Local

More than 45 pounds of marijuana was found in vaccuum-packed containers in a vehicle along U.S. Highway 441 on Friday morning. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE)

More than 45 pounds of marijuana was found in vaccuum-packed containers in a vehicle along U.S. Highway 441 on Friday morning. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE)

Sleeping driver charged with trafficking

NEWS STAFF
Friday, June 6, 2025
A catnap on the side of U.S. Highway 441 on Friday morning led to a California man’s arrest on drug trafficking charges. A concerned southeast Columbia County resident called 911 at 8:14 a.m. Friday to report a driver stopped on the side of the highway near SE Happy Valley Glen.
Staz Guntek, Columbia County’s legislative and intergovernmental affairs coordinator, updates the Columbia County Commission on the state budget talks Thursday. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Staz Guntek, Columbia County’s legislative and intergovernmental affairs coordinator, updates the Columbia County Commission on the state budget talks Thursday. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Budget talks include funding for area projects

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, June 6, 2025
There is light at the end of the tunnel in Tallahassee on the extended legislative session. That light is not a trainwreck for Columbia County, either, according to a county official.
Keith Couey (from left), Hunter Peeler, Roger Little, Keith Hudson, Fred Gaylard, Scharlotte Stewart and Todd Widergren toss soil to commemorate the official beginning of construction of the new Eastside Elementary School. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Wednesday morning amid construction crews beginning the first stages of demolition work at the school. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Keith Couey (from left), Hunter Peeler, Roger Little, Keith Hudson, Fred Gaylard, Scharlotte Stewart and Todd Widergren toss soil to commemorate the official beginning of construction of the new Eastside Elementary School. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Wednesday morning amid construction crews beginning the first stages of demolition work at the school. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Demolition begins on Eastside Elementary School

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
The Eastside Elementary School campus is in flux and change is coming as the beginning stages of demolition are taking place for the school that has sat on the site for more than 50 years.
Suwannee County Administrator Shannon Roberts became the North Florida Water Utilities Authority's first executive director after the NFWUA approved a contract with him in a 3-1 vote. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County Administrator Shannon Roberts became the North Florida Water Utilities Authority's first executive director after the NFWUA approved a contract with him in a 3-1 vote. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Roberts hired as utility authority director

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
The North Florida Water Utilities Authority has its director. The NFWUA board approved a contract, with a few revisions, with Shannon Roberts to make the member of the Suwannee County administration its first executive director by a 3-1 vote.
Columbia County Economic Development Director Jennifer Daniels hosted a Q&A session Tuesday regarding the future of economic growth in the county. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Economic Development Director Jennifer Daniels hosted a Q&A session Tuesday regarding the future of economic growth in the county. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County lays out economic future

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
A few local business and real estate investors heard some updates and got some questions answered during a meetup with the county’s economic development leadership. Columbia County Economic Development Director Jennifer Daniels hosted a Q&A session at Halpatter Brewing Co. Tuesday night.
Lake City Manager Don Rosenthal told the Lake City Council on Monday that staff believed the ‘only reasonable option’ for the historic Club House on Lake Isabella was demolition. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Manager Don Rosenthal told the Lake City Council on Monday that staff believed the ‘only reasonable option’ for the historic Club House on Lake Isabella was demolition. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Club House demolition is ‘only reasonable option’

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
The City of Lake City is running out of options with the historic Club House on Lake Isabella. During staff comments at the end of Monday’s Lake City Council meeting, Lake City Manager Don Rosenthal gave an update on the Club House, recommending that the historic building be torn down.
Emma Pitman, a lifeguard at the Jared Allison Aquatic Complex, watches over the pool Monday following a ribbon cutting for the revamped complex. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Emma Pitman, a lifeguard at the Jared Allison Aquatic Complex, watches over the pool Monday following a ribbon cutting for the revamped complex. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

New-look pool makes splash

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
The busy season for the Jared Allison Aquatic Complex began Monday morning with a ribbon cutting showing off a revamped, repainted and reimagined facility.
Past and current local officials along with affordable housing and construction officials Ron Williams (from left), Everett Phillips, Troy Wimberly, Lester McKellum, Michael Allan, Mary McKellum, Noah Walker, Steve Auger, Chevella Young, James Carter and Tammy Harris pitch shovels of dirt for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Sweetwater Phase II apartments on Tuesday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Past and current local officials along with affordable housing and construction officials Ron Williams (from left), Everett Phillips, Troy Wimberly, Lester McKellum, Michael Allan, Mary McKellum, Noah Walker, Steve Auger, Chevella Young, James Carter and Tammy Harris pitch shovels of dirt for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Sweetwater Phase II apartments on Tuesday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Officials break ground on affordable housing

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
An influx of affordable housing is coming to the area with the addition of an apartment complex coming to northern Lake City.

Supreme Court rejects Wainwright appeal

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal aimed at preventing next week’s scheduled execution of Anthony Wainwright in the 1994 murder of a woman who was kidnapped from the parking lot of a Lake City supermarket.