Local

Bryon Wuczynski (left), an Osiris 9 representative, shows a list of recent projects to April Thomas with the Florida Department of Transportation. Osiris 9 helped develop the concept for the U.S. Highway 41 and Interstate 75 interchange project that will be starting soon in Ellisville. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Bryon Wuczynski (left), an Osiris 9 representative, shows a list of recent projects to April Thomas with the Florida Department of Transportation. Osiris 9 helped develop the concept for the U.S. Highway 41 and Interstate 75 interchange project that will be starting soon in Ellisville. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Water projects, funding sources meet at symposium

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Local government officials were able to get valuable insight on how to seek funding, partners, vendors and guidance for their water resource management projects during a local conference Tuesday.
Laura Hunter-Null, a 30-year arts educator, presents some of the artwork and the lessons used in the free art program for students in grades 1-3 to the adult members of the Gateway Art Gallery. (COURTESY GATEWAY ART GALLERY)

Laura Hunter-Null, a 30-year arts educator, presents some of the artwork and the lessons used in the free art program for students in grades 1-3 to the adult members of the Gateway Art Gallery. (COURTESY GATEWAY ART GALLERY)

Gallery offers free art, education class for children

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
What’s more fun for kids than creating art? What if they could also boost their reading and writing skills while doing so? That’s just the project at the Gateway Art Gallery, and it’s open to students in grades 1-3, whether they attend public school or are home-schooled.
Lynn Branscome, TownePlace Suites general manager, adjusts icons on the visitors to Lake City map in the hotel’s lobby. The hotel opened just a few weeks ago at the U.S. Highway 90 and Interstate 75 interchange. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lynn Branscome, TownePlace Suites general manager, adjusts icons on the visitors to Lake City map in the hotel’s lobby. The hotel opened just a few weeks ago at the U.S. Highway 90 and Interstate 75 interchange. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

TownePlace making its mark

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 24, 2025
Visitors to Lake City now have a new hotel to accommodate their extended stay needs with the recent opening of the TownPlace Suites by Marriott. TownPlace Suites by Marriott, 178 NW Commerce Drive, opened Jan. 9 and the owner and staff are working toward a March 18 ribbon cutting ceremony.
Superintendent Keith Couey discusses the new zoning proposal at a town hall meeting Tuesday at Five Points Elementary. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Superintendent Keith Couey discusses the new zoning proposal at a town hall meeting Tuesday at Five Points Elementary. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

New elementary school zones planned

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 24, 2025
The Columbia County School District has unveiled a plan to rezone its school district, as a result of new schools coming on line and the future closure of two schools.
Sick Week, a week-long drag and drive event sponsored by Sick the Mag, will take part in South Georgia and Florida next week. The 400-plus racers will have a checkpoint in Lake City on Friday. (COURTESY SICK THE MAGAZINE)

Sick Week, a week-long drag and drive event sponsored by Sick the Mag, will take part in South Georgia and Florida next week. The 400-plus racers will have a checkpoint in Lake City on Friday. (COURTESY SICK THE MAGAZINE)

Sick Week making pitstop in Lake City

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, January 24, 2025
Downtown Lake City will be getting some “sick” visitors next week. More than 400 street-legal drag racers will pull into downtown Lake City on Friday for the final checkpoint as part of Sick Week 2025 presented by Overdrive Gear Vendors, a week-long drag and drive event put on by Sick the Magazine.
Lake Shore Hospital Authorit’s Physical Therapy building, which could be the site of a primary care clinic operated by Palms Medical Group. The LSHA board is hoping to make a decision on the PT building’s fate, and other campus assets, at a special meeting Monday. (FILE)

Lake Shore Hospital Authorit’s Physical Therapy building, which could be the site of a primary care clinic operated by Palms Medical Group. The LSHA board is hoping to make a decision on the PT building’s fate, and other campus assets, at a special meeting Monday. (FILE)

LSHA looks to decide buildings’ fates

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, January 24, 2025
The Lake Shore Hospital Authority is preparing for a fire sale of sorts. Whether or not the City of Lake City will help out is still another question. At Monday’s 5:15 p.m.

FGC enrollment rises 16% from last spring semester

NEWS STAFF
Friday, January 24, 2025
Florida Gateway College is growing. Enrollment for the college’s spring term is up 16% from last year’s spring semester. Since rebounding from the worldwide enrollment slump caused by the covid-19 pandemic, FGC has continued its upward trend in both credit hours taken and student headcount.
Columbia County Superintendent Keith Couey discusses the closure of Five Points Elementary School and the new proposed zoning for elementary school students with parents and community members Tuesday at a town hall meeting. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Superintendent Keith Couey discusses the closure of Five Points Elementary School and the new proposed zoning for elementary school students with parents and community members Tuesday at a town hall meeting. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

CCS lays out closing of Five Points, new zoning at town hall

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
The imminent closing of Five Points Elementary and where those students would head beginning next year were the main topics of conversation at a town hall meeting Tuesday.
Snow fell in Hamilton County, including Jasper, during the winter storm Tuesday night. (JASON WILKINSON/Lake City Reporter)

Snow fell in Hamilton County, including Jasper, during the winter storm Tuesday night. (JASON WILKINSON/Lake City Reporter)

Winter storm brings little to no snow

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
While snow blanketed a large swath of the Southeast, including North Florida, it appears the majority of Columbia County was not a recipient of the recent snow dusting.