A4 + PLUS >> Econ hurdle one step closer, Story below LOCAL VOLLEYBALL New Sunday comics Faulkner named for the Reporter player of the year Story below See Page 1B WEEKEND EDITION FRIDAY & SATURDAY, JANUARY 4 & 5, 2018 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM 7 dead in I-75 crash Friday Dinner and dancing Dances are held each Friday night from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Lifestyle Enrichment Center, 628 SE Allison Court (behind Baya Pharmacy). $7 admission. Bring a dish or dessert to share. All pro- ceeds benefit the center. Call 386-755-0235 for more infor- mation. Saturday Iche Nippy Dip Day Be an Iche Nippy Dipper and start your New Year with a dip in the head spring. First dip is at 10 a.m. There will be a campfire and hot chocolate, and Branford High School Culinary Department will be mak- ing chili with donations to benefit Relay for Life. Other donations will bene- fit Friends of Ichetucknee AP PHOTO Springs State Park. The Flames engulf vehicles after a fiery crash along Interstate 75 on Thursday about a mile south of Alachua. Officials say at least seven dipping location is at the people died in the crash and diesel fuel spill sparked a massive fire along the roadway. All lanes both directions were closed for hours. park’s north entrance: 8294 Elim Church Road in Fort White. Regular park entry fees apply. Massive wreck closes road for hours SongFarmers Two semis, two passenger Two tractor-trailer rigs and two to search for injured people who portion of the interstate to be The January Gathering passenger vehicles, a passenger may have been in the woods near- closed in both directions, causing of the SongFarmers of the vehicles involved in crash van and a midsize sedan, were by. Alachua County Sheriff’s offi- massive delays Thursday evening. Suwannee River Valley of a mile south of Alachua. involved in the wreck about a mile cials described the wreck scene as The Alachua County Sheriff’s Florida will be Saturday, south of Alachua around 3:42 p.m., “extensive.” office tweeted that the crash From staff and wire reports 7 to 9 p.m., at St. James according to the Florida Highway Eight others were taken to the was in the northbound lanes but Episcopal Church, 2423 SW Seven people died after a crash Patrol. The fire was ignited after hospital, some with critical inju- that the southbound lanes were Bascom Norris Drive, Lake and diesel fuel spill sparked a mas- about 50 gallons of diesel spilled ries. closed to keep a route open for City. Acoustic jam style for- sive fire on Interstate 75 Thursday onto the highway, authorities said. Authorities extinguished the mat, all styles and genres. afternoon, highway officials said. A helicopter landed at the scene fire, but the aftermath caused a CRASH continued on 2A Musicians, friends and fam- ilies welcome. All ages and skill levels. No charge. For additional information, con- tact Skip Johns at 386-344- Econ hurdle one step closer 2906 or visit the Suwannee Valley SongFarmers County accepts $10M plant that will serve the North MORE INSIDE Facebook page at https:// grant for waste plant. Florida Mega Industrial Park n A very big deal, 4A. www.facebook.com/song- and the surrounding area went farmersofthesuwanneeriv- By CARL MCKINNEY before the Columbia County Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. ervalley/ [email protected] Commission, which voted to The news came as the county approve the deal. was preparing to build a rail spur Art class The county on Thursday came The project represents a collab- at the industrial park. The Gateway Art Gallery CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter another step closer to clearing orative effort between Columbia Expanding sewer service is at is hosting an advanced wood Dan Hartley, executive district what officials say has been a County and the city, which will the top of the checklist for eco- carving class with Charles secretary for state Rep. Chuck major hurdle for economic own and operate the plant. nomic growth, county officials Kime from 9 a.m. to noon. Brannan, introduces him- growth east of Lake City. Late last year, Gov. Rick Scott’s have said. Cost is $30. Gateway is locat- self to the Columbia County A $10.2 million state grant for office announced the project was ed at 168 N Marion Street in Commission Thursday night. the construction of a wastewater approved for funding from the HURDLE continued on 2A Lake City. Call 386-752-5229 to reserve your spot. Sunday New Sunday comics for the Reporter Bingo at Amer. Legion Bingo games are offered national syndicators. Starting diverse focus group look at every Sunday, Monday and ‘Pears Before Swine’ this week, the color comics what we were offering, give Thursday at 6:45 p.m. at the will lead the lineup. section in the Sunday news- us solid