CHS Class of 2026 valedictorian Nathan Chiong (right) pays off his four-year-long $5 bet with Kadence Bates-Rogers during Friday’s commencement ceremony. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

CHS Class of 2026 valedictorian Nathan Chiong (right) pays off his four-year-long $5 bet with Kadence Bates-Rogers during Friday’s commencement ceremony. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia awards diplomas to 385 grads at delayed ceremony

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

A late start to the night couldn’t put a damper on several hundred Columbia High graduates’ celebrations.

Local

Columbia County Attorney Joel Foreman told the Lake City Council on Monday that the ultimate goal with an MSTU for EMS services would be to station ambulances on both the north and south sides of the county. (FILE)

Columbia County Attorney Joel Foreman told the Lake City Council on Monday that the ultimate goal with an MSTU for EMS services would be to station ambulances on both the north and south sides of the county. (FILE)

Council wants more info on new EMS tax

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Lake City and Columbia County could be teaming up to fund more Emergency Medical Services personnel...
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Around Columbia County

Joy Geiger sings the national anthem during Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony at the American Legion Harry C. Gray II Memorial Post 107 in McAlpin as the American flag waves in front of her. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Joy Geiger sings the national anthem during Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony at the American Legion Harry C. Gray II Memorial Post 107 in McAlpin as the American flag waves in front of her. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee remembers the fallen on Memorial Day

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
McALPIN — It is a day for remembrance.
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Sports

Columbia’s softball team celebrates with their cheering fans after defeating Lake Wales to win the Class 4A state title on May 23. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s softball team celebrates with their cheering fans after defeating Lake Wales to win the Class 4A state title on May 23. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

COMMENTARY: Columbia’s state title run united Lake City

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, May 29, 2026
The support for Columbia’s softball team was immense at last Saturday’s Class 4A state championship.
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CHS Class of 2026 valedictorian Nathan Chiong (right) pays off his four-year-long $5 bet with Kadence Bates-Rogers during Friday’s commencement ceremony. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

CHS Class of 2026 valedictorian Nathan Chiong (right) pays off his four-year-long $5 bet with Kadence Bates-Rogers during Friday’s commencement ceremony. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia awards diplomas to 385 grads at delayed ceremony

MORGAN MCMULLEN
A late start to the night couldn’t put a damper on several hundred Columbia High graduates’ celebrations. Friends, family and everybody in between packed both sides of Tiger Stadium on Friday night to celebrate 385 former CHS students as they walked across the stage to receive their high…
Zacariah Williams (left) was able to surprise her sister Rajaeh at Columbia High’s graduation on Friday, making a special moment for both. (COURTESY)

Zacariah Williams (left) was able to surprise her sister Rajaeh at Columbia High’s graduation on Friday, making a special moment for both. (COURTESY)

Sister’s surprise turned CHS graduation into ‘pure happiness’

JAMIE WACHTER
Graduation day was extra special for one Columbia High senior.As much as Rajaeh Williams was looking forward to Friday night’s commencement, it was going to be a bittersweet moment with her sister, Zacariah, unable to attend as she is based at Naval Base Kitsap Bremerton in Washington state as a…
Columbia County Attorney Joel Foreman told the Lake City Council on Monday that the ultimate goal with an MSTU for EMS services would be to station ambulances on both the north and south sides of the county. (FILE)

Columbia County Attorney Joel Foreman told the Lake City Council on Monday that the ultimate goal with an MSTU for EMS services would be to station ambulances on both the north and south sides of the county. (FILE)

Council wants more info on new EMS tax

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Lake City and Columbia County could be teaming up to fund more Emergency Medical Services personnel after a proposed Municipal Service Taxing Unit passed its first reading by the Lake City Council. County Manager David Kraus presented the idea during Monday’s Council meeting, setting up the…

Ward remembered for steady demeanor, business sense

TONY BRITT
Mild mannered, smart and soft spoken, but steady and contemplating, the gray-haired businessman and longtime Lake City councilor George Raeburn Ward died last week.Ward, 75, died May 27, in Jacksonville. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. on Thursday at Deermeadows Baptist Church in…

