Local

Fort White pair killed in head-on crash

NEWS STAFF
Friday, November 29, 2024
HIGH SPRINGS — Two Fort White women were killed when they crossed over into oncoming traffic in southern Columbia County on Wednesday night. A Florida Highway Patrol release states the women were headed south on U.S. Highway 441 at 8:50 p.m. Wednesday when they approached County Road 778.
Mike Kelley, the vice president of the Suwannee Bike Association, lines up bicycles that the group donated to the Columbia County Toys for Tots program last week. The bicycle group has contributed to Toys for Tots for three years. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Mike Kelley, the vice president of the Suwannee Bike Association, lines up bicycles that the group donated to the Columbia County Toys for Tots program last week. The bicycle group has contributed to Toys for Tots for three years. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee Bike Association donates rides to Toys for Tots

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Although the Columbia County Toys For Tots program is ushering in the Christmas holiday season with several toy collection events, the local group received a bounty of two-wheeled goodies from another local organization last week.

Woman charged as accessory to forest murder

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
A Lake City woman was arrested Monday as an accessory following a 2023 murder in the Osceola National Forest. Shaylene Bell, 22, was arrested and charged as an accessory after the fact to a capital felony case. Sgt.

EMT faces charges for stealing fentanyl

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
A former Columbia EMS employee faces charges for stealing fentanyl from the company. According to a warrant affidavit from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Columbia EMS co-owner Toby Witt called the sheriff’s office on Oct.
Beth Bullard (from left), Cheri Schultz and Lou Blanton, volunteers at the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Collection Center in Lake City, work with other volunteers to collect and ship the shoeboxes to Atlanta. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Beth Bullard (from left), Cheri Schultz and Lou Blanton, volunteers at the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Collection Center in Lake City, work with other volunteers to collect and ship the shoeboxes to Atlanta. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Volunteers help spread gospel with Operation Christmas Child

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Even though Thanksgiving was more than a week away, a group of local residents worked like Santa’s elves as they stacked, boxed and inspected red and green shoeboxes.
The Columbia County School District did not properly undergo a competitive bid process for an architect on the Fort White Elementary School addition, violating state law, according to an audit report by the Florida Auditor General. (FILE)

The Columbia County School District did not properly undergo a competitive bid process for an architect on the Fort White Elementary School addition, violating state law, according to an audit report by the Florida Auditor General. (FILE)

District violated state law on bid

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
The construction of a new wing at Fort White Elementary School included a number of missteps by the Columbia County School District, according to a state audit report released late last week.
Mary Loughran, the daughter of Mary Ethel Anderson, looks through a binder containing some of the ‘Goodie Books’ that her mother created as a county extension service agent. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Mary Loughran, the daughter of Mary Ethel Anderson, looks through a binder containing some of the ‘Goodie Books’ that her mother created as a county extension service agent. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

An oldie and a ‘Goodie’: Books given to extension

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
The Christmas holiday season in Columbia County has its own traditions and customs, crafted by people who grew up in the area, utilizing the area’s own natural resources.