Local

Ryan Poirier (clockwise from left), 6 and Callie Poirier make a bubble wand with help from Bella Heser during the MESS-tival event at the West Branch Library on Thursday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Ryan Poirier (clockwise from left), 6 and Callie Poirier make a bubble wand with help from Bella Heser during the MESS-tival event at the West Branch Library on Thursday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Making a Mess-tival

TONY BRITT
Friday, March 27, 2026
Local youngsters were able to attack the doldrums of spring break by painting pictures, playing with bubbles, meeting with Bellamy Beaver and enjoying other activities as part of the Mess-tival event at the Westside Library on Thursday morning.

Toys for Tots seeks permanent location

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Columbia County Toys for Tots Coordinator Inga Dwyer is tired of moving. In Dwyer’s nine years of providing Christmas joy to children in the county through Toys for Tots, she has been housed in five different locations.
Sheri Carder (left) and Dee Etheridge have fun and share laughs while they go through a box of Freedom Rocks at the Gateway Art Gallery last month. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Sheri Carder (left) and Dee Etheridge have fun and share laughs while they go through a box of Freedom Rocks at the Gateway Art Gallery last month. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Freedom Rocks ready to be hidden around county

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Searching for and collecting rocks will become a prime pastime in the area within the next few weeks. As part of the America 250th anniversary celebration, Columbia County, the City of Lake City and Gateway Art Gallery artists partnered to give the community a “Freedom Rock” hunt.

Annie Mattox gearing up for egg-ceptional hunt

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
The rainbow of cascading colors associated with an Easter egg hunt — red, blue, green, orange, yellow and sometimes gold, will be featured at the Annie Mattox Park playground area next weekend for a community Easter egg hunt event.
Innovative Masonry Restoration workers get set on tearing down the netting surrounding Lake City Hall. The netting will not make a return once it’s down. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Innovative Masonry Restoration workers get set on tearing down the netting surrounding Lake City Hall. The netting will not make a return once it’s down. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Hall removing net siding amid renovation

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Lake City Hall is losing its security blanket. Innovative Masonry Restoration workers have been busy this week removing the safety net from the historic downtown building as part of a building restoration project that is expected to take three months.
Fort White Councilman Lonnie Harrell speaks during a Feb. 18 meeting to discuss the possible dissolution of the town’s charter. Harrell now faces a recall vote on his seat next month. (FILE)

Fort White Councilman Lonnie Harrell speaks during a Feb. 18 meeting to discuss the possible dissolution of the town’s charter. Harrell now faces a recall vote on his seat next month. (FILE)

Fort White recall election set for April at cost of $3,000

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
FORT WHITE — Columbia County’s first recall election in nearly 40 years will cost Fort White just a few thousand dollars.
Youth volunteers show off thank-you signs supporting veterans. The Lake City VA Medical Center is currently looking for volunteers of all ages for various roles. (COURTESY)

Youth volunteers show off thank-you signs supporting veterans. The Lake City VA Medical Center is currently looking for volunteers of all ages for various roles. (COURTESY)

Lake City VA Medical Center searching for volunteers

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
The Lake City VA Medical Center is hoping to get an infusion of youth through its volunteer services program as the end of the school year approaches. VA medical facilities and clinics began taking applications for youth volunteers earlier this week.
Lake City-based First Federal Bank was named by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging & Community. (FILE)

Lake City-based First Federal Bank was named by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging & Community. (FILE)

First Federal honored for workplace culture

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
First Federal Bank has one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging & Community, according to Newsweek.

Lake City pair killed in Lafayette crash

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
BUCKVILLE — A pair from Lake City were killed Friday night when their motorcycle ran into a boat being towed northwest of Mayo. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Chevrolet pickup driven by a Jennings man proceeded into the County Road 53 and U.S. Highway 27 intersection at 8:30 p.m.
New leadership for the 2026-27 school year for the Columbia High School JROTC will be 1st. Sgt. Treena Dettmer, (from left), incoming Cadet/Lt. Col. Romeo Carter, Cadet/Command Sgt. Major Alberto Basalo, Cadet/Major Elijah Deese and Lt. Col. Austin Akers. (COURTESY)

New leadership for the 2026-27 school year for the Columbia High School JROTC will be 1st. Sgt. Treena Dettmer, (from left), incoming Cadet/Lt. Col. Romeo Carter, Cadet/Command Sgt. Major Alberto Basalo, Cadet/Major Elijah Deese and Lt. Col. Austin Akers. (COURTESY)

Columbia JROTC celebrates cadets with awards

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
The Columbia High School Army JROTC Fighting Tiger Battalion recently held its annual award ceremony where cadets were honored for their achievements and accomplishments during the school year.