Local

Michelle Rowold (from left) holds Donati Rowold, 3, both of Fort White, as Caroline Madden of the Lubee Bat Conservancy provides information about the bat in the enclosure during a community program at the Columbia County Public Library on Monday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Michelle Rowold (from left) holds Donati Rowold, 3, both of Fort White, as Caroline Madden of the Lubee Bat Conservancy provides information about the bat in the enclosure during a community program at the Columbia County Public Library on Monday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Library goes ‘batty’: ‘Special’ program shares info, activities on bats

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
There was a bunch of ‘batty’ talk and activity at the Columbia County Public Library on Monday afternoon.
Lake City Councilwoman Chevella Young pushed for the city to increase its funding for the Emergency Home Repair Program. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Councilwoman Chevella Young pushed for the city to increase its funding for the Emergency Home Repair Program. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

City pumps $200K into home repairs

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
A program meant to help out seniors, veterans and disabled residents with home repairs has a new infusion of funding, though it didn’t come without some disagreement.

Explosive experiment leads to charges

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
A backyard science experiment led to a Lake City man’s arrest early Sunday morning. According to a Lake City Police Department release, officers responding to a different call heard a loud explosion near NE Jackson Avenue at 2:30 a.m. Sunday.
Lake City Councilwoman Tammy Harris, the lone council member to turn in an evaluation of City Manager Don Rosenthal, said she didn’t understand why anybody would fill out an evaluation and keep it for themselves. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Councilwoman Tammy Harris, the lone council member to turn in an evaluation of City Manager Don Rosenthal, said she didn’t understand why anybody would fill out an evaluation and keep it for themselves. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Council withholds manager evaluations

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Three weeks after the Lake City Council used evaluations to guide its decision to give City Manager Don Rosenthal a raise, confusion still abounds as to the fate of those evaluations.

Man pleads guilty to assaulting Lake City VA officer

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
A man faces up to eight years in federal prison for assaulting a Veteran Affairs police officer last year at the Lake City VA Medical Center. Jeffrey Sager, 55, pleaded guilty Monday to the assault charge from the Feb. 13, 2024, incident. A sentencing date for Sager has not been scheduled.

Boil water notice issued in Fort White

NEWS STAFF
Monday, January 6, 2025
FORT WHITE - A boil water notice has been issued to customers of the Fort White water system. Columbia County issued the notice Monday afternoon after the town’s system featured a loss of water pressure because of a broken water line.
A crew works on the U-Haul storage facility site in the Gateway Crossing development Friday at the Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 90 interchange. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

A crew works on the U-Haul storage facility site in the Gateway Crossing development Friday at the Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 90 interchange. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

U-Haul facility under construction at I-75, U.S. 90 interchange

TONY BRITT
Friday, January 3, 2025
Nothing says progress like construction and 2025 looks to be a progressive year for a new local business. A U-Haul storage facility is under construction in the Gateway Crossing commercial development at the Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 90 interchange.

County looks to clear late debris

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, January 3, 2025
A continuing problem greeted Columbia County officials in the new year. During the Columbia County Commission’s brief meeting Thursday morning, Assistant County Manager Kevin Kirby said he is aware of 68 “loads” of storm debris still on county rights-of-way alongside roadways.

Area constitutional officers ready to take office

NEWS STAFF
Friday, January 3, 2025
Newly elected constitutional officers in Columbia, Suwannee and Hamilton counties will officialy take office next week. Elected in 2024, their four-year terms begin in January, with the officer holders taking their oaths of office in swearing-in ceremonies at public venues.
Sen. Jennifer Bradley (left) and Rep. Chuck Brannan will meet with local officials and residents Wednesday at Florida Gateway College to hear any proposals or opinions on state issues heading into this year’s legislative session. (FILE)

Sen. Jennifer Bradley (left) and Rep. Chuck Brannan will meet with local officials and residents Wednesday at Florida Gateway College to hear any proposals or opinions on state issues heading into this year’s legislative session. (FILE)

Legislative delegation hearing set for Wednesday

NEWS STAFF
Friday, January 3, 2025
Columbia County’s legislative delegation will meet next week prior to this year’s session in Tallahassee. The annual delegation hearing is set for Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 9 a.m. at Florida Gateway College in the trustees’ board room. The legislative delegation — which includes Rep.