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Year in Review
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| Northwest Washington Street is ravaged as a tornado rips through downtown Lake City on March 7, leaving downed power lines and rubble from shattered buildings. One woman died during the storm. JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter |
Tornado No. 1 in retrospective
By JEFF M. HARDISON
jhardison@lakecityreporter.com
Today starts 2009, which offers a chance to look toward the future while reflecting on the past 12 months.
Perhaps the most striking event from last year happened in March. Recovery in the aftermath of the big twister continues today.
n Tornado hits
A March 7 tornado cut a swath through Lake City, affecting whole blocks of the town and damaging more than 100 households. Recovery continues, including the use of almost $1.5 million from state coffers to the city in the form of an emergency set-aside Community Development Block Grant.
n Gas prices fluctuate
With no real explanation other than investor speculation on the value of oil, and the impact of supply and demand, gasoline and diesel fuel prices gave motorists a roller-coaster ride in Lake City, Columbia County, Florida, the United States and around the world in 2008.
Prices on Wednesday in Lake City averaged $1.69 per gallon, although Hurricane Ike prices edged just over $4 per gallon and brought hundreds of complaints from around Florida in September. Price-gouging allegations in Columbia County proved unfounded, but the investigation continues, as a result of possibly unjustified peak gas prices in 2008.
n Suspected serial killer visited Lake City
The prime suspect in the serial murders of hikers in Tallahassee, Georgia and North Carolina was in Lake City in January of 2008. He camped out in the Osceola National Forest, according to records.
Gary Michael Hilton was arrested Jan. 4 in Georgia in connection with the 2008 New Year’s Day disappearance and subsequent murder of a 24-year-old Buford, Ga., woman.
Hilton is also suspected in the very similar December death of a 46-year-old woman, who was beheaded, and found in the Apalachicola National Forest near Tallahassee. North Carolina police investigated Hilton’s potential involvement in the disappearance and deaths in October of an older couple who were hiking in mountains near Brevard, N.C.
n Murder at convenience store
While the alleged serial killer was captured in Georgia, no suspect has been arrested from a murder that happened in Columbia County in July of 2008.
Lake City resident Linda Raulerson, 56, appears to have bled to death from at least one gunshot wound to her upper chest during a robbery. Three customers found her body behind the counter of a convenience store near U.S. Highway 441 and Interstate 10, after the perpetrator fled in what was said to be a white, four-door, 1993-95 Buick Regal, with black trim.
n Election roundup for 2008
A number of new people took and are taking offices as a result of elections this year. In Lake City, Stephen Witt was re-elected as mayor. Melinda Moses and Jake Hill Jr. became City Council members. Mark Hunter becomes the new sheriff in Columbia County this week. Ron Williams was re-elected, and Jody DuPree and Scarlet Frisina became new members of the Columbia County Board of County Commissioners. Robert “Skip” Jarvis Jr. is the new Third Judicial Circuit State Attorney. State Rep. Debbie Boyd (D-Newberry) maintained her post after a very close election.
n Gun sales increase
While the election of President Barack Obama signaled change, some people wanted to maintain their right to bear arms. Gun sales skyrocketed after the election and are said to have done so because a Democratic Congress and a Democratic presidency were the last time gun regulations increased in America.
n Police chief and school superintendent resign
Lake City Police Chief Steven Burch resigned as the leader of the Lake City Police Department. After several months with no police chief, City Manager Scott Reynolds has started advertising to find one.
Reynolds said there were 86 applicants as of Wednesday.
Columbia School District Superintendent Grady “Sam” Markham resigned his position in mid-September ending his 48-year career in the Columbia School District. He lost the election to Mike Millikin, who took his office early as a result of the premature departure by Markham.
n Mural in March
The first of what may be a series of murals in Lake City adorned a wall in March. Twenty-two locations have been designated as potential mural sites in downtown Lake City.
In March, artist Keith Goodson completed the 86- by 23-feet mural that decorates the north wall of the building on the west side of Marion Avenue facing Hernando Street.
Either the north or the east wall of City Hall is scheduled for Goodson’s next masterpiece. The next mural is to be reflective of the 150th anniversary of Lake City, which was formerly named Alligator.
n Mosque constructed
The first mosque was built in Lake City in 2008.
It is west of Interstate-75 on U.S. Highway. Three local doctors — Waseem Khan, Mohammed Choudhury and Mohammad Faisal — are behind its construction. Choudhury said that in the past, for most prayers, he, Khan and Faisal would travel to Gainesville, but because they are busy professionals, there was a need for something local.
The new structure is too big for the current small society of Muslims, Faisal said, but as the community grows, he believes the mosque will fill as well. And not only for Muslims. The three said the mosque was constructed as a place for people to congregate and learn about their own religion and others — as well as being a place where those of other faiths can learn about Islam.
n LCCC athletics closes
Lake City Community College ended its sports programs in the spring of 2008.
Sports for the Timberwolves goes back 45 years with the start of a men’s basketball program. That sport ended in the mid-1990s, along with a just-started women’s basketball program. Women’s volleyball and men’s cross country also came and went at LCCC. The school was clinging to its storied softball program and a baseball program that had gained prominence. A women’s golf program also was on the books. Now, there are no competitive team sports at this community college.
