Local

Simon, Shoaf holding local hearings

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
State legislators are set to hear from local officials and residents in Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette counties next week. Sen. Corey Simon (R-Tallahassee) and Rep. Jason Shoaf (R-Port St.
Advanced Project Solutions is clearing 22 acres at the North Florida Mega Industrial Park for AgroLiquid, the first tenant at the park east of Lake City. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Advanced Project Solutions is clearing 22 acres at the North Florida Mega Industrial Park for AgroLiquid, the first tenant at the park east of Lake City. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Making room at the Megasite

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
The North Florida Mega Industrial Park is being prepped for its first tenant. Crews from Advanced Project Solutions, a High Springs company, began doing land clearing work at the site east of Lake City two weeks ago.
President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House on Monday. One of the executive orders Trump signed either commuted the sentences or pardoned those involved with the Jan. 6, 2021, events at the Capitol. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House on Monday. One of the executive orders Trump signed either commuted the sentences or pardoned those involved with the Jan. 6, 2021, events at the Capitol. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

Meggs freed by Trump order

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
The former general manager of a Lake City car dealership was freed from federal prison Monday following an executive order from President Donald Trump.
Rev. Jon A. Ingraham, pastor of New Mt. Pisgah AME Church, leads a prayer during the MLK service on Monday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Rev. Jon A. Ingraham, pastor of New Mt. Pisgah AME Church, leads a prayer during the MLK service on Monday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Annual MLK Day church service warms hearts

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Erring on the side of caution, the Northeast Florida Leadership Council canceled its annual MLK Day Parade as a precautionary measure from forecasted frigid conditions.
A group of local residents, pictured, braved freezing temperatures on Monday morning and held their own 1.5 mile from the Richardson Community Center to Annie Mattox Park after organizers canceled the MLK Day Parade. Many of the walkers said they felt the parade and King’s legacy was too important to forgo the event due to weather conditions. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

A group of local residents, pictured, braved freezing temperatures on Monday morning and held their own 1.5 mile from the Richardson Community Center to Annie Mattox Park after organizers canceled the MLK Day Parade. Many of the walkers said they felt the parade and King’s legacy was too important to forgo the event due to weather conditions. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Marching to honor MLK

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Dressed in overcoats, scarves, gloves and other winter attire, a group of area residents decided to have their own march in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. after Monday’s parade was canceled due to forecasted icy conditions. A group of about 10 people began their trek around 10:30 a.m.
Members of the Annie Mattox Park board cut the ribbon during a grand opening for the Annie Mattox Park pavilion on Monday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Members of the Annie Mattox Park board cut the ribbon during a grand opening for the Annie Mattox Park pavilion on Monday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Annie Mattox Park celebrates new addition

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
From detailing the history of Annie Mattox Park to honoring current and past board members, Monday proved to be a historic day in the park’s history, with a ribbon cutting and grand opening for the park’s new pavilion.
The Columbia County Schools, as well as the other districts in North Florida, have canceled schools for Wednesday due to the expected winter weather. (FILE)

The Columbia County Schools, as well as the other districts in North Florida, have canceled schools for Wednesday due to the expected winter weather. (FILE)

Schools closed Wednesday due to expected winter weather

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Schools around North Florida have canceled classes for Wednesday due to the forecast of winter weather. Both Columbia County Schools and the Suwannee County School District announced Tuesday morning that it would be closing schools and offices on Wednesday.
Columbia County Fire Rescue driver/engineer Lucas Harrell (from left) adds firefighting equipment to a new department truck as Columbia County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Arness Thomas overlooks the operation. Columbia County Fire Rescue could have three new trucks on the department’s front lines by the end of April. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Fire Rescue driver/engineer Lucas Harrell (from left) adds firefighting equipment to a new department truck as Columbia County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Arness Thomas overlooks the operation. Columbia County Fire Rescue could have three new trucks on the department’s front lines by the end of April. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

County fire adds two new trucks, purchases a third

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 17, 2025
Columbia County Fire Rescue is updating its fleet of fire trucks and could potentially have three new trucks running service calls by the end of April.
Assistant County Manager Kevin Kirby talks to the County Commission on Thursday about the need for a $1.6 million budget amendment for the wastewater project in Ellisville involving the Florida Department of Transportation sewer plant. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Assistant County Manager Kevin Kirby talks to the County Commission on Thursday about the need for a $1.6 million budget amendment for the wastewater project in Ellisville involving the Florida Department of Transportation sewer plant. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

County, DOT reach deal on Ellisville sewer

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 17, 2025
Columbia County is forging ahead with an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation that will address wastewater capacity concerns in the Ellisville area, by utilizing an Interstate 75 rest area sewer plant.
Selena Nejal, a Jacksonville teen, won the Southside Idol competition last weekend at Florida Gateway College. (COURTESY)

Selena Nejal, a Jacksonville teen, won the Southside Idol competition last weekend at Florida Gateway College. (COURTESY)

Nejal wins Southside Idol

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 17, 2025
An aspiring musical artist, who loves to sing for the pleasure of singing, captured the 2025 Southside Idol title in her first competitive singing contest.