The conceptual plan for the proposed BJ’s Wholesale Club on U.S. Highway 90 next to Publix shows where there would be entrances to the store, which would include a tire center and liquor store, from both U.S. 90 and from Hackney Terrace. The site also would have a pair of out parcels for other retail sales. (COURTESY)

The conceptual plan for the proposed BJ’s Wholesale Club on U.S. Highway 90 next to Publix shows where there would be entrances to the store, which would include a tire center and liquor store, from both U.S. 90 and from Hackney Terrace. The site also would have a pair of out parcels for other retail sales. (COURTESY)

BJ’s eyes Lake City

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

A warehouse club store is looking for a home in Lake City.BJ’s Wholesale Club is planned for a vacant parcel along U.S. Highway 90 near Publix and the Lake City Commons shopping plaza.CP Lake City LLC is seeking a future land use change on a portion of its property at the U.S.

Local

Fireworks explode above Lake City during last year’s Independence Day celebration at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. In addition to fireworks, this year’s 250th celebration will include a laser show and hot air balloons. (FILE)

Fireworks explode above Lake City during last year’s Independence Day celebration at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. In addition to fireworks, this year’s 250th celebration will include a laser show and hot air balloons. (FILE)

Hot air balloons, laser show part of 250th celebration

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Local organizers are in the final phases of preparation for the local United States 250th...
Lake City firefighters battle a blaze in a duplex on SE Brown Street on Wednesday. Nobody was injured in the fire although a dog perished. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Lake City firefighters battle a blaze in a duplex on SE Brown Street on Wednesday. Nobody was injured in the fire although a dog perished. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

City, county crews extinguish duplex fire

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
A duplex fire Wednesday morning remains under investigation after crews extinguished the blaze.
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Around Columbia County

Suwannee County School Board member Ronald White, who represents District 5 and is seeking re-election, said he opposes the half-cent sales tax because of a lack of information from district officials. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County School Board member Ronald White, who represents District 5 and is seeking re-election, said he opposes the half-cent sales tax because of a lack of information from district officials. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee school board candidates disagree on sales tax push

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Does the Suwannee County School District need a half-cent sales tax?
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Sports

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The conceptual plan for the proposed BJ’s Wholesale Club on U.S. Highway 90 next to Publix shows where there would be entrances to the store, which would include a tire center and liquor store, from both U.S. 90 and from Hackney Terrace. The site also would have a pair of out parcels for other retail sales. (COURTESY)

The conceptual plan for the proposed BJ’s Wholesale Club on U.S. Highway 90 next to Publix shows where there would be entrances to the store, which would include a tire center and liquor store, from both U.S. 90 and from Hackney Terrace. The site also would have a pair of out parcels for other retail sales. (COURTESY)

BJ’s eyes Lake City

NEWS STAFF
A warehouse club store is looking for a home in Lake City.BJ’s Wholesale Club is planned for a vacant parcel along U.S. Highway 90 near Publix and the Lake City Commons shopping plaza.CP Lake City LLC is seeking a future land use change on a portion of its property at the U.S. 90 and NW Hackney…
Suwannee catcher Jace Moran is the LCR’s Baseball Player of the Year. (COURTESY)

Suwannee catcher Jace Moran is the LCR’s Baseball Player of the Year. (COURTESY)

SPRING ALL-AREA: Suwannee catcher Jace Moran named LCR's Baseball Player of the Year

JAMIE WACHTER
LIVE OAK — The brutal schedule — the eighth toughest in the state — was compiled for a reason.Knowing that South Walton and its pair of aces in Coleman Borthwick and Denton Lord was waiting in the Region 1-3A playoffs, Suwannee coach Billy Moran wanted to test the Bulldogs early and often in…
Fireworks explode above Lake City during last year’s Independence Day celebration at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. In addition to fireworks, this year’s 250th celebration will include a laser show and hot air balloons. (FILE)

