A child shows off a butterfly at last year’s inaugural Laced Up for Love Sneaker Ball. The Catholic Charities fundraiser returns later this month with a sneaker drive added. (COURTESY)

A child shows off a butterfly at last year’s inaugural Laced Up for Love Sneaker Ball. The Catholic Charities fundraiser returns later this month with a sneaker drive added. (COURTESY)

Ready for a (Sneaker) Ball

As it prepares for its biggest fundraiser of the year, Catholic Charities has added a new program to impact youngsters in the community.Catholic Charities will host its second Laced Up for Love Sneaker Ball fundraiser in a few weeks.
Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford told the County Commission on Thursday that ultimately it will be the reason EMS succeeds or fails within the county’s operations. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford told the County Commission on Thursday that ultimately it will be the reason EMS succeeds or fails within the county’s operations. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County buying EMS units

Columbia County is moving forward with purchasing ambulances to address emergency medical services...
UF/IFAS economist Nathan Palardy speaks during Thursday's data center workshop. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

UF/IFAS economist Nathan Palardy speaks during Thursday's data center workshop. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

BOCC mulls data center financials

Columbia County Commissioners may be reconsidering their stances on data centers after hearing more...
A young art fan checks out some of the works in last year’s Autumn Artfest, the fine arts exhibition sponsored by the Live Oak Artists Guild. The 28th annual Artfest opens Saturday at the Live Oak branch of the Suwannee River Regional Library. (COURTESY)

A young art fan checks out some of the works in last year’s Autumn Artfest, the fine arts exhibition sponsored by the Live Oak Artists Guild. The 28th annual Artfest opens Saturday at the Live Oak branch of the Suwannee River Regional Library. (COURTESY)

Annual Autumn Artfest opens at Suwannee library

Award-winning artwork is joining the collection of books at the Suwannee River Regional Library’s...
A child shows off a butterfly at last year’s inaugural Laced Up for Love Sneaker Ball. The Catholic Charities fundraiser returns later this month with a sneaker drive added. (COURTESY)

A child shows off a butterfly at last year’s inaugural Laced Up for Love Sneaker Ball. The Catholic Charities fundraiser returns later this month with a sneaker drive added. (COURTESY)

As it prepares for its biggest fundraiser of the year, Catholic Charities has added a new program to impact youngsters in the community.Catholic Charities will host its second Laced Up for Love Sneaker Ball fundraiser in a few weeks. The event, designed to raise funds and awareness for Catholic…
Columbia defensive end Jae’quan Wilson (24) celebrates with defensive back Montenrrence Williamson (3) and defensive back Chris Austin (15) after recovering a fumble for a touchdown against Madison County on Friday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia defensive end Jae’quan Wilson (24) celebrates with defensive back Montenrrence Williamson (3) and defensive back Chris Austin (15) after recovering a fumble for a touchdown against Madison County on Friday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s defense was ready to go again from the jump.And while it took the offense some time to get going, quarterback Amari Green found his rhythm in the second half to help put Madison County away.Defensive end Jae’quan Wilson scored his second touchdown of the season when he scooped up a…
Suwannee safety Josh Johnson (right) and linebacker Marco Rojas wrap up Gainesville running back Javaris Gardner for a loss Friday night. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee safety Josh Johnson (right) and linebacker Marco Rojas wrap up Gainesville running back Javaris Gardner for a loss Friday night. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

LIVE OAK — A familiar situation got a new-look finish Friday night for Suwannee High.After struggling to make the key plays in close games the past two seasons, the Bulldogs delivered in their first one-score game of the 2026 season, edging Gainesville 15-14 at Langford Stadium.“It’s the first time…
Branford quarterback Trent Land (4) gets tackled by a swarm of Bell defenders during Friday’s 27-14 loss. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Branford quarterback Trent Land (4) gets tackled by a swarm of Bell defenders during Friday’s 27-14 loss. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

BELL — The penalties and mental errors may have been overcome on a different night. But an overwhelming Bell ground game quickly forced Branford into a game of catch-up instead.Bell ran for 292 yards and scored all four of its touchdowns from more than 15 yards out in a 27-14 Buccaneers loss.…
Lafayette Hornets

Lafayette Hornets

MAYO — For one half, it looked like Lafayette was intent on shooting itself in the foot again Friday night.But after some turnovers early, the Hornets finally settled in and pulled away from Hamilton County for a 39-12 win at Dale Walker Field.“We stopped getting in our way a little bit,” Lafayette…
Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford told the County Commission on Thursday that ultimately it will be the reason EMS succeeds or fails within the county’s operations. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford told the County Commission on Thursday that ultimately it will be the reason EMS succeeds or fails within the county’s operations. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County is moving forward with purchasing ambulances to address emergency medical services shortcomings.The Columbia County Commission voted 4-1 during a three-hour meeting Thursday night to allocate $1.6 million out of the current fiscal year’s contingency funds toward purchasing three…
UF/IFAS economist Nathan Palardy speaks during Thursday's data center workshop. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

UF/IFAS economist Nathan Palardy speaks during Thursday's data center workshop. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Commissioners may be reconsidering their stances on data centers after hearing more on their economic impacts. The BOCC held a workshop ahead of its normal Thursday night meeting to hear from UF/IFAS Extension economist Nathan Palardy as well as Okeechobee County Commissioner…
Nearly 150,000 gallons of treated wastewater spilled out of Lake City’s Saint Margarets Street station Wednesday due to a pump not turning on.The sewage spill occurred around 2 a.m. Wednesday according to a Florida Department of Environmental Protection public notice, spilling 149,904 gallons of…
Lake City firefighters combat a fire in an attic space of a house on NW Burk Avenue late Thursday morning. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City firefighters combat a fire in an attic space of a house on NW Burk Avenue late Thursday morning. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

A Thursday morning structure fire severely damaged a Lake City dwelling, displacing several residents.The fire occurred at a NW Burk Avenue dwelling, just off U.S. Highway 90 and west of downtown. In addition to several residents being displaced by the fire, three pets were threatened before the…
Columbia County Commission Chairman Tim Murphy said the county’s economic development efforts are ‘100% not working.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Commission Chairman Tim Murphy said the county’s economic development efforts are ‘100% not working.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County’s efforts to bring in growth and development could become a private operation in the future.During an economic development board chair update Thursday night, County Commission Chairman Tim Murphy — who also chairs the county’s economic development advisory board — said the county’s…
Federal funding will help protect Lake City’s water supply from potential cyberattacks.The City of Lake City received $189,875 in grant funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to improve the city’s water system’s resiliency against cybersecurity threats. The funds, which are through the…
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