A4 + PLUS >> FDA plans to OK second covid vaccine, 3A GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING COLLEGE FOOTBALL SHS Power of Christmas Bama heavily favored vs. smaller but competitive UF in SEC title game See Page 12A See Page 12A FRIDAY EDITION FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM BOCC nixes ‘Feed My Lambs’ exception for RV park Reverses Board Columbia County Board of Adjustment, which of Adjustment approved the RV camp- initial decision. ground concept near SW Bussey Glen Road off of U.S. Highway 27 in By TONY BRITT between Fort White and [email protected] High Springs. Sometimes neighbors In September a group just don’t see things the of about 19 citizens, led by same way. Bethany Fewell, appealed the An attempt to construct Board of Adjustment’s deci- an RV campground in south- sion which granted Elizabeth ern Columbia County was and Jessie Hubbart the spe- unanimously struck down cial exception to build the RV by county officials Thursday campground. night following a 2 1/2-hour The Hubbarts were hearing, with commissioners proposing to build a RV indicating they didn’t think campground with 15 RV the property was compatible spaces — without concrete for an RV park. and three septic tanks on a 12.75-acre tract of land. TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter During a quasi-judicial Cash Meek (from left), Ashley Meek, Emma Hardy and Emberly Meek add sandwiches, oranges, candy hearing, county commis- Thursday night commis- sioners walked back the canes and water to lunch bags that were given to the public Thursday afternoon on Lake Jeffery Road near Youngs Park. The group gave out the food through the Mount Carmel Baptist Church ‘Feed My Lambs’ pro- August decision by the COUNTY continued on 2A gram. The group from Mount Carmel Baptist Church gave out approximately 90 meals during the program from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EPA grants Florida permitting authority Pathways students receive early gifts News Service of Florida Environmental Protection Push from Uniqu3 Secretary Noah Valenstein Ryderz led to bikes, TALLAHASSEE — In said in a statement released jackets and more. a relatively rare move, by the EPA. “We are pleased the U.S. Department of By TONY BRITT that Environmental Protection [email protected] on Thursday announced with the approval of a plan to hand assump- tion, Just one day before the over federal permitting Florida sci- start of Christmas break, authority to Florida for proj- entists and Pathways Academy students ects that affect wetlands. permitters received early — and unex- Supporters praised the will now be pected — Christmas gifts. move as helping reduce Valenstein account- duplicative state and fed- The Uniqu3 Ryderz, a able for state and fed- eral permitting and giving Lake City motorcycle rider eral wetlands permits. Florida more control over group, spear-headed the DEP (Department of such decisions. Florida is gift-giving effort which ini- Environmental Protection) only the third state, joining tially centered around pro- TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter staff know the state’s LaKasia Portee-Jones (from left), Terrence Jones, Chantal Re’Nee, Shalea Michigan and New Jersey, resources best and have viding jackets for students, that have received the the expertise to ensure but quickly expanded to Jernigan, Carol Tunsil, Jodi Watson, Tara Williams, Makeba Murphy, Neha Dabhi, authority, according to the their protection.” other items and donations. Sarah Wheeler, James Jordan and CCSO Chief Deputy Joe Lucas stand behind EPA. But Florida Agriculture Makeba Murphy, items that were recently donated to Pathways Academy students. The students “Our waters and wet- Commissioner Nikki Fried, Pathways Academy princi- were able to take the donated items home Thursday. lands are critical to our the only statewide elected pal, said she and Lakashia economy and way of life Democrat, and some envi- Jones, a Uniqu3 Ryderz the two women noted that typically kept a supply of them for the students. in Florida. As such, it is ronmental groups criticized member, discussed the several students were coats and jackets in the “Many times we had to important for the state the decision, saying it will need for jackets for some coming to school without school nurse’s office where distribute them out to our to be in charge and take reduce protections for wet- the lead in their protec- of the school’s students. during the colder weather. faculty members would tion,” state Department of EPA continued on 2A The discussion began after Murphy said the school occasionally purchase GIFTS continued on 2A 1130 WEST US 90 GW HUNTER GW386-752-5890 HUNTER Even our regular includes a premium. VISIT YOUR LOCAL CHEVRON STATION Vol. 146, No. 194 TODAY’S WEATHER Opinion . 