Fireworks explode above Lake City during last year’s Independence Day celebration at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. In addition to fireworks, this year’s 250th celebration will include a laser show and hot air balloons. (FILE)

Hot air balloons, laser show part of 250th celebration

TONY BRITT
Local organizers are in the final phases of preparation for the local United States 250th anniversary celebration.With everything from hot air balloons, a laser show, antique cars, old fashioned games and hot dog and watermelon eating contests, the historic celebration is aimed at providing…

Hall identified as Tuesday shooting victim

NEWS STAFF
The man shot and killed Tuesday outside a Lake City apartment complex was identified Wednesday as a Lake City man.The Lake City Police Department said Wednesday that 24-year-old Jayveon Montroll Hall was the victim of the fatal shooting late Tuesday morning. Hall’s next of kin has been notified,…
Lake City firefighters battle a blaze in a duplex on SE Brown Street on Wednesday. Nobody was injured in the fire although a dog perished. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Lake City firefighters battle a blaze in a duplex on SE Brown Street on Wednesday. Nobody was injured in the fire although a dog perished. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

City, county crews extinguish duplex fire

NEWS STAFF
A duplex fire Wednesday morning remains under investigation after crews extinguished the blaze.According to the Lake City Fire Department, LCFD units, along with an automatic aid response from Columbia County Fire Rescue, responded to a structure fire on SE Brown Street around 10:35 a.m. Wednesday.…
Suwannee County School Board member Ronald White, who represents District 5 and is seeking re-election, said he opposes the half-cent sales tax because of a lack of information from district officials. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County School Board member Ronald White, who represents District 5 and is seeking re-election, said he opposes the half-cent sales tax because of a lack of information from district officials. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee school board candidates disagree on sales tax push

JAMIE WACHTER
Does the Suwannee County School District need a half-cent sales tax? It matters on which candidate for the Suwannee County School Board you ask.During the Suwannee County Voters League Meet the Candidates forum at the Suwannee County Coliseum on Monday, two of the three candidates that took part…

Teen sentenced to life for Hamilton County murder

NEWS STAFF
JASPER — A Lake City teen will spend the rest of his life in state prison for the murder of a White Springs teen last year.Cameron Fine, 19, was sentenced to life in prison for second degree murder by Hamilton County Judge Jamie Tyndal on Tuesday. Fine pleaded guilty to the murder charge and…

Beach, McCray, Folsom, Murphy vie for Lafayette school board

MORGAN MCMULLEN
A handful of Lafayette County voters got a head start on their research into some key local school board races. Candidates for the school board’s District 3 and District 5 seats were afforded eight minutes each to speak with roughly a dozen residents Monday evening at the Mayo Community Center…

Suwannee's District 2 Commission candidates look to boost ‘good board’

JAMIE WACHTER
Nothing is broken with the Suwannee County Commission but four potential members made their pitch for joining the board Monday.During a 90-minute Suwannee County Voters League Meet the Candidates forum at the Suwannee County Coliseum, four people vying for the District 2 seat on the commission…

Armed robbery suspect caught quickly in Suwannee

NEWS STAFF
An armed robbery attempt early Wednesday morning has landed a Live Oak man in the Suwannee County Jail.According to a Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office release, deputies and Live Oak police officers responded early Wednesday morning to the Quality Inn on U.S. Highway 129 for a reported robbery.The…
Coker (top left, clockwise), Haas, Lyons, Taylor, Washington and Wright

Coker (top left, clockwise), Haas, Lyons, Taylor, Washington and Wright

Six reappointed to NFC Board of Trustees

NEWS STAFF
Six North Florida College trustees were reappointed to those posts late last week.Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the reappointments of Jon “Travis” Coker, Sandra Haas, Ricky Lyons, Adrienne Taylor, William “Billy” Washington and Lloyd “Gary” Wright to the NFC board last Thursday.Haas and Taylor…
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