Local

School Board members Narrie Smith (center) and Keith Hudson share a hug with Niblack Elementary School principal Makeba Murphy after she cut the ribbon for the new school on Thursday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

School Board members Narrie Smith (center) and Keith Hudson share a hug with Niblack Elementary School principal Makeba Murphy after she cut the ribbon for the new school on Thursday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Niblack officially opens with ribbon cutting

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 1, 2025
With strands of blue and yellow balloons providing a makeshift archway into the school, more than 200 people gathered at the new Niblack Elementary School building for its official ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday morning.
North Florida Professional Services President Greg Bailey speaks during Thursday’s meeting in Fort White. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

North Florida Professional Services President Greg Bailey speaks during Thursday’s meeting in Fort White. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White holds off on water bids

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, August 1, 2025
FORT WHITE — The Town of Fort White is in no rush to begin work on a proposed wastewater collection system upgrade. Town officials voted 3-1 in favor of tabling the awarding of a bid to begin work on the project during Thursday’s special meeting.
Roger Little (right), Eastside Elementary School principal, greets parents and students as they visit the temporary cafeteria on Thursday during a school Sneak Peak session. More than 100 people visited the school during the session. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Roger Little (right), Eastside Elementary School principal, greets parents and students as they visit the temporary cafeteria on Thursday during a school Sneak Peak session. More than 100 people visited the school during the session. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Strong turnout for Eastside peek

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 1, 2025
With just days to go before starting the new school year, several local children and their parents to some time from their summer vacation to venture to the interim Eastside Elementary School site and visit the school.

Live Oak man arrested in Lake City on DUI charge

NEWS STAFF
Friday, August 1, 2025
A Live Oak man has been arrested after authorities say he hit a pedestrian late Thursday night. According to a Lake City Police Department release, Frank Daniel West, 68, was arrested that night after officers responded to a vehicle crash around 10:15 p.m.
The Boots and Badges basketball tournament will pit first responders from different departments against one another. (COURTESY)

The Boots and Badges basketball tournament will pit first responders from different departments against one another. (COURTESY)

Boots and Badges returning to Columbia High

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 1, 2025
First responders from several local agencies will lay their badges down next weekend for a competitive day on the hardwood against other first responders for bragging rights and to raise funds for the local high school basketball program in the annual Boots and Badges Basketball tournament.
NFWUA Attorney Joel Foreman said Columbia County could mitigate risk with the fledgling utility authority should it fail. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

NFWUA Attorney Joel Foreman said Columbia County could mitigate risk with the fledgling utility authority should it fail. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Authority ready to test drive utility operations

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
The North Florida Water Utilities Authority is ready to take the first steps in learning how to drive the utility operations in Columbia and Suwannee counties.

Southbound I-75 lanes closing Thursday night

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Lanes will be closed on southbound Interstate 75 in southern Columbia County tonight. The Florida Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that lane closures will take place in the southbound lanes of I-75 at mile markers 411 and 417 for asphalt repairs tonight.

School board OKs tax increase; reduced millage

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
The Columbia County School Board technically tentatively approved a tax increase Tuesday night. During a special meeting Tuesday night, the board unanimously adopted its tentative millage rate of 5.349 mills, which is a reduction from the current 5.391 mills.