'Twerk Fest' Spurs Scrutiny of County Policies
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A3 + PLUS >> Miracle workers, Opinion/4A LOCAL NEWS SPORTS FGC grads Cross-country celebrate All-Decade Team See Below S ee Page 8A TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM STATE BUDGET LULU FGC CRUSHING BLOW ‘Twerk scores fest’ spurs STEM scrutiny funds of county Legislature comes through with cash despite obstacles. policies By CARL MCKINNEY Party at community [email protected] center ran till 2 a.m. The state has come through with funding for By CARL MCKINNEY a new STEM building at [email protected] Florida Gateway College, A Saturday night party a pitch that faced an uphill at Lulu Community Center battle in Tallahassee due annoyed neighbors, broke sev- to economic woes and an eral rules for using the venue atmosphere of skepticism and trashed the property, toward college construc- according to tion projects in general. the manage- Gov. Ron DeSantis ment. signed a $92.2 billion state Alarm bells budget on Monday, which were raised includes $6.1 million for last week, the combined science, when the non- technology, engineering profit that runs and math building at FGC. COURTESY Witt the community With that money from Columbia County Fire Rescue workers assess damage to a home west of Columbia City on County center caught the state, the college has Road 240 Saturday during a thunderstorm. An oak tree fell onto the house during the storm and first wind of flyers for an event $10 million in hand out of responders at the scene helped relocate the family’s belongings due to the opening in the roof. No advertised as “NBA Twerk the $16 million needed to injuries were reported. Fest II.” It was clear there realize the long-planned would be problems with noise, project. alcohol consumption and drug The college has plans use, said Ken Cox, president to secure the rest of the Saturday storms do damage of the Lulu management orga- money through fundraising nization, but nothing could be or financing. By TONY BRITT Management director. City near County Road 240. legally done to stop the party “We are excited that [email protected] Morgan said no reports about “There were trees down and from happening. this project is coming to damage were sent to the Columbia power lines down along with the “They had reassured us that fruition,” FGC President A Saturday afternoon thun- County Emergency Management potential damage to the homes,” it was going to be nothing like Lawrence Barrett said in a derstorm felled trees and dam- Center regarding the storm and he said. “I saw internet reports that,” Cox said. “They had statement. “Since I arrived aged some eastern and central no injuries were reported. of power outages, but I don’t given us their word.” at FGC almost 6 years ago, Columbia County homess. Morgan said based on social know how many power outages The event ran from 10:30 a new STEM building has ““Strong thunderstorms media posts he saw, the damage there were in the county at that p.m. to 2 a.m. There was a been a priority for this $10 cover charge, violating a campus. Our students and moved through the area appeared to be at a few homes time.” that caused some downed near State Road 47, on the east Morgan advised people who prohibition on admission fees faculty deserve to learn in and for-profit events at the trees,” said Shayne Morgan, side of Lake City in the Pounds- were impacted by the storm to a state of the art building community center, which is with the latest classroom Columbia County Emergency Hammock area, and in Columbia report damage to the agency. county property despite being tools.” managed by an independent The old facility, built in nonprofit. 1965, suffered from issues NEW GRADS Alcohol is banned on site, with air quality. Classes and anybody renting the were moved out of the Florida Gateway College property is told that illegal aging building in spring Class of Spring 2020 drugs are not to be used 2018, prior to demolition. graduates celebrate in there, Cox said. The Twerk The college already has the Levy Performing Arts Fest organizers promised architectural plans drawn Center during the school’s compliance. for the new building. 1 p.m. commencement “At that point, if they’re say- Given the current cli- exercise Monday. The ing they’re not gonna break mate in Tallahassee, FGC school held ceremonies the rules, then you have to rent administrators have previ- to them,” Cox said. “Legally, ously expressed fears that with 10 students and up to five of their family we couldn’t deny them.” the project would not be The community center was approved for funding. members only. Ten of in shambles on Sunday morn- The Legislature has the ceremonies were ing, Cox said. A family had been wary of college Monday. Additional com- booked the venue for a 2 year construction projects in mencement services are old’s birthday party at noon the aftermath of a 2019 scheduled for today and that day. controversy involving the Tuesday, July 7. STEM continued on 2A TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter TWERK continued on 3A COLUMBIA COUNTY CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS WEEK The Charter Review Commission will conduct its second set of Proposed Amendments Public Hearings on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at 6 o’clock P.M. at the School Board Administrative Complex auditorium located 1. Removing appeals for Department Heads at 372 West Duval Street in Lake City. Members of the public 2. Requiring a review of the County Manager are encouraged to attend and be heard on whether the following 3. Requiring an Ethics Code items should be placed on the ballot this November as possible amendments to the County’s Home Rule Charter. 4. Rolling over Year-end Funds Learn more about these proposals, your Charter, and the Review Process: www.columbiacountyfla.com/charter Vol. 145, No. 338 Obituaries . 3A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER (386) 752-1293 Opinion . 4A SUBSCRIBE TO Advice & Comics . 5A THE REPORTER: 95 75 Classified . 6A Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 Scattered storms, 2A Sports . 8A 2A TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER BREAKING NEWS... 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