Property tax cut headed to ballot

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
TALLAHASSEE — Lawmakers on Tuesday approved a sweeping tax cut for homestead property owners pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, sending it to the November ballot.The measure increases the existing $50,000 exemption for homestead properties to $150,000 starting in 2027, and it increases to $250,000 in…

Dixie tax collector appointed to FGC board

NEWS STAFF
Dixie County’s tax collector will also now serve as a trustee at Florida Gateway College.Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Michelle Cannon a vacant seat on the FGC Board of Trustees on Friday.Cannon has been Dixie County’s tax collector since 2009. She is designated as a Certified Florida Collector…
Brody Hoffman (left), a Florida Gateway College student, helps Mitchell Maione, a coordinator for the FGC physical therapy program, as Maione uses a VR welding simulator during the college’s grand opening for its newly renovated welding technology program on Tuesday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Brody Hoffman (left), a Florida Gateway College student, helps Mitchell Maione, a coordinator for the FGC physical therapy program, as Maione uses a VR welding simulator during the college’s grand opening for its newly renovated welding technology program on Tuesday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

FGC welding program gets boost with renovated facility

TONY BRITT
More than 100 people showed their support for the Florida Gateway College welding program on Tuesday afternoon when they attended a grand opening for the college’s newly renovated welding technology facility.The brief ceremony lasted around 30 minutes and allowed program supporters to see a welding…

Hamilton teen reported missing

NEWS STAFF
JASPER — A Hamilton County teen was reported missing Monday, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.The FDLE issued a missing child alert for 16-year-old Elissa McCarthy on Monday night. McCarthy, who is 5-foot-3 and 140 pounds with red hair and blue eyes, was last seen in…
Columbia shortstop Alannah Lord (left) celebrates as coach Joe Saucier (right) hoists the Class 4A state championship trophy after the Tigers defeated Lake Wales for the title on May 23. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia shortstop Alannah Lord (left) celebrates as coach Joe Saucier (right) hoists the Class 4A state championship trophy after the Tigers defeated Lake Wales for the title on May 23. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Lord, Saucier earn top honors in Class 4A following Columbia’s state title

JORDAN KROEGER
A state title has earned Columbia shortstop Alannah Lord and coach Joe Saucier top honors in Class 4A.Lord was named the Florida Dairy Farmers’ 4A Player of the Year on Tuesday while Saucier was voted the 4A Coach of the Year following the Tigers’ state championship last month. The duo helped lead…
Columbia’s softball team celebrates with their cheering fans after defeating Lake Wales to win the Class 4A state title on May 23. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s softball team celebrates with their cheering fans after defeating Lake Wales to win the Class 4A state title on May 23. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

COMMENTARY: Columbia’s state title run united Lake City

JORDAN KROEGER
The support for Columbia’s softball team was immense at last Saturday’s Class 4A state championship.Fans lined the fences. Some spilled into Lake Wales’ side of the bleachers. The football team even had its own section, arriving on time despite its bus blowing a tire after leaving CHS at 6:30 a.m.…
Meridian Healthcare President/CEO Lauren Cohn, speaking at a Lake Shore Hospital Authority meeting last year, said the conveyance of the main Lake Shore hospital building to Meridian, which was completed Tuesday, will allow more access to mental healthcare for the community. (FILE)

Meridian Healthcare President/CEO Lauren Cohn, speaking at a Lake Shore Hospital Authority meeting last year, said the conveyance of the main Lake Shore hospital building to Meridian, which was completed Tuesday, will allow more access to mental healthcare for the community. (FILE)

Meridian takes over main hospital building

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Meridian Healthcare is ready to accept the keys to its newest acquisition. According to a release from the mental healthcare organization, the main hospital building at the Lake Shore campus was officially conveyed to Meridian on Tuesday. The conveyance marks the end to a years-long saga that…
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