+ PLUS >> Search continues for missing teen, 2A COLLEGE SOFTBALL COLLEGE ATHLETICS Coaches say NCAA needs Lawmakers agree NCAA more gender equality needs NIL help See Page 1B See Page 1B THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM A half-penny for your schools? CCS considering School Board is consider- before a Tuesday after- believe this is a massive Of the district’s 14 schools were constructed half-cent sales tax ing implementing a half- noon school board work- effort for this community schools, five schools were between 1990-2007. cent sales tax through a shop concluded. “Let’s and Columbia County to constructed in the 1950s Fred Gaylard, with the for new facilities. referendum as a funding see what invest in our community (Five Points, Melrose district’s maintenance By TONY BRITT source for two new, small- the voters one child at a time. That’s Park, Niblack, Eastside department, told the board [email protected] er elementary schools, think. The what we’re asking.” and Richardson Sixth that while a number of the rather than waiting for leg- voters of During Tuesday’s work- Grade Academy), one facilities were older, they Columbia County voters islative appropriations. Columbia shop, the school board, school was constructed in were safe and maintained may get their say in new “We’re not asking the County will by consensus, authorized 1976 with student stations as much as possible. He facilities for the Columbia board to approve anything ultimate- Carswell and district staff that were built in the early added the maintenance County School District. other than let’s maybe see Carswell ly decide to continue researching 1900s, another school costs aren’t expensive. Looking to reduce the what the tax payers think,” if they want to invest in the half-cent tax levy and was constructed in 1964 “As a district we’ve number of its aging facili- Superintendent Lex their schools and students, to bring it back for a June and Columbia High was ties, the Columbia County Carswell said moments one child at a time. We 22 workshop at 5 p.m. constructed in 1976. Five TAX continued on 2A Demings launches STEAM-y summer Senate bid Former House impeachment manager entered race with YouTube video Wednesday. News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — With the theme “Never Tire,” Orlando Democratic Congresswoman Val Demings on Wednesday formally launched her cam- paign to try to unseat U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio in 2022. The announcement was not a surprise: Demings last month said to “stay tuned” amid reports that she would run for Senate. But her entranceLake ratchets City up the profile of the race, as Demings drew nation- al attention last year when Demings President Joe Biden con- sidered her as a potential running mate and TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter as she served as one of the House impeach- Columbia City Elementary students Pihu Patel (from back left) and Jasom Chase stand at a table with magnetic toys as ment managers in former President Donald Kaylee Smith, Elizabeth Waites and Madison Needham play along. Trump’s first impeachment trial. In a YouTube video announcing her candidacy, Demings traced her back- Summer program beginning of summer, close also has a music component. program Mondays-Thursdays ground from growing up as a Black child opens at Columbia to 100 students returned to “They do a PE (physical from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. The stu- in Jacksonville to becoming Orlando police Columbia City Elementary education) rotation, music dents are fed breakfast and chief to getting elected to Congress. City Elementary. School for the first day of rotation and there is a Spanish lunch during the program. “When you grow up in the South, poor, Summer STEAM (Science, class that’s here two days a There are 150 students reg- black and female, you have to have faith in By TONY BRITT Technology, Engineering, week and an arts class that’s istered to attend the Summer progress and opportunity,” Demings said [email protected] Arts and Math). here two days a week,” she STEAM program at Columbia in the video, “My father was a janitor, and Rachel Stephens, CCE assis- said. City Elementary school and my mother was a maid. She said, ‘Val, never Less than a week after the tant principal, said the stu- Summer STEAM started at 97 students attended the first grow tired of doing good. Never tire. Work 2020-21 school year conclud- dents will rotate between the Columbia City Elementary 8 day of the session. hard, not just for yourself but for others.” ed, students were back in five classes as they get hands- a.m. Wednesday and will con- “I feel like we’ll have more classes Wednesday morning. on learning in the different clude on June 30. The students BID continued on 2A Just days before the official subject areas. The program attend the Summer STEAM STEAM continued on 2A Lake City Lake City Entire Store Our products have been inspected and passed by the Florida Department of Agriculture. Products have not been evaluated with the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Products can contain a total Delta-9-THC concentration that does not exceed 0.3% on a dry-weight basis. Must be at least 18 years old or accompanied by an adult. Vol. 147, No. 59 Obituaries . 2A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER (386) 752-1293 Opinion . 4A Advice & Comics . 5A SUBSCRIBE TO 92 70 THE REPORTER: Sports . 1B Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 Chance of showers, 2A Classifieds . 3B 2A THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER STEAM QUICK HITS Continued From 1A Scripture of the Day tomorrow and Monday,” “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; Stephens said. “We have yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life students here that signed which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith up from Belmont Academy, of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Fort White Elementary and himself for me.” from our school.” — Galatians 2:20 (KJV) The program is designed for students who just completed kindergarten through fifth grade classes. Thought for Today Stephens said the pro- Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, gram is to enhance the stu- casts the shadow of our burden behind us. dents’ learning. — Samuel Smiles 1812-1904, Scottish author “Kids go through the summer slide and regress a little bit, so our goal is to prevent some of that regres- Winning Lottery Numbers sion, give students a safe Pick 3: (Tuesday p.m.) 0-8-8 place to come and some- Pick 4: (Tuesday p.m.) 8-7-4-4 where where it’s fun and TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter Fantasy 5: (Tuesday) 3-9-20-24-32 enjoyable, but yet, they’re Columbia City Elementary students Jasom Chase (from left), Johanna Angelo and still learning,” she said. Cache Sheppard play with a set of Legos Wednesday morning. See an error? The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, BID Washington, I never tire R-Texas. primary campaign next please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will in standing up for what I Demings, 64, served year against former U.S. run in this space. Thanks for reading. Continued From 1A believe is right because no as an Orlando police offi- Rep. Alan Grayson, also one is above the law, But it cer for 27 years, rising to from the Orlando area. But Submissions In the video, Demings turns out, there are some chief, and was first elected another potential candi- The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption also cited her role in in Washington who prefer to Congress in 2016. She date, U.S. Rep. Stephanie information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would impeaching Trump, say- the same old tired ways of is part of a power couple Murphy, announced last like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture ing “we brought law and doing business,” she said in Central Florida, as her month that she would not and information to Jamie Wachter: jwachter@lakecityreporter. order to a lawless presi- as the video flashed pic- husband, Jerry Demings, run after it became appar- com. dent. tures of Rubio with Trump is Orange County mayor. ent that Demings would “Unlike some in and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Demings could face a seek the seat. Lake City Reporter HOW TO REACH US ADVERTISING Main number .......(386) 752-1293 Director Chris Ratliff Fax number ............752-9400 (386) 754-0417 for schools that aren’t how long it would want it would not be until 2023 Circulation.............755-5445 ([email protected]) TAX Online ....www.lakecityreporter.com dependent on the legis- to level the half-cent sales before the district could The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate CLASSIFIED Continued From 1A lature — voter approved tax. While suggesting a begin drawing funds, and of Community Newspapers Inc., Kym Harrison is published Tuesday through (386) 755-5440 millage (used by 21 dis- term of 20 years — the noted they have not done Saturday/Sunday at 180 E. Duval ([email protected]) St., Lake City, FL 32055. Periodical accomplished a lot with a tricts for operating costs half-cent tax has brought any major planning for the postage paid at Lake City, Florida, BUSINESS OFFICE little bit of funding,” he for four years), impact fees in about $5.5 million the proposal.