Columbia won the Class 4A state championship on Saturday, beating Lake Wales 3-2. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia won the Class 4A state championship on Saturday, beating Lake Wales 3-2. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia softball wins state championship

LONGWOOD — Go ahead and crown Columbia High.The Tigers held off Lake Wales 3-2 on Saturday morning to win the Class 4A state championship at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park. It’s the program’s second title, also winning in 2013.
Rhonda Anderson (from left) stands with Kent Banner, Columbia County Assistant Supervisor of Elections, and Darryl Thomas, Columbia High School welding instructor, as the school’s welding piece, ‘Globe of Freedom,’ is on display at the Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Office. (COURTESY)

Rhonda Anderson (from left) stands with Kent Banner, Columbia County Assistant Supervisor of Elections, and Darryl Thomas, Columbia High School welding instructor, as the school’s welding piece, ‘Globe of Freedom,’ is on display at the Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Office. (COURTESY)

CHS welding students create Globe of Freedom

Columbia High’s welding program turned their talent and patriotic spirit into a unique piece of art.
Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford asked the County Commission to lift the burn ban for at least the next two weeks due to recent rains and forecasts of more coming. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford asked the County Commission to lift the burn ban for at least the next two weeks due to recent rains and forecasts of more coming. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County lifts ban on outdoor burning

Outdoor burning is allowed again in Columbia County.At least for a few weeks.
Jeff Avinger, the AmeriPro EMS operations director for Florida and South Carolina, said the company will be fully running its five trucks in two weeks after working through staffing challenges. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Jeff Avinger, the AmeriPro EMS operations director for Florida and South Carolina, said the company will be fully running its five trucks in two weeks after working through staffing challenges. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Commission not pleased with AmeriPro service

A new emergency medical services provider hasn’t alleviated old concerns for the Columbia County...
The Suwannee River Water Management District’s Hydrological Conditions Report shows areas of Columbia and Suwannee counties received substantial rainfall in April but are still in heavy drought. (COURTESY SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT)

The Suwannee River Water Management District’s Hydrological Conditions Report shows areas of Columbia and Suwannee counties received substantial rainfall in April but are still in heavy drought. (COURTESY SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT)

Report: Heavy rains do little for overall drought

LIVE OAK — A good bit of recent rainfall isn’t enough to make up for the recent drought, according...
Suwannee County Commissioner Travis Land said he was willing to hold the $3.8 million in donated funds at whatever bank the donor desired. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County Commissioner Travis Land said he was willing to hold the $3.8 million in donated funds at whatever bank the donor desired. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Anonymous donor gifts $3.8M to Suwannee County

The Suwannee County Commission had 3.8 million reasons to agree to some stipulations Tuesday night.
Roush (top left, clockwise), Sapp, Skinner and Wilkerson

Roush (top left, clockwise), Sapp, Skinner and Wilkerson

Branford graduating 111 Friday

BRANFORD — More than 100 Buccaneers will sail off into the next phase of their life Friday night.
Columbia catcher Emily Delgado encourages the CHS student section to get up for her team after scoring a run following her RBI double in the seventh inning of Thursday's Class 4A state semifinal against Seminole. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia catcher Emily Delgado encourages the CHS student section to get up for her team after scoring a run following her RBI double in the seventh inning of Thursday's Class 4A state semifinal against Seminole. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

COMMENTARY: These Tigers never stop fighting

The words echoed throughout the season.“Tigers don’t lay down. Tigers fight.
Columbia won the Class 4A state championship on Saturday, beating Lake Wales 3-2. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia won the Class 4A state championship on Saturday, beating Lake Wales 3-2. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

LONGWOOD — Go ahead and crown Columbia High.The Tigers held off Lake Wales 3-2 on Saturday morning to win the Class 4A state championship at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park. It’s the program’s second title, also winning in 2013.Columbia (29-3) got a two-run triple from Emily Delgado in the fourth to…
Rhonda Anderson (from left) stands with Kent Banner, Columbia County Assistant Supervisor of Elections, and Darryl Thomas, Columbia High School welding instructor, as the school’s welding piece, ‘Globe of Freedom,’ is on display at the Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Office. (COURTESY)

Rhonda Anderson (from left) stands with Kent Banner, Columbia County Assistant Supervisor of Elections, and Darryl Thomas, Columbia High School welding instructor, as the school’s welding piece, ‘Globe of Freedom,’ is on display at the Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Office. (COURTESY)

