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City Attorney Clay Martin speaks at a previous Lake City Council meeting. City Manager Don Rosenthal is seeking clearance to hire a full-time dedicated city attorney, instead of contracting with a firm like Gainesville-based Folds Walker where Martin works. (FILE)

City Attorney Clay Martin speaks at a previous Lake City Council meeting. City Manager Don Rosenthal is seeking clearance to hire a full-time dedicated city attorney, instead of contracting with a firm like Gainesville-based Folds Walker where Martin works. (FILE)

Rosenthal wants full-time city attorney

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
The City of Lake City could be looking at hiring a dedicated City Attorney to handle in-house legal matters. The Lake City Council, however, would like more details before making a decision.
Lake City Councilman James Carter said the intentions of the Live Local Act may have merit, but also comes with consequences by taking away local control. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Councilman James Carter said the intentions of the Live Local Act may have merit, but also comes with consequences by taking away local control. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City opts out of Live Local tax exemption

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Following Columbia County’s lead, the City of Lake City is also opting out of a state law’s tax exemptions on housing that bypasses local Land Development Regulations.

City ready to hike building permit fees

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Lake City is ready to ask land developers for more help in covering the cost of their application fees. The Lake City Council took the first step toward that goal at its Monday meeting to establish updated fees for land development regulation processing and review.

Lake City man killed in Price Creek Road crash

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
A Lake City man was killed and two others seriously injured in a crash early Monday morning in southeastern Columbia County. The 35-year-old Lake City man was headed south on County Road 245 (Price Creek Road) around 6:50 a.m.
Tanika Dorsey, who has a pair of twins set to attend Niblack as fifth graders next school year, autographs a Niblack sign in the cafeteria of the new Niblack Elementary building. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Tanika Dorsey, who has a pair of twins set to attend Niblack as fifth graders next school year, autographs a Niblack sign in the cafeteria of the new Niblack Elementary building. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Showing off the new Niblack: Students, alumni excited to see new school

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, April 4, 2025
The public got its first glimpse into the new digs for Niblack Elementary School on Thursday. The consensus from those young and old in attendance was the development so far is a huge upgrade.
Summers Elementary School VPK paraprofessional Kelsie Rodriguez (back middle) has been named a finalist for the state’s School-Related Employee of the Year award. Rodriguez is pictured with her VPK students as well as Summers Principal Robert Cooper and VPK teacher Karen McDonald. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Summers Elementary School VPK paraprofessional Kelsie Rodriguez (back middle) has been named a finalist for the state’s School-Related Employee of the Year award. Rodriguez is pictured with her VPK students as well as Summers Principal Robert Cooper and VPK teacher Karen McDonald. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Rodriguez named state school employee finalist

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, April 4, 2025
Kelsie Rodriguez’s classroom was quiet and dark. Students were dozing during their nap time Thursday afternoon before Summers Elementary School administrators, including principal Robert Cooper and assistant principal Pam Miller, as well as folks from the Columbia County Schools office barged in.
Fort White Town Councilor Monica Merricks requests help from the Columbia County Commission in administering grant funds for a wastewater project. Merricks called the strained relationship between the town and the county as ‘shameful, disgraceful and distasteful,’ hoping the two could move forward. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White Town Councilor Monica Merricks requests help from the Columbia County Commission in administering grant funds for a wastewater project. Merricks called the strained relationship between the town and the county as ‘shameful, disgraceful and distasteful,’ hoping the two could move forward. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

County, Fort White teaming on grant

TONY BRITT
Friday, April 4, 2025
Columbia County and the Town of Fort White are teaming up on administering wastewater grant funds and possibly mending their sometimes contentious relationship in the process.
Angel Gomez, a Columbia High School student, gets tips on sanding wood from Monty Ashby, as Gomez and Kiley Morrison sand wood to make beds for the Sleep in Heavenly Peace program. The students manufactured the beds during the Build My Future event on Wednesday morning at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Angel Gomez, a Columbia High School student, gets tips on sanding wood from Monty Ashby, as Gomez and Kiley Morrison sand wood to make beds for the Sleep in Heavenly Peace program. The students manufactured the beds during the Build My Future event on Wednesday morning at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Building a better tomorrow

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Inspiration can come in a variety of forms ranging from touch, smell and sight as well as several other origins.
Former Lake City Manager Joe Helfenberger answers a question during Tuesday’s North Florida Water Utilities Authority meeting. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Former Lake City Manager Joe Helfenberger answers a question during Tuesday’s North Florida Water Utilities Authority meeting. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Utility board debating Helfenberger, Roberts

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
The North Florida Water Utilities Authority’s decision on its first director is down to a former Lake City manager and a current member of Suwannee County’s administration.