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Golden Voice contestants Jaleiah Burch (front row, from left), Hailey Cross and Aleah Rogers; Asher Watson (back row, from left), Catherine Ward, Nolan Peloni, Micah Williams, Laila Striebel, Michael Goodbread, Damieon Jernigan stand with competition founder Ronnie Collins. Not pictured are contestants Caroline Sawyer and Elora Rodgers. (COURTESY)

Golden Voice contestants Jaleiah Burch (front row, from left), Hailey Cross and Aleah Rogers; Asher Watson (back row, from left), Catherine Ward, Nolan Peloni, Micah Williams, Laila Striebel, Michael Goodbread, Damieon Jernigan stand with competition founder Ronnie Collins. Not pictured are contestants Caroline Sawyer and Elora Rodgers. (COURTESY)

12 CHS students vying for ‘Golden Voice’ title

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
The founder of one of Columbia High School’s most popular singing competitions is introducing a new vocal contest that will take place in a few days. Ronnie Collins, who was the founder of Columbia’s Top Talent, which ran for two decades, has now launched The Golden Voice competition.
Benjamin Ragland will be doing an encore presentation of Van Gogh, ‘Vincent: The World was Never Meant for a Soul as Beautiful as You,’ on Saturday at the Gateway Art Gallery. (COURTESY)

Benjamin Ragland will be doing an encore presentation of Van Gogh, ‘Vincent: The World was Never Meant for a Soul as Beautiful as You,’ on Saturday at the Gateway Art Gallery. (COURTESY)

Gallery hosting encore Van Gogh show

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
The Gateway Art Gallery’s Van Gogh production earlier this year was so popular, it is returning this weekend. An encore presentation from Benjamin Ragland will take place Saturday from 6-8 p.m. at the Gallery, 168 N. Marion Avenue in downtown Lake City.
Judy Tatem, the Columbia County School District’s coordinator of Safe Schools, said the district is in compliance with state regulations. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Judy Tatem, the Columbia County School District’s coordinator of Safe Schools, said the district is in compliance with state regulations. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Tatem: Columbia schools are safe

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Columbia County Schools are safe and handling that aspect of operations well.
Florida Gateway College officials and donors break ground Tuesday morning on the Grace & Al Harter Center for Innovation on the Lake City campus. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Florida Gateway College officials and donors break ground Tuesday morning on the Grace & Al Harter Center for Innovation on the Lake City campus. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

FGC breaks ground on STEM II

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
The next era of expansion at Florida Gateway College officially began Tuesday morning when college officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Grace & Al Harter Center for Innovation. More than 80 people attended the ceremony, which began at the Barney E. McRae Jr.
Summers Elementary’s VPK program earned a perfect score for the second straight year on the Classroom Scoring System (CLASS). The program is led by VPK teacher Karen McDonald (left) and assistant Kelsie Rodriguez (middle), who are pictured at the Columbia County Schools Teacher of the Year banquet in November with Summers Principal Robert Cooper. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SCHOOLS)

Summers Elementary’s VPK program earned a perfect score for the second straight year on the Classroom Scoring System (CLASS). The program is led by VPK teacher Karen McDonald (left) and assistant Kelsie Rodriguez (middle), who are pictured at the Columbia County Schools Teacher of the Year banquet in November with Summers Principal Robert Cooper. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SCHOOLS)

Summers VPK gets perfect score again

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Once might’ve been a fluke. But twice? That’s just confirmation for one local elementary school. Summers Elementary has scored top marks in Florida’s annual VPK assessment, garnering a perfect 7 in the Classroom Scoring System (CLASS).
Four Columbia High School JROTC Cadets hold old flags set to be destroyed during the JROTC’s Flag Retirement Service on Thursday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Four Columbia High School JROTC Cadets hold old flags set to be destroyed during the JROTC’s Flag Retirement Service on Thursday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Honoring the flag: Columbia JROTC holds disposal ceremony

TONY BRITT
Friday, February 21, 2025
The Columbia High School JROTC program held a flag retirement service Thursday morning where cadets honorably disposed of five United States flags in honor of the school’s Fighting Tiger battalion. The event served as the inaugural flag disposal for the cadets with a formal ceremony.