A3 + PLUS >> State champ recognized, Opinion/4A WCWS SCHOOLS Gators take on Epiphany to mark Oklahoma State 60th anniversary See Page 1B See Page 6A THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM LEGISLATURE CITY COUNCIL Hurricane A Chili’s forecast Search supplies is on for tax-free starting asst city Friday chief Generators, batteries, Post will be vacant flashlights and more. with retirement of Grayson Cason Fri. News Service of Florida By CARL MCKINNEY A little nudging for storm [email protected] prep shouldn’t be neces- sary after Matthew battered As Lake City’s sec- Florida’s east coast in 2016, ond-in-command prepares Irma essentially drenched for his last day Friday, the the entire state in 2017, and hunt is on for a replacement Michael ground up a chunk assistant of the Panhandle last year. city manag- Still, er. Floridians Assistant will have City seven days Manager to build Grayson a hurri- Cason is Helfenberger cane-sea- retiring, a Miller son decision he confirmed about stockpile two months ago, said City --- including batteries, flash- Photos by CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter Manager Joe Helfenberger. lights and radios free of Tony Neese, who is overseeing the project to build a new Chili’s location on West U.S. Highway 90, “There are big shoes to sales taxes, beginning looks over construction plans Wednesday afternoon. BELOW: Exterior view of the new location. fill,” Helfenberger said. Friday. The city started accept- “You’ll have the oppor- ing applications in mid-May. tunity to get pretty much As of last week, there were whatever you need. It is very New eatery set to open in July more than 50 contenders, important to do so,” said Helfenberger said. James Miller, the Florida “At least half were Retail Federation’s external Final phase of from out of the area,” affairs director. “Make sure construction will Helfenberger said. you have your disaster pre- start next week. Helfenberger has the sole paredness and emergency discretion to hire Cason’s kits ready to go, because we By CARL MCKINNEY replacement. That’s dif- ultimately will have a storm [email protected] ferent than the process at some point.” A chilly summer prob- Helfenberger had to go The discount is part of ably isn’t in the cards for through to get the city man- a tax-relief package (HB Lake City, but a Chili’s ager post last year, which 7123) that lawmakers and summer might be. required a vote from the Gov. Ron DeSantis approved A new Chili’s location in City Council. earlier this month. Lake City could be open “I pick them out directly,” The week-long sales tax before the summer is over. Helfenberger said. “It’s a holiday is expected to save The parent compa- person that I’d be working shoppers $800,000, near- ny of Chili’s, Brinker with all the time.” International, is setting HOLIDAY continued on 2A CHILI’S continued on 2A CITY continued on 2A Robert Mueller’s brief remarks get wall-to-wall TV coverage By MAE ANDERSON counsel’s first public comments in two proceedings, with elections looming MSNBC offered extensive analysis. AP Business Writer years warranted wall-to-wall coverage. in 2020. Online, The New York Times led Many journalists focused The comments were covered with with the fact that Mueller “declines NEW YORK — Robert Mueller Wednesday on whether Mueller’s fanfare. ABC, CBS and NBC broke to clear Trump,” while the conser- spoke for only 10 minutes, and his remarks on his investigation into into regular programming to cover vative news outlet Breitbart said the statements yielded no new informa- interference in the 2016 presidential the appearance live, and Fox offered statement “pours gas on impeachment tion on the Russia probe. But for much election increased the chances that a feed to local affiliates. Cable news of the American media, the special Congress will pursue impeachment outlets including CNN, Fox News and MUELLER continued on 3A Mueller Vol. 145, No. 55 CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER (386) 752-1293 Obituaries . 3A Calendar . 5A COMMUNITY CALENDAR SUBSCRIBE TO Sports . 1B Big weekend of events ahead, 5A THE REPORTER: 96 70 Voice: 755-5445 Advice & Comics . 