Perhaps the most striking event from last year happened in March. Recovery in the aftermath of the big twister continues today.
n Tornado hits
A March 7 tornado cut a swath through Lake City, affecting whole blocks of the town and damaging more than 100 households. Recovery continues, including the use of almost $1.5 million from state coffers to the city in the form of an emergency set-aside Community Development Block Grant.
n Gas prices fluctuate
With no real explanation other than investor speculation on the value of oil, and the impact of supply and demand, gasoline and diesel fuel prices gave motorists a roller-coaster ride in Lake City, Columbia County, Florida, the United States and around the world in 2008.
Prices on Wednesday in Lake City averaged $1.69 per gallon, although Hurricane Ike prices edged just over $4 per gallon and brought hundreds of complaints from around Florida in September. Price-gouging allegations in Columbia County proved unfounded, but the investigation continues, as a result of possibly unjustified peak gas prices in 2008.
n Suspected serial killer visited Lake City
The prime suspect in the serial murders of hikers in Tallahassee, Georgia and North Carolina was in Lake City in January of 2008. He camped out in the Osceola National Forest, according to records.
Gary Michael Hilton was arrested Jan. 4 in Georgia in connection with the 2008 New Year’s Day disappearance and subsequent murder of a 24-year-old Buford, Ga., woman.
Hilton is also suspected in the very similar December death of a 46-year-old woman, who was beheaded, and found in the Apalachicola National Forest near Tallahassee. North Carolina police investigated Hilton’s potential involvement in the disappearance and deaths in October of an older couple who were hiking in mountains near Brevard, N.C.
n Murder at convenience store
While the alleged serial killer was captured in Georgia, no suspect has been arrested from a murder that happened in Columbia County in July of 2008.
Lake City resident Linda Raulerson, 56, appears to have bled to death from at least one gunshot wound to her upper chest during a robbery. Three customers found her body behind the counter of a convenience store near U.S. Highway 441 and Interstate 10, after the perpetrator fled in what was said to be a white, four-door, 1993-95 Buick Regal, with black trim.
n Election roundup for 2008
A number of new people took and are taking offices as a result of elections this year. In Lake City, Stephen Witt was re-elected as mayor. Melinda Moses and Jake Hill Jr. became City Council members. Mark Hunter becomes the new sheriff in Columbia County this week. Ron Williams was re-elected, and Jody DuPree and Scarlet Frisina became new members of the Columbia County Board of County Commissioners. Robert “Skip” Jarvis Jr. is the new Third Judicial Circuit State Attorney. State Rep. Debbie Boyd (D-Newberry) maintained her post after a very close election.
n Gun sales increase
While the election of President Barack Obama signaled change, some people wanted to maintain their right to bear arms. Gun sales skyrocketed after the election and are said to have done so because a Democratic Congress and a Democratic presidency were the last time gun regulations increased in America.
n Police chief and school superintendent resign
Lake City Police Chief Steven Burch resigned as the leader of the Lake City Police Department. After several months with no police chief, City Manager Scott Reynolds has started advertising to find one.
Reynolds said there were 86 applicants as of Wednesday.
Columbia School District Superintendent Grady “Sam” Markham resigned his position in mid-September ending his 48-year career in the Columbia School District. He lost the election to Mike Millikin, who took his office early as a result of the premature departure by Markham.
n Mural in March
The first of what may be a series of murals in Lake City adorned a wall in March. Twenty-two locations have been designated as potential mural sites in downtown Lake City.
In March, artist Keith Goodson completed the 86- by 23-feet mural that decorates the north wall of the building on the west side of Marion Avenue facing Hernando Street.
Either the north or the east wall of City Hall is scheduled for Goodson’s next masterpiece. The next mural is to be reflective of the 150th anniversary of Lake City, which was formerly named Alligator.
n Mosque constructed
The first mosque was built in Lake City in 2008.
It is west of Interstate-75 on U.S. Highway. Three local doctors — Waseem Khan, Mohammed Choudhury and Mohammad Faisal — are behind its construction. Choudhury said that in the past, for most prayers, he, Khan and Faisal would travel to Gainesville, but because they are busy professionals, there was a need for something local.
The new structure is too big for the current small society of Muslims, Faisal said, but as the community grows, he believes the mosque will fill as well. And not only for Muslims. The three said the mosque was constructed as a place for people to congregate and learn about their own religion and others — as well as being a place where those of other faiths can learn about Islam.
n LCCC athletics closes
Lake City Community College ended its sports programs in the spring of 2008.
Sports for the Timberwolves goes back 45 years with the start of a men’s basketball program. That sport ended in the mid-1990s, along with a just-started women’s basketball program. Women’s volleyball and men’s cross country also came and went at LCCC. The school was clinging to its storied softball program and a baseball program that had gained prominence. A women’s golf program also was on the books. Now, there are no competitive team sports at this community college.
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| Housing bust top Florida story in 2008 | Budget a priority for states in 2009 |
More Election Results wrote on Jan 1, 2009 4:05 PM: