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Westside Elementary School third-grade teacher Shelly Teel was named a finalist for the state’s Teacher of the Year on Wednesday by the Florida Department of Education. (COURTESY)

Westside Elementary School third-grade teacher Shelly Teel was named a finalist for the state’s Teacher of the Year on Wednesday by the Florida Department of Education. (COURTESY)

Teel named finalist for state TOY

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Westside Elementary School teacher Shelly Teel was holding a celebration for her third-grade students who earned 100 Accelerated Reader points for the school year in the cafeteria. Little did she know that she would become a bigger piece of the celebration than she expected.
Columbia County Tax Collector Kyle Keen (middle) presents a $35,476 check to Superintendent Keith Couey and School Board Chair Narrie Smith as the proceeds from the Kids Tag Art program. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Tax Collector Kyle Keen (middle) presents a $35,476 check to Superintendent Keith Couey and School Board Chair Narrie Smith as the proceeds from the Kids Tag Art program. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Tax collector’s office, community partners benefit elementary school art education

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Columbia County elementary school art programs are the beneficiaries of more than $30,000 thanks to community partners, supporters and a bunch of young artists who sketched drawings for the local Kids Tag Art program.

Belmont graduating second largest class

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Belmont Academy will graduate its second largest class when the charter school holds its commencement exercises on Saturday. The Belmont Academy graduation ceremony for the Class of 2025 will take place 7 p.m.
Lake Shore Hospital Authority Attorney Todd Kennon was directed to send a counter offer to the City of Lake City to try to clear the path for Meridian Healthcare to operate a mental health facility downtown. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake Shore Hospital Authority Attorney Todd Kennon was directed to send a counter offer to the City of Lake City to try to clear the path for Meridian Healthcare to operate a mental health facility downtown. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

LSHA counters city about Meridian

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
The Lake Shore Hospital Authority is throwing one last Hail Mary toward peacefully resolving the question of Meridian at Lake Shore.
Chase Piesel (right) uses a drill to secure a flag to a cross on Saturday morning as volunteers erected flags in honor of veterans and first responders. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Chase Piesel (right) uses a drill to secure a flag to a cross on Saturday morning as volunteers erected flags in honor of veterans and first responders. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Volunteers recognize veterans, first responders with flags, crosses

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
A group of volunteers determined to honor veterans from Columbia County braved weekend showers and thunderstorms to erect more than 200 flags and crosses along a portion of State Road 47 on Saturday.

Fort White graduating 127 on Friday

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
FORT WHITE — For a group of seniors who began their final year in high school missing days due to hurricanes, tropical storms and school security alerts, the end of the school year is finally just days away. The Fort White High theme for the 2025 school year was: “Believe in the Tribe.
The Train Depot in Mayor’s Park is serving as the official Main Street of Fort White office and visitor’s center. (FILE)

The Train Depot in Mayor’s Park is serving as the official Main Street of Fort White office and visitor’s center. (FILE)

Fort White hosting Main Street reps

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
FORT WHITE — The Town of Fort White will unofficially host “Main Street Day” this week.
Palms Medical Group CEO Anita Rembert talks to the Lake Shore Hospital Authority board Monday about the floor plans for the Palms clinic on the Lake Shore campus. The facility would include 15 exam rooms and a pharmacy would be added in the second year it is open. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Palms Medical Group CEO Anita Rembert talks to the Lake Shore Hospital Authority board Monday about the floor plans for the Palms clinic on the Lake Shore campus. The facility would include 15 exam rooms and a pharmacy would be added in the second year it is open. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Palms clinic floor plan approved

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Palms Medical Group is gearing up to move into the Lake Shore Hospital campus. The Lake Shore Hospital Authority unanimously approved a pair of motions at Monday’s meeting to get Palms started on the process of renovating the Physical Therapy building on its campus.