A3 + PLUS >> Got old drugs? Get rid of them on Saturday, Story below SCHOOLS FOOTBALL Fun Run Injuries at QB at Belmont for Fort White See Page 3A See Page 1B THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM INOCULATION RATES UP A better perch for snagging perch — or bluegill or bass Vaccination exemptions down here; county’s no longer No. 1 By CARL MCKINNEY [email protected] Fewer Columbia County schoolchildren are skipping vaccinations on religious grounds, according to new data from the Florida Department of Health — but there is still a way to go before the numbers Columbia are more in line with the County has state average. historically Columbia County has ranked high — historically ranked high — first, in some cases — first, in some in several statistical cate- Photos by CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter cases — in gories related to unvacci- Ten-year-old Kaiden Cook practices his cast at Alligator Lake’s new-and-improved pier, while his dad gets their boat several statis- nated children. ready for the water Wednesday afternoon. The county temporarily closed down the wooden pier earlier this year to tical catego- One round of shots is replace a segment of it with an aluminum walkway ending in a dock near water level, which is intended to be more ries related to due in kindergarten, with convenient for on-foot anglers in addition to those in boats. unvaccinated a second round in the sev- children. enth grade. Every year, health officials release a Alligator Lake report detailing the vacci- nation rates for both grade levels. pier open after The majority of states allow for non-medical exemptions from vaccination requirements. While some accept personal preference as a refurbishment valid reason, Florida and most other states only make an exception for religious objections. By CARL MCKINNEY In the 2018-2019 school year, 3.6 percent [email protected] SHOTS continued on 2A Alligator Lake has a new aluminum fishing pier with better angles for anglers. On the south side of the lake near Columbia High School, the older wooden portion of the pier now leads into a metal walkway The pier was and floating dock with better built about access to the water, said the 25 years ago county’s parks and recreation director, Clint Pittman. and needed The pier, off Southeast Boat repairs. Ramp Glen, was originally built about 25 years ago. “Just due to age and use, it had some general construction repairs that had to be made to it,” The upgraded Alligator Lake pier reopened about a month ago. Pittman said. In addition to giving anglers more angles of attack, the new alu- minum walkway is meant to be safer. The original pier was built PIER continued on 2A about 25 years ago and needed repairs. Got old drugs? Get rid of them on Saturday Once prescription drugs are out of The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office a.m. - 1 p.m. date, they become a safety hazard to all and the Lake City Police Department are The Lake City Police Department col- the occupants of a home. participating in the DEA National pre- lection event will take place 8 a.m. - 5 To reduce potential dangers the scription drug take back event this year. p.m. Saturday in the department’s lobby, Drug Enforcement Administration The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office 225 NW Main Boulevard. TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter developed a prescription drug take- will have two collection sites — the Park According to LCPD, this collection back program 17 years ago. Last year’s and Ride, just north of I-75 on State provides an opportunity for anyone to Senior fashion show event saw 27,121 pounds of prescription Road 47 in front of the Shell station and dispose of unused prescription drugs Tom Hudson escorts Oleatha Harris at drugs collected at 185 collection sites the Cheek and Scott Pharmacy, 4785 W. anonymously. the Spring Fashion Show at the LEC in Florida. US Highway 90. Collection times are 9 — From staff reports Wednesday. See more photos, 2A. Vol. 145, No. 31 CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER Schools . 3A (386) 752-1293 Obituaries . 5A COMMUNITY CALENDAR SUBSCRIBE TO Sports . 