feedback on likes American Legion Post 57, paper has been redesigned, and dislikes and our Sunday including the addition of sev- comics will reflect these rec- 2602 SW Main Blvd. There By CARL MCKINNEY eral new strips. ommendations. [email protected] are three $250 jackpots each “We had the opportunity “There are several new night. Quarter games are New year, better comics, to upgrade our Sunday color strips mixed with some classic played at 3 p.m. Mondays, bigger laughs. comics offering, so we studied comics that we kept, and the Thursdays and Sundays. The Lake City Reporter is the market carefully,” said new ones represent tasteful, STAFF Refreshments available. For revamping the Sunday fun- Lake City Reporter Publisher “Pearls Before Swine” is one of the most more, call 752-7776. nies with hits from three top Todd Wilson. “We had a COMICS continued on 2A popular new strips on the market. Vol. 144, No. 200 CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER Obituaries . 3A (386) 752-1293 Opinion . 4A Faith & Values . 5-6A FAITH AND VALUES SUBSCRIBE TO Did God make Donald Trump president? 5A THE REPORTER: 72 47 TV guide . 2B Voice: 755-5445 Chance of storms, 2A Fax: 752-9400 Advice & Comics . 3-4B 2A FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 2019 NEWS LAKE CITY REPORTER CRASH Continued From 1A QUICK HITS first responders, saying it “required all hands on Scripture of the Day deck” and warning “the “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with closure is going to be good.” lengthy.” — Romans 12:21 (KJV) The Florida Highway Patrol said a large amount of personal property, burnt Thought for Today vehicles and vehicle parts lay scattered across the I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my highway. own way in the end. — Margaret Thatcher, Authorities said they are 1925-2013, British prime minister (1979-1990) treating it as a pending homicide investigation. FDOT In the aftermath of the This photo from a Florida Department of Transportation surveillance camera shows Winning Lottery Numbers wreck, traffic backed traffic backed up on I-75 south at 6:48 p.m. Northbound lanes reopened at 8 p.m. Pick 3: (Wednesday p.m.) 5-9-6 up on I-75, U.S. 441 in Pick 4: (Wednesday p.m.) 7-3-1-4 Alachua and major roads much less severe than in saw greater congestion 47, Google traffic satellites Fantasy 5: (Wednesday) 3-20-23-34-36 in Gainesville. Though Alachua County, Lake City than usual on State Road showed. See an error? ty economic development industrial park has the The $10.2 million will The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news HURDLE summit last April. potential for growth, officials cover roughly the total cost items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, Continued From 1A With the grant funding have said, but development of designing and building please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will secured, officials such as has been stagnant because the facility, according to a run in this space. Thanks for reading. The topic has come up County Commissioner Ron of the sewage capacity on 2018 email from County time and time again at meet- Williams have said compa- that side of town. Manager Ben Scott. Submissions ings of the City Council, nies looking to move to the The wastewater plant Also at the meeting, the The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption County Commission and industrial park won’t just will also serve Lake City board met Dan Hartley, information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you the county’s Economic have to take the county at Gateway Airport and executive district secre- would like to see your organization in the newspaper, send Development Advisory its word that sewer service Florida Gateway College, tary for state Rep. Chuck the picture and information to Robert Bridges at rbridges@ Board, and was the predom- is coming. Gov. Scott’s office wrote in Brannan, newly elected in lakecityreporter.com. inant theme at a multi-par- The area around the a media statement last year. November. Lake City Reporter HOW TO REACH US BUSINESS.............. 754-0419 Main number ........ (386) 752-1293 Fax number .............. 752-9400 CIRCULATION Circulation ............... 755-5445 Home delivery of the Lake City Reporter Online ... www.lakecityreporter.com should be completed by 6:30 a.m. The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate Tuesday through Friday, and by 7:30 of Community Newspapers Inc., is a.m. on Sunday. published Tuesday through Friday and Please call 386-755-5445 to report any Sunday at 180 E. Duval St., Lake City, problems with your delivery service. FL 32055. Periodical postage paid at Lake City, FL, Member Audit Bureau of In Columbia County, customers should Circulation and The Associated Press.