Local

Kim Estergren, the Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum president, and Sean McMahon, the museum’s vice president, point out where water is causing issues from a leak in the building’s roof. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Kim Estergren, the Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum president, and Sean McMahon, the museum’s vice president, point out where water is causing issues from a leak in the building’s roof. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Museum seeking donations to plug leak

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
The Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum is seeking financial help after a leak was recently discovered in the building’s roof. “It’s a big problem,” said Kim Estergren, Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum president, who noted the building was recently remodeled.
Jimbo Haley (from left) visits with James Crenshaw and Michael Woods, president and CEO of The Woods, about the opening of the unique outdoor venue. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Jimbo Haley (from left) visits with James Crenshaw and Michael Woods, president and CEO of The Woods, about the opening of the unique outdoor venue. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Planting 'The Woods': Event venue eyes 2025 opening with launch party

TONY BRITT
Friday, July 19, 2024
More than 100 area residents gathered together Thursday evening for a kickoff celebration for what promises to be one of the more unique entertainment, family, game and social venues in the area.
Lake Shore Hospital Authority Accountant Richard Powell explains the circumstances of the county potentially taking over the authority during Thursday’s County Commission meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake Shore Hospital Authority Accountant Richard Powell explains the circumstances of the county potentially taking over the authority during Thursday’s County Commission meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County taking LSHA question to voters

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, July 19, 2024
Columbia County may be ready to pull the plug on a local taxing authority. The Board of County Commissioners met Thursday to discuss the fate of the Lake Shore Hospital Authority. The board had originally decided it wanted to meet with the authority at its last meeting on July 3.

Homeless Voice raising funds, awareness at stoplights

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, July 19, 2024
Folks in yellow vests canvassing Lake City intersections are nothing new, though some local residents may still be confused by their presence based on recent legislation. The people, part of the Homeless Voice network, are working to gather donations for various homelessness programs.
Banx Everett, who has won Sunburst Beauty Pageants on the local and state level, will be competing later this month in the International Finals. (COURTESY)

Banx Everett, who has won Sunburst Beauty Pageants on the local and state level, will be competing later this month in the International Finals. (COURTESY)

Everett is ‘baby king’ of pageants

NEWS STAFF
Friday, July 19, 2024
A local toddler, who is less than 2 years old, has mastered the stage and become a “king” of children’s beauty pageants in the process. Banx Everett, 14 months old, was enrolled in the February 2024 Sunburst Beauty Pageant at Lake City Middle School where he modeled formal wear in the competition.

Driver’s license number change going into effect

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, July 19, 2024
New numbers are coming to Florida driver’s licenses. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles are replacing the previous formula used to determine someone’s driver’s license number with a random number in the same format.
Tina Roberts (front row, from left) stands with other Lake City Garden Club members, as she and Patrick Douglas, of the Suwannee Valley Community Foundation, hold a $10,000 check that was presented to the organization on Wednesday at the Blanche Hotel. Other Garden Club members present include, Ginger McCrannie (second row from left), Cheryl Libert, Kathy Smith and Mary Victores; Jan Logan (back row, from left), Terri Johnson, Sonya Rossin and Dorothy Colvin. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Tina Roberts (front row, from left) stands with other Lake City Garden Club members, as she and Patrick Douglas, of the Suwannee Valley Community Foundation, hold a $10,000 check that was presented to the organization on Wednesday at the Blanche Hotel. Other Garden Club members present include, Ginger McCrannie (second row from left), Cheryl Libert, Kathy Smith and Mary Victores; Jan Logan (back row, from left), Terri Johnson, Sonya Rossin and Dorothy Colvin. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Garden Club receives $10K for beautification

TONY BRITT
Friday, July 19, 2024
The Lake City Garden Club’s beautification efforts received a boost Wednesday morning. The Suwannee Valley Community Foundation made a $10,000 grant donation to the Garden Club at the Blanche Hotel on Wednesday morning.

Inmate dies at Columbia County jail

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, July 18, 2024
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the death of an inmate at the Columbia County Detention Facility. According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, 74-year-old David Odell died around 5:30 a.m.
Halpatter Brewing Company co-owner Chris Candler sets down a bottle of distilled spirits during Tuesday’s soft launch of the company’s new line of liquors. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Halpatter Brewing Company co-owner Chris Candler sets down a bottle of distilled spirits during Tuesday’s soft launch of the company’s new line of liquors. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Halpatter is ginning up business

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Spirits are lifting already in downtown Lake City. Halpatter Brewing Company hosted the soft launch of its new line of distilled spirits Tuesday evening at its brewery — and now, distillery — at 264 NE Hernando Ave.
Matthew Gