Local

Lake City firefighter Josh Morris, uses a small hose as he prepares to extinguish shrubbery that caught fire near the Columbia County Courthouse Annex on Wednesday evening. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City firefighter Josh Morris, uses a small hose as he prepares to extinguish shrubbery that caught fire near the Columbia County Courthouse Annex on Wednesday evening. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Cigarette butt lights Annex shrubs on fire

NEWS STAFF
Friday, March 13, 2026
Local residents and firefighters were once again alerted to the dangers of a dry and arid landscape when shrubbery near the Columbia County Courthouse Annex caught fire Wednesday evening.
Chris Summers cut the ribbon Thursday during the grand opening celebration for Summers Home Furniture. They were joined by family, friends, employees and members of the Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Chris Summers cut the ribbon Thursday during the grand opening celebration for Summers Home Furniture. They were joined by family, friends, employees and members of the Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Summers Home Furniture celebrates grand opening

TONY BRITT
Friday, March 13, 2026
A local furniture store officially began its second life as an area business Thursday afternoon. Summers Home Furniture held its grand opening sale and a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday at its N. Main Boulevard location.

All six candidates nominated for open judge seat

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, March 13, 2026
All six candidates for the vacant Third Judicial Circuit judge seat are still in the running. The Third Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission deliberated Friday on the six applications to replace Judge Leandra Johnson, who retired at the end of 2025.
2026 Miss Columbia High School Pageant contestants are Corley Wilder (from left), Chloe Tedder, Brook’Lynn Johnson and Tikeria Bryant. (COURTESY)

2026 Miss Columbia High School Pageant contestants are Corley Wilder (from left), Chloe Tedder, Brook’Lynn Johnson and Tikeria Bryant. (COURTESY)

Miss CHS to be crowned Saturday night

TONY BRITT
Friday, March 13, 2026
Connecting with the past will be a central theme for the 2026 Miss CHS pageant this weekend. “A Night full of Legacy” is the unofficial theme for this year’s event, but serves as the common ground when Miss CHS pageant title holders are able to meet the 2026 title holder.
Art League President Laura Hunter-Null (left) and Gateway Art Gallery Curator Sheila Carr model last year’s winning T-shirt, designed by Erin Weiffenbach. (COURTESY)

Art League President Laura Hunter-Null (left) and Gateway Art Gallery Curator Sheila Carr model last year’s winning T-shirt, designed by Erin Weiffenbach. (COURTESY)

Gallery July 4 T-shirt design competition underway

TONY BRITT
Friday, March 13, 2026
Local artists, people with a penchant for drawing or anyone who thinks they can create a design to represent the 250th anniversary of the United States of America is asked to submit an entry into the second July 4th T-shirt design competition.

Growers, Makers Market returns this weekend

NEWS STAFF
Friday, March 13, 2026
The City of Lake City Growers and Makers Market returns from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. today in Olustee Park. This week’s market will feature 50 vendors, who will be selling a variety of goods and wares ranging from baked goods, produce, arts and crafts and other miscellaneous items.
Columbia County School Board Attorney Meagan Logan listens during a previous school board meeting. Logan will remain the board’s attorney through March 31, 2029, after the board approved a new deal. (FILE)

Columbia County School Board Attorney Meagan Logan listens during a previous school board meeting. Logan will remain the board’s attorney through March 31, 2029, after the board approved a new deal. (FILE)

School board seeking deal with firm for new CHS

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
The Columbia County School District has a helping hand as it continues eyeing a new Columbia High School.
Megumi Boutwell (left) and Casey Dettman practice lines during a scene at a lighthouse for the Fort White High School production of Mystic Pizza. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Megumi Boutwell (left) and Casey Dettman practice lines during a scene at a lighthouse for the Fort White High School production of Mystic Pizza. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Mystic Pizza hitting FWHS theater next week

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
FORT WHITE — The decisions of life and love for a group of women working at a pizza parlor, combined with music from the 80s and 90s, will be on display in a few days when the Fort White High School drama department performs its version of Mystic Pizza.