3B Fax: 752-9400 Sunny Introducing A B O V E S E L F A unique checking account created for, and offered exclusively to, honored law enforcement officers, fire and emergency rescue personnel, active military and respected veterans. NW Hillsboro St. | SW State Road 47 | NW Commons Loop (866) 691-5646 | www.ColumbiaBankFlorida.com 2A THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER QUICK HITS Scripture of the Day “For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.” — Psalm 71:5 (KJV) Thought for Today You can’t blame gravity for falling in love. — Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, U.S. physicist Winning Lottery Numbers Pick 3: (Tuesday p.m.) 3-0-5 Pick 4: (Tuesday p.m.) 8-2-6-6 Fantasy 5: (Tuesday) 1-8-26-33-34 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 CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter run in this space. Thanks for reading. A crew works to prepare the kitchen for business. The kitchen area is mostly done, and the equipment is set to arrive early next week. Submissions Development, gave a tour “They’re doing a lot of have been two years since The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption CHILI’S of the site Wednesday inside work right now,” Applebee’s closed its doors information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would afternoon. said the city’s growth man- at the same site. like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture Continued From 1A The dining area’s bones agement director, David In July 2017, Applebee’s and information to Robert Bridges: rbridges@lakecityreporter. were still visible, with bare Young. “They’re really confirmed it was leaving com. up shop at 2893 W. U.S. walls and a concrete floor. going gangbusters.” Lake City amid a nation- Highway 90, the former The kitchen is nearly “Just about gutted the wide wave of closures. home of Applebee’s. City finished, Neese said. The whole interior,” Young said. In February 2018, BW officials confirmed the Lake City Reporter kitchen equipment is set to The building is more Atlantic 90 LLC purchased HOW TO REACH US BUSINESS plans in January, and now arrive early next week, he than 5,000 square feet, the property in February ........... 754-0419 the project is expected to Main number ....... (386) 752-1293 said. according to city officials. of last year for $1.5 mil- Fax number ............ 752-9400 CIRCULATION wrap up in time for a late Around the same time, In January, the Lake City lion, according to records Circulation............. 755-5445 Home delivery of the Lake City Reporter July opening, said con- crews will start working Reporter acquired state from the Columbia County Online .... www.lakecityreporter.com should be completed by 6:30 a.m. struction supervisor Tony on the final phase of the records indicating there Property Appraiser’s The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate Tuesday through Friday, and by 7:30 of Community Newspapers Inc., is a.m. on Sunday. Neese. exterior. was a pending restaurant Office. “That’s what we’re shoot- published Tuesday through Friday and Please call 386-755-5445 to report any The city’s growth man- license for a Chili’s in Lake City zoning officials Sunday at 180 E. Duval St., Lake City, problems with your delivery service. ing for,” Neese said. agement department City. have previously indicated FL 32055. Periodical postage paid at Neese, with Stansell Lake City, FL, Member Audit Bureau of In Columbia County, customers should issued a permit for Chili’s If the new Chili’s opens Brinker intends to pur- Circulation and The Associated Press. call before 10:30 a.m. to report a Properties and in late March. in July as hoped, it will chase the property. All material herein is property of the service error for same day re-delivery. Lake City Reporter. Reproduction in After 10:30 a.m., next day re-delivery whole or in part is forbidden without or service related credits will be issued. the permission of the publisher. In all other counties where home delivery U.S. Postal Service No. 310-880. is available, next day re-delivery or POSTMASTER: Send address changes service related credits will be issued. The discounted sup- “While living in and vis- ible waterproof sheeting, to Lake City Reporter, P.O. Box 1709, HOLIDAY plies are just part of what iting Florida offers many $50 or less; Lake City, FL 32056. Circulation............. 755-5445 ([email protected]) Continued From 1A Floridians need to be pre- benefits and advantages, it --- tie-down kits, $50 or Publisher Todd Wilson ... 754-0418 pared for any disaster, said is important to keep the less; ([email protected]) Home delivery rates (Tuesday–Friday and Sunday) ly one-tenth of the total Mark Wool, meteorologist potential for severe weath- --- portable generators, NEWS 4 Weeks . $10.70 tax-package savings project- with the National Weather er hazards and threats in $750 or less. Editor Robert Bridges ... 754-0428 12 Weeks . $31.67 ([email protected]) 24 Weeks . .$54.14 ed for the fiscal year begin- Service in Tallahassee. mind,” Zingale said. The rental or repair of 52 Weeks .