4A CALL US: Faith & Values . 5A (386) 752-1293 Advice & Comics . 6A-7A SUBSCRIBE TO 56 37 Classifieds . 8A-9A THE REPORTER: Voice: 755-5445 Sunny, 2A Obituaries . 10A Fax: 752-9400 Sports . 14A 2A FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER Elks will host annual Christmas Eve toy party QUICK HITS Scripture of the Day Staff report 24, at the Lodge in down- The Lake City Elks Lodge Lake City’s history. town Lake City. Children has provided a toy party It is sponsored solely “But while he thought on these things, behold, the The Lake City Elks and their adult parent or event for children in the by the Elks Lodge and angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, Lodge will host its annu- guardian should line up at Lake City community for through community dona- saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take al Christmas toy party the lakefront entrance to more than 80 years, accord- tions from businesses, unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived for Lake City families on the lodge. Safe social dis- ing to reports. civic organizations and in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth Christmas Eve. tancing protocols will be The event is the longest individuals — both Lodge a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he The event will begin at 5 in place this year for the consecutively running members and people in shall save his people from their sins.” p.m., Thursday, December event. community toy drive in the community. — Matthew 1:20-21 (KJV) Thought for Today ing to the law. COUNTY In addition, the Hubbarts’ attorney EPA Forgive many things in others; nothing in yourself. Continued From 1A read a list of 15 special conditions they Continued From 1A — ausonius, 310-395, Roman poet would be agreeable to if the other sioners heard testimony from several residents agreed to allow the RV camp- lands. They also pointed to residents who live on or near U.S. 27 ground, offering increased signage and the announcement’s timing near Bussey Glen Road that were fight- lighting for safety purposes, extended as Republican President Winning Lottery Numbers ing against the addition of RV park in quiet hours, fencing and restrictions on Donald Trump is slated to their neighborhood. checkout time. leave office next month. Pick 3: (Wednesday p.m.) 6-4-8 The residents’ attorney said the res- However, following the closing state- “This is a parting gift Pick 4: (Wednesday p.m.) 6-3-3-3 idents mostly felt that an RV park was ments from both attorneys, each com- to developers from the Fantasy 5: (Wednesday) 1-8-20-27-35 incompatible for the area because of mission gave his take on the proposal outgoing administration safety and environmental concerns. and gave examples of why they did not in Washington in coor- See an error? Most residents said bringing an RV think the RV campground was a com- dination with the sitting The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news campground to the area would poten- patible land use for the property based administration in Florida,” items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, tially cause an increase in crime rates on the county’s land use regulations. Tania Galloni, managing please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will and potentially cause more traffic acci- Rocky Ford, Commission chairman, attorney for Florida for the run in this space. Thanks for reading. dents on the U.S. 27. Several also noted who is the commissioner of the district environmental law group that the area has many sinkholes and where the site was proposed told the Earthjustice. “The fact is that some spots offer nearly direct access to Hubbarts that he liked the special condi- Florida’s proposed program Submissions the aquifer in at least two spots. tions that they set for the property, but was to take over wetlands per- The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption The Hubbarts’ said the campground concerned about the amount of set back mitting doesn’t comply with information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would be for older and veteran RV from the neighbors and their property. federal environmental laws. would like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture and information to Jamie Wachter at jwachter@ campers and people camping at the site He and the other commissioners said It’s about destroying wet- lakecityreporter.com. would have to stay a minimum of three more effort could have been made by lands faster and cheaper at days and noted the campground would the Hubbarts to take the neighbors into a time when we need more have a camp host to make sure all rules consideration, before officials denied the protection, not less.