Columbia High School welding students Ruby Chandler (left) and Mason Dusen (right) are competing at the national SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta next week. They are joined by CHS welding instructor Darryl Thomas. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia High School welding students Ruby Chandler (left) and Mason Dusen (right) are competing at the national SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta next week. They are joined by CHS welding instructor Darryl Thomas. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

CHS welders taking aim at nationals

Friday, May 29, 2026

A pair of Columbia High School welding student will put their skills against the best from across the country next week.Mason Dusen and Ruby Chandler will be heading to Atlanta to participate in the national SkillsUSA competition Monday through June 6.

Local

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
Friday, May 29, 2026
Meridian Healthcare is ready to accept the keys to its newest acquisition. 
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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.
Suwannee High’s Kynzie Hall delivers part of the Salute to Parents during commencement as she is joined by Andrea Baez, Rylee Bonds, Mackenzie Champagne, Elise Mudd and Kolby Riegel. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee High’s Kynzie Hall delivers part of the Salute to Parents during commencement as she is joined by Andrea Baez, Rylee Bonds, Mackenzie Champagne, Elise Mudd and Kolby Riegel. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

SHS graduates thank village for support

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
In a flipped around commencement ceremony, Suwannee High valedictorian Noah Lopez reversed the...
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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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Columbia High School welding students Ruby Chandler (left) and Mason Dusen (right) are competing at the national SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta next week. They are joined by CHS welding instructor Darryl Thomas. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia High School welding students Ruby Chandler (left) and Mason Dusen (right) are competing at the national SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta next week. They are joined by CHS welding instructor Darryl Thomas. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

CHS welders taking aim at nationals

TONY BRITT
A pair of Columbia High School welding student will put their skills against the best from across the country next week.Mason Dusen and Ruby Chandler will be heading to Atlanta to participate in the national SkillsUSA competition Monday through June 6.Darryl Thomas, CHS welding instructor, said he’…
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…

Pair of meth dealers sentenced to lengthy federal prison terms

NEWS STAFF
A pair of Lake City methamphetamine dealers have been sentenced to at least 15 years in federal prison.According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, 54-year-old Terry Brown was sentenced to 17 years and six months in federal prison, while 46-year-old Doug Bradley was…

Live Oak man is 10th May arrest for child exploitation

NEWS STAFF
Recent targeted efforts from law enforcement continue to yield arrests against suspects in child sexual assault cases.According to a Lake City Police Department release, detectives assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force continued their undercover operations targeting…
Fort White Middle School’s Tucker Ayers competes in the preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. this past week. (COURTESY SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE)

Fort White Middle School’s Tucker Ayers competes in the preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. this past week. (COURTESY SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE)

Ayers advances to fourth round at national bee

NEWS STAFF
WASHINGTON — A Fort White Middle School student advanced to the fourth round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee this week.At the national bee in Washington D.C., Fort White Middle eighth-grader Tucker Ayers survived the first three rounds of the competition, including a written test in Round 3,…

PREP VOLLEYBALL: Rone replaces Sikes as Branford coach

MORGAN MCMULLEN
BRANFORD — The defending Class Rural state champions will have a new coach at the helm next season. Every party involved says they’re in support of the decision.The Buccaneers are moving ahead with hiring Hank Rone as their newest head coach. The former Newberry HC replaces Lachelle Sikes, who led…

Authorities seek information on January murder in White Springs

NEWS STAFF
WHITE SPRINGS — The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is seeking assistance in solving the murder of a Lake City man earlier this year.The HCSO and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement continue to investigate the Jan. 3 shooting of 35-year-old Tad Leonard Anderson Jr., a Lake City man, at a…

Clay Electric bills set for increase

NEWS STAFF
Clay Electric Cooperative members will see an increase in their bills, starting in June.The Power Cost Adjustment, or PCA, on Clay members’ bills will rise beginning with June billing statements due to higher wholesale power costs, the co-op announced Thursday.According to Clay Electric, for a…
American Legion Post 57 Honor Guard members and members of the Liberty Division Sea Cadets, raise a new flag at the Best Western Plus hotel in Lake City on Friday morning in front of a group of onlookers such as other Post 57 members, hotel staff and hotel guests. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

American Legion Post 57 Honor Guard members and members of the Liberty Division Sea Cadets, raise a new flag at the Best Western Plus hotel in Lake City on Friday morning in front of a group of onlookers such as other Post 57 members, hotel staff and hotel guests. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Honor Guard replaces tattered flag

TONY BRITT
The American Legion Post 57 Honor Guard has a natural distain for torn and tattered American flags.As veterans, Honor Guard members often participate in flag disposal services, but the unit is gaining additional recognition by raising new flags for businesses and organizations in the community.…
Columbia County Manager David Kraus talks to the County Commission about Municipal Service Taxing Units during a workshop May 21. (FILE)

Columbia County Manager David Kraus talks to the County Commission about Municipal Service Taxing Units during a workshop May 21. (FILE)

Lake City Council to consider county pitch on law enforcement, EMS taxes

NEWS STAFF
The Lake City Council will hear about, and consider taking part in, Municipal Service Taxing Units to cover law enforcement and emergency medical services moving forward.Columbia County administration will make a presentation to the Council at its regular meeting Monday, 6 p.m., at City Hall, 205 N…
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