Columbia High’s welding program turned their talent and patriotic spirit into a unique piece of art.The CHS students created the Globe of Freedom as an entry into a Florida Department f Education competition to celebrate the United States of America’s 250th anniversary.“This was our rendering,”…
Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford asked the County Commission to lift the burn ban for at least the next two weeks due to recent rains and forecasts of more coming. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford asked the County Commission to lift the burn ban for at least the next two weeks due to recent rains and forecasts of more coming. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Outdoor burning is allowed again in Columbia County.At least for a few weeks.The Columbia County Commission unanimously approved lifting the county’s burn ban during its meeting Thursday night. The ban had been in place since April 16 and also was previously implemented for six weeks in February…
Jeff Avinger, the AmeriPro EMS operations director for Florida and South Carolina, said the company will be fully running its five trucks in two weeks after working through staffing challenges. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Jeff Avinger, the AmeriPro EMS operations director for Florida and South Carolina, said the company will be fully running its five trucks in two weeks after working through staffing challenges. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

A new emergency medical services provider hasn’t alleviated old concerns for the Columbia County Commission.Nearly three months into AmeriPro EMS’ turn as the 911 provider for the county, commissioners told a company representative Thursday that they felt the company hadn’t lived up to its end of…
County Attorney Joel Foreman suggested if the County Commission wanted to change its code of ethics to send in suggestions to him and he provide several alternatives to those portions of the code. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County Attorney Joel Foreman suggested if the County Commission wanted to change its code of ethics to send in suggestions to him and he provide several alternatives to those portions of the code. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

The Columbia County Commission is considering changes to its local code of ethics.After concerns were expressed by Commissioners Robby Hollingsworth and Tim Murphy several weeks ago about the ethics code not allowing county employees to stay employed while running for a seat on the board, County…
The new SunStop store on the north end of Lake City is a ‘beautiful facility’ and something everybody ‘can be proud of,’ according to Southwest Georgia Oil’s Katie Marzolf. (COURTESY)

The new SunStop store on the north end of Lake City is a ‘beautiful facility’ and something everybody ‘can be proud of,’ according to Southwest Georgia Oil’s Katie Marzolf. (COURTESY)

A convenience store rebuild well under way on the north end of Lake City could be in line for some assistance from Columbia County.The Columbia County Economic Development Advisory Board unanimously supported rehoming a seven-year tax rebate for SunStop, which has torn down its old store at the…
A memorial wall lists the names of Columbia County residents who lost their lives across different eras of American military history. The list sits outside the Lake City VA Medical Center, which will host a free, family friendly event on June 5. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

A memorial wall lists the names of Columbia County residents who lost their lives across different eras of American military history. The list sits outside the Lake City VA Medical Center, which will host a free, family friendly event on June 5. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Area veterans will have an opportunity to learn about the healthcare, mental health and benefit services available through the Veterans Administration during a Freedom 250 Veterans Fest in a few days.The Lake City VA Medical Center will host a Freedom 250 Veterans Fest from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday…
Columbia catcher Emily Delgado encourages the CHS student section to get up for her team after scoring a run following her RBI double in the seventh inning of Thursday's Class 4A state semifinal against Seminole. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia catcher Emily Delgado encourages the CHS student section to get up for her team after scoring a run following her RBI double in the seventh inning of Thursday's Class 4A state semifinal against Seminole. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

The words echoed throughout the season.“Tigers don’t lay down. Tigers fight.”Never was that truer than Thursday afternoon.Columbia, the top-ranked team in Class 4A, was on the ropes in the state semifinals. Seminole held a 5-3 lead and had the Tigers down to their last two outs, appearing on…
Columbia right fielder Marlee Hunt (14) hugs left fielder Addyson Sherman after Sherman hit a walk-off RBI single to defeat Seminole 6-5 in the Class 4A state semifinals on Thursday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia right fielder Marlee Hunt (14) hugs left fielder Addyson Sherman after Sherman hit a walk-off RBI single to defeat Seminole 6-5 in the Class 4A state semifinals on Thursday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

LONGWOOD — Columbia left fielder Addyson Sherman had been there before. Runners on base, her team needing a hit. Only this time, the pressure was ratcheted up to the nth degree. On the line was a berth in the state championship. It was then that coach Joe Saucier, as well as teammates Alannah Lord…
South African bodybuilder Rayno Nel performs a feat of strength during a Strongman Champions League event in Holland. The SCL is set to host an international event in Olustee Park on Oct. 10 after getting a sponsorship from the Columbia County TDC. (COURTESY)

South African bodybuilder Rayno Nel performs a feat of strength during a Strongman Champions League event in Holland. The SCL is set to host an international event in Olustee Park on Oct. 10 after getting a sponsorship from the Columbia County TDC. (COURTESY)

The strongest league in the world will be descending on Lake City this fall.During its meeting Wednesday morning, the Columbia County Tourist Development Council unanimously approved a $20,000 sponsorship for the Strongman Champions League to host an international event in downtown Olustee Park on…
FORT WHITE — Students who’ve had to battle the covid-19 pandemic, changes in graduation requirements and who’ve celebrated academic, art and athletic accomplishments will get their day in the sun when Fort White High School holds its commencement this weekend.The FWHS graduation ceremony will take…
Lake City Reporter e-Edition