Local

Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler (right) said any rumors that Officer Marcus Hardison being shot by another law enforcement officer were not true. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler (right) said any rumors that Officer Marcus Hardison being shot by another law enforcement officer were not true. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

LCPD still investigating shooting of officer

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Lake City police officers continue to investigate the Easter gathering at Annie Mattox Park that ended with an officer shot.
Lake City Attorney Clay Martin said he’d be interested in applying to be the city’s full-time counsel during Monday’s meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Attorney Clay Martin said he’d be interested in applying to be the city’s full-time counsel during Monday’s meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Council supports in-house attorney

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
The Lake City Council took the first baby step on its way to hiring an in-house attorney. The council voted Monday to approve Mayor Noah Walker entering into negotiations with potential hires for the Lake City Attorney position based on parameters suggested by City Manager Don Rosenthal.
Columbia High School JROTC cadets, who are seniors, pose for a photograph after being recognized by other members of the Fighting Tiger Battalion during a military ball on Friday night at American Legion Post 57. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia High School JROTC cadets, who are seniors, pose for a photograph after being recognized by other members of the Fighting Tiger Battalion during a military ball on Friday night at American Legion Post 57. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

JROTC cadets have a ‘ball’

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
The ceremonial side of military life through time-honored traditions and rituals were celebrated by several Columbia High School JROTC cadets when the Fighting Tiger Battalion held its annual military ball Friday evening.
Lake City resident George Hudson speaks to the Lake City Council at its Monday meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City resident George Hudson speaks to the Lake City Council at its Monday meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Council clears first hurdle in new park hours

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Campbell Park near Lake Montgomery could soon be seeing expanded operating hours. The Lake City Council passed the first reading of a resolution Monday that would extend both attractions’ openings to a half-hour before sunrise and a half-hour after sunset. Those times would be based on the U.S.
Kelsie Rodriguez, the pre-kindergarten paraprofessional at Summers Elementary, was named the state’s School-Related Employee of the Year on Thursday, the first Columbia County School District employee to win the prestigious honor. Rodriguez (left) is pictured with Summers VPK teacher Karen McDonald. (COURTESY)

Kelsie Rodriguez, the pre-kindergarten paraprofessional at Summers Elementary, was named the state’s School-Related Employee of the Year on Thursday, the first Columbia County School District employee to win the prestigious honor. Rodriguez (left) is pictured with Summers VPK teacher Karen McDonald. (COURTESY)

Summers para is state’s best

TONY BRITT
Friday, April 18, 2025
When Robert Cooper entered the Summers Elementary School pre-kindergarten classroom on Thursday, Karen McDonald, Kelsie Rodriguez and the students may have thought he was coming to see newly-hatched chicks.
Commissioner Rocky Ford said he thought denying the request to help the Town of Fort White ‘set the county back.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Commissioner Rocky Ford said he thought denying the request to help the Town of Fort White ‘set the county back.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County feuds over aid for Fort White

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 18, 2025
A request to assist Fort White in administering grant funds sparked a heated debate between Columbia County commissioners.
Shannon Roberts, a member of Suwannee County’s administration, smiles after being picked as the North Florida Water Utilities Authority’s first executive director. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Shannon Roberts, a member of Suwannee County’s administration, smiles after being picked as the North Florida Water Utilities Authority’s first executive director. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Roberts picked to lead utility authority

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 18, 2025
Involved since the initial step of creating the North Florida Water Utilities Authority, Shannon Roberts has been tapped the group’s first executive director.
County Commission Chairman Tim Murphy said he thought denying the request was the ‘right thing’ for District 5. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County Commission Chairman Tim Murphy said he thought denying the request was the ‘right thing’ for District 5. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Deplat request off SR 47 denied

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 18, 2025
The Columbia County Commission didn’t have to hear from all of the dozens of residents opposing a potential future commercial development near their neighborhood.