A3 SATURDAY/SUNDAY, MARCH 21/22, 2020 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $2 WEEKEND EDITION Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM >> TASTE SUNDAY + PLUS 2008? BUDDIES $1.6M in Not Taking it easy raises for even in the 1D teachers close kitchen Sean of the South See 7A BIZ/1D LIFE/1D OUR OPINION COVID-19 Brannan brings common sense home the bacon 3A s with everyone else, this week has been full Restaurant dining rooms ordered closed MAYOR SAYS A of challenges for your local newspaper. Through all the national updates, we’ve delivered a strong local news Clerk quit, package to you daily. There have been many local twists and turns as we focus on how our took town community and our residents must deal with this pandemic. It is a serious medical crisis. For public health concerns, our password office lobby will take on limited hours starting Monday. We will be open only from 8 a.m. with her till noon daily for public busi- ness. You can call us any time Now Fort White’s looking during the business day: (386) to change its approach 752-1293. Any payments can be to municipal government. made online or in person via our secure dropbox at our office. By TONY BRITT [email protected] If you’re sick, CALL FIRST, then seek treatment FORT WHITE — The unexpected resignation of It may seem like a common Fort White Town Clerk cold or maybe seasonal allergies, Katye Hughes has caused but don’t risk it. Not this time. the town to change the But before you go to an urgent way it does business — care this weekend or see a doc- especially after Hughes tor on Monday, CALL that office refused to tell the mayor and discuss your symptoms with the password for the town’s a medical professional, especially computers. if you’re running any kind of Ronnie Frazier, Fort fever. The worst thing a poten- CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter White mayor, said Hughes’ tially infected person can do is departure came as a shock. walk into a healthcare unit unan- nounced and seek treatment. TOWN continued on 7A This endangers too many inno- It’s takeout or nothing, now cent people. And stay away from others until you know exactly Governor takes drastic steps to stop the spread of virus what you’re dealing with. Special hours By CARL MCKINNEY 90 corridor employees at fast prevents on-site consumption. for seniors at Check on the elderly [email protected] food chains such as Chick-fil-A DeSantis also lifted a prohi- some stores Just a reminder. They need already cordoned off their din- bition on restaurants selling Restaurant dining rooms ing area days ago, a decision package alcohol for carry-out their friends and loved ones By TONY BRITT are empty all over Florida, they said was passed down or delivery, a move he said now more than ever. They are [email protected] including Lake City, after the would help businesses retain the most vulnerable to obtaining state drastically escalated its any cold and flu virus and will DeSantis also sus- some of the revenue lost due response to the COVID-19 to the measure. As Columbia County res- have the hardest time fighting pandemic on Friday. pended non-essen- idents continue to grapple off any illness. None of us wants tial medical proce- In the order, DeSantis DeSantis on Friday after- pointed to a need for “social with disruptions due to to see them sick and struggling. noon issued an executive dures to preserve If they are watching TV news, distancing” to try to prevent COVID-19, some local gro- order banning all onsite dining resources such as the spread of the highly conta- cers have adjusted their their anxiety is most likely high. at restaurants statewide effec- face masks and pro- gious and deadly virus known shopping hours, in part to Call them. Calm their fears. tive immediately. The order tective gear. Maybe offer to run an errand or as COVID-19. accommodate the most vul- came a day after the governor “I am committed to sup- help them in any way. announced the closure of state nerable among us. porting retailers, restaurants Harveys Supermarket offices to the public, and three from corporate leadership. and their employees as they and Winn-Dixie, both owned Support local business days after a mandate capping The order, which is in effect pursue creative business by Southeastern Grocers of If you’re healthy be thankful restaurants at half capacity for the duration of Florida’s practices that safely serve con- and go spend money at a locally and shutting down all bars and state of emergency, will allow sumers during this temporary Jacksonville, are now open nightclubs. restaurants to sell food for OPINION continued on 8A Along the U.S. Highway carry-out and delivery but TAKEOUT continued on 2A HOURS continued on 7A American Made Tractors | Sales & Service % 0 FOR 48 Zero Turn MONTHS Mowers NORTHSIDE MOTORS, INC. “In God We Trust” 1974 E. DUVAL ST. | LAKE CITY, FL 32055 | PATTY REGISTER | 386-961-9100 Vol. 145, No. 262 CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER Opinion . 