (Sunday) 4-5-8-25-30 See an error? The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will run in this space. Thanks for reading. COURTESY Submissions Maddie Carter recently won the Suwannee Middle School Florida 4-H Public Speaking Contest. Her The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption winning speech was titled, ‘Put an End to It,’ explaining the importance of ending illiteracy. She will be information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would representing SMS in the county level competition on May 7. The runner-up in the school’s contest was like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture Kolby Bonds, for her speech titled, ‘Being a Baseball Sister.’ Pictures are Shawn Herring, (from left) judge; and information to the editor: [email protected]. Jennifer Campbell, judge; Bonds; Carter; and Laura-Kaitlyn Boatright, judge. Lake City Reporter HOW TO REACH US ADVERTISING Main number .......(386) 752-1293 Director Chris Ratliff Columbia, Suwannee jobless Fax number ............752-9400 (386) 754-0417 Circulation.............755-5445 ([email protected]) Online ....www.lakecityreporter.com The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate CLASSIFIED of Community Newspapers Inc., Kym Harrison rates rise; still below state average (386) 755-5440 is published Tuesday through Saturday/Sunday at 180 E. Duval ([email protected]) Staff & wire reports St., Lake City, FL 32055. Periodical decisions made last year to shy of 1,100 unemployed year, according to the state postage paid at Lake City, Florida, BUSINESS OFFICE Member of The Associated Press Vickie Busscher The unemployment rate allow businesses to reopen for a rate of 3.7%. agency. and the Florida Press Association. (386) 754-0436 locally rose by more than and to have in-person In Suwannee County, Retail jobs were off All material herein is property of ([email protected]) the Lake City Reporter. No part of CIRCULATION a point in January, but both learning in schools for the the number of workers out 3.9% from a year earlier, the contents of this publication may Columbia and Suwannee state’s strong gains in the of a job rose from around and transportation, ware- be reproduced in whole or in part Director Sara Mercer without written permission of the (386) 754-0408 counties still beat the state unemployment rate from 600 in December to 863 house and utility jobs were publisher.