1B THE REPORTER: 88 64 Big weekend of events ahead, 5A Voice: 755-5445 Partly cloudy Advice & Comics . 3B Fax: 752-9400 Alignment $15 off A/C $ off Brakes 10 Valid on brake services of $75 or Greater. Expires 04/30/19 With Coupon Expires 04/30/19 With Coupon US 90 West • Lake City • Across From Walmart PERFORMANCE Use 1 or All of These Money Saving Coupons, But Please Call for Appointment First: 386-752-0054 386-752-0054 CHECK .95 FREE Tire Rotation $10 off ONLY $9 w/ Oil Change Upper Induction INCLUDES 1 LB. FREON Up to 5 qts. of synthetic blend oil. Service Expires 04/30/19 With Coupon Expires 04/30/19 With Coupon OFFER VALID NOW THROUGH 04/30/19 $2499 2A THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER Spring fashion show at LEC QUICK HITS Scripture of the Day “Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.” — Psalm 54:4 (KJV) Thought for Today You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do. — Henry Ford, 1863-1947, U.S. auto builder Winning Lottery Numbers Pick 3: (Tuesday p.m.) 4-8-1 Pick 4: (Tuesday p.m.) 3-7-7-6 Fantasy 5: (Tuesday) 9-12-21-32-34 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 Photos by TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter run in this space. Thanks for reading. TOP: Tom Hudson escorts Betty Reese around the room during Submissions the spring fashion Show at The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would the Columbia County Lifestyle like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture Enrichment Center on Wednesday. and information to Robert Bridges: rbridges@lakecityreporter. LEFT: Fredrick Perry escorts Lee com. “Tiny” Clayton as she models clothes for the agency’s spring fashion show. BELOW: Models Lake City Reporter who participated in the spring HOW TO REACH US BUSINESS ........... 754-0419 fashion show at the Columbia Main number ....... (386) 752-1293 CIRCULATION County Lifestyle Enrichment Fax number ............ 752-9400 Center pose for a group photo. 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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. to Lake City Reporter, P.O. Box 1709, Lake City, FL 32056. Circulation............. 755-5445 ([email protected]) Publisher Todd Wilson ... 754-0418 ([email protected]) Home delivery rates (Tuesday–Friday and Sunday) NEWS 4 Weeks . $10.70 Editor Robert Bridges ... 754-0428 12 Weeks . $31.67 ([email protected]) 24 Weeks . .$54.14 52 Weeks . .$88.81 ADVERTISING Rates include 7% sales tax. Ad. Dir. Chris Ratliff ..... 754-0417 ([email protected]) Mail rates 12 Weeks . $41.40 CLASSIFIED 24 Weeks . .$82.80 To place a classified ad ... 755-5440 52 Weeks . .$179.40 Sarasota County topped that enough people in a popula- THE WEATHER SHOTS list by a wide margin with tion are vaccinated to keep Continued From 1A 8.1 percent. a virus at bay. Students who 25 Thu 26 Fri 27 Sat 28 Sun 29 Mon In the seventh grade, can’t be vaccinated rely on Partly Few Sunny Sunny Sunny of Columbia County’s kin- another round of mandato- herd immunity, health offi- Cloudy Showers dergarten students did ry shots are due. For the cials say. The idea is that if not get vaccinated due 2018-2019 school year, 3.6 enough children at a school to a religious exemption, percent Columbia County are vaccinated, the virus according to data compiled seventh-graders at public won’t have a host to intro- HI 88 LO 64 HI 80 LO 62 HI 81 LO 60 HI 84 LO 63 HI 85 LO 64 by the state Department of and private schools had a duce it to those who cannot Health with help from indi- religious exemption, down receive a shot for medical REGIONAL FORECAST MAP for Thursday, Apr. 25 vidual school districts. In from 5.4 percent the previ- reasons. Thursday's highs/Thursday night's low absolute terms, there were ous school year. A total of When a parent files for Valdosta City Friday Saturday 36 kindergarten students 30 seventh-graders skipped a religious exemption, 84/66 Jacksonville 80/69/sh 78/70/pc with a religious exemption shots for religious reasons, the health department is Tallahassee Lake City 88/68 Cape Canaveral 88/64 Daytona Beach 79/68/sh 77/66/pc 81/67 out of 996 kindergarteners out of 842 students enrolled required to educate them Gainesville Daytona Beach Fort Myers 85/71/sh 84/69/pc enrolled at 18 schools, both at 16 schools.