4A (386) 752-1293 Sports . 5A SUBSCRIBE TO Classifieds . 6-7A THE REPORTER: 87 63 Voice: 755-5445 Business . 1C Fax: 752-9400 Partly cloudy, 2A WWWWW 2A SATURDAY/SUNdaY, MARCH 21/22, 2020 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER Eateries can only do takeout now QUICK HITS well-being at risk, or will, if care related to the relief of Palm Beach and Miami- Scripture of the Day TAKEOUT delayed, not contribute to pain and management of Dade counties topped the “I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy Continued From 1A the worsening of a serious infection.” state in the numbers of or life-threatening medical The number of con- COVID-19 cases. name, O Lord; for it is good.” As of Friday morning, — Psalm 54:6 (KJV) period of social distancing condition.” firmed coronavirus cases Broward had 124 cases, and … as governor, I am Procedures that are in the state climbed to 520 while Miami-Dade had 113 responsible for meeting the non-essential include as of Friday morning --- an and Palm Beach had 34. Thought for Today dangers presented to this The executive order said state and its people by this the new restrictions would As the twig is bent the tree inclines. emergency,” part of the bring Broward and Palm — Virgil, 70BC - 19 BC, Roman poet order said. Beach in line with Miami- The restaurant mandate was just one component of Dade, which has taken sim- a far-reaching list of man- ilar steps. Winning Lottery Numbers Also Friday, the dates put in place by the Seminole Tribe of Florida Pick 3: (Thursday p.m.) 4-4-2 state on Friday. announced it was shut- Pick 4: (Thursday p.m.) 5-4-1-8 DeSantis also mandated that all healthcare provid- tering its Seminole Hard Fantasy 5: (Thursday) 5-17-19-21-35 ers in the state suspend Rock hotels and casinos in all non-essential medical Tampa and Hollywood, as well as four other casinos, See an error? procedures to preserve The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news resources such as face the tribe said in a news masks and protective gear. CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter release. items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, Furthermore, he ordered This curry beef combo had to be ordered to-go late “This decision was not please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will the closure of gyms and Friday afternoon. In addition to the ban on on-site taken lightly as Seminole run in this space. Thanks for reading. fitness centers. dining, the governor shut down all gyms and banned Gaming employs nearly 14,000 Seminole Gaming The order prohibiting non-essential medical procedures. team members in the state. Submissions non-essential medical The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption procedures states that The goal has been to pro- “some endoscopy, most increase of 130 cases from information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would “All hospitals, ambulatory tect their livelihood without cataract and lens surger- a day earlier. As of Friday like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture surgical centers, office jeopardizing public safety,” ies, non-urgent spine and morning, 10 Florida resi- and information to [email protected]. surgery centers, dental, the announcement said. orthopedic procedures, dents and one non-resident orthodontic and endodon- “We have now reached a and cosmetic procedures,” had died from the respira- point where we do not feel tic offices, and other health wo according to the order. tory virus. t the rd ou care practitioners’ offices comfortableGe taking thatt ! Lake City Reporter Allowable procedures, Earlier on Friday, in the state of Florida are risk.” according to the order, DeSantis shut down beach- DeSantis spoke with HOW TO REACH US ADVERTISING prohibited from providing Main number ....... (386) 752-1293 Director Chris Ratliff “include, but may not be es, theaters, gyms, bowling Fax number ............ 752-9400 any medically unnecessary, tribal leaders on Thursday (386) 754-0417 limited to, removal of a can- alleys and other venues and said he expressed Circulation............. 755-5445 ([email protected]) non-urgent or non-emer- Online .... www.lakecityreporter.com cerous tumors, transplants, that attract large numbers concern about “the health gency procedure or sur- The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate CLASSIFIED limb-threatening vascular of people in Broward and of Community Newspapers Inc., Kym Harrison gery which, if delayed, issues” associated with the surgeries, trauma-related Palm Beach counties.