Local

Susan Bell, secretary of the Live Oak Artists Guild (from left), Marilyn Jones, president, and Chris Flanagan, vice president, gather with attendees during the opening reception for the Guild’s exhibition at the Gateway Art Gallery in Lake City. (COURTESY)

Susan Bell, secretary of the Live Oak Artists Guild (from left), Marilyn Jones, president, and Chris Flanagan, vice president, gather with attendees during the opening reception for the Guild’s exhibition at the Gateway Art Gallery in Lake City. (COURTESY)

Live Oak artists featured at Gateway Art Gallery

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
More than 30 works by members of the Live Oak Artists Guild are now on display at the Gateway Art Gallery in historic downtown Lake City, marking the first collaboration between the two organizations.
A map of the proposed improvements for the Branford Highway (State Road 247) and Bascom Norris Drive intersection improvements, as well as paving on those two roads away from the intersection. (COURTESY FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION)

A map of the proposed improvements for the Branford Highway (State Road 247) and Bascom Norris Drive intersection improvements, as well as paving on those two roads away from the intersection. (COURTESY FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION)

Branford Highway, Bascom Norris getting $18 million upgrade

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
The Florida Department of Transportation is looking at making $18 million worth of improvements to the Branford Highway and Bascom Norris Drive intersection.

Fort White recall stopped; Harrell granted injunction

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
The recall election in Fort White is off. Third Circuit Judge Fred Koberlein granted an injunction to Councilman Lonnie Harrell following an emergency hearing Monday regarding the recall election for his District 2 seat on the Fort White Town Council. The recall election had been set for Tuesday.
Fort White Elementary School second graders crowd Bellamy Beaver at the end of his visit to the school. (COURTESY)

Fort White Elementary School second graders crowd Bellamy Beaver at the end of his visit to the school. (COURTESY)

Bellamy delivers water conservation message

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
On April 8, classrooms at Cambridge Prep Academy and Fort White Elementary School welcomed a special guest with an important mission: teaching the next generation about water quality and conservation.
Florida Gateway College President Larry Barrett said he and Columbia County Manager David Kraus were working together to put a plan in place for 12 vacant parcels of land owned by the Lake Shore Hospital Authority. (FILE)

Florida Gateway College President Larry Barrett said he and Columbia County Manager David Kraus were working together to put a plan in place for 12 vacant parcels of land owned by the Lake Shore Hospital Authority. (FILE)

Lake Shore waiting on plans for 12 vacant lots

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
The Lake Shore Hospital Authority’s continued fire sale of real estate could heat up even further in the near future. The Authority is still considering its options related to 12 undeveloped parcels of land it owns between North Marion Avenue and NE Calhoun Avenue on its downtown campus.

County hosting sewer plant sale public hearing

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
The Columbia County Commission may decide Thursday whether or not to sell its sewer plant at the North Florida Mega Industrial Park. During the commission’s 5:30 p.m. meeting at the Keith Hudson School Board Auditorium, 372 W.

Recall election stopped; Harrell granted injunction

NEWS STAFF
Monday, April 13, 2026
The recall election in Fort White is off. Third Circuit Judge Fred Koberlein granted an injunction to Councilman Lonnie Harrell following an emergency hearing Monday in regards to the recall election for his District 2 seat on the Fort White Town Council.
Casey Roach, a lineman at the Lake City Gateway Airport, fuels a Bonanza on Friday afternoon. At least 30 of the Beechcraft airplanes are at the airport practicing for a Wisconsin air show. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Casey Roach, a lineman at the Lake City Gateway Airport, fuels a Bonanza on Friday afternoon. At least 30 of the Beechcraft airplanes are at the airport practicing for a Wisconsin air show. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

‘Bonanzas’ of visitors

TONY BRITT
Friday, April 10, 2026
The Lake City Gateway Airport is getting a bonanza of visitors this week, as a bunch of pilots who plan to participate in an air show in Wisconsin, practice maneuvers at the local airport.
Lisa Glunt, the executive director of the Leon County Humane Society, said problems at the Lake City Humane Society can trickle over to other locales, including Tallahassee. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lisa Glunt, the executive director of the Leon County Humane Society, said problems at the Lake City Humane Society can trickle over to other locales, including Tallahassee. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Humane Society mum on animal care concerns

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, April 10, 2026
Concerns about the Lake City Humane Society were heard loud and clear earlier this week. Those concerns could also lead to contract changes or enforcing of the organization’s contract with the City of Lake City.