A3 + PLUS >> Gun restrictions won’t go on November ballot, Story below LOCAL WEIGHTLIFTING Scrabble tourney MacDonald takes at Club House regional title See Page 2A See Page 1B THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM County health picture darkens Columbia falls to 60th 60th among Florida’s 67 coun- and health outcome statistics Columbia County was ranked However, the county’s adult What ties in the 2018 County Health based on health behaviors, 54th. smoking rate increased to 22 in rankings, from 57th. Rankings released this week. social and economic factors, While Columbia County had percent, while last year it was do you The rankings, compiled by length and quality of life to 9,600 premature deaths per at 18 percent. The adult smok- think? By TONY BRITT the University of Wisconsin determine the rankings. 100,000 (deaths before the age ing rate had steadily dropped n Let us
[email protected] know in a and the Robert Wood Johnson Columbia County was of 75), the number remained from 25 percent in 2013. Letter to Foundation, take into account ranked 57th last year, but fell constant from the previous the Editor. Columbia County is ranked more than 30 health factors three spots this year. In 2016 year. HEALTH continued on 5A See 4A. MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR Econ ‘Senior chief has games’ keep him ‘buckled going down’ strong Showing improvement after 4 years on job, says county. Meet Your Neighbor is an occasional By CARL MCKINNEY feature meant to introduce readers to
[email protected] interesting or notable local residents who might not otherwise find them- Nearly four years into the job, the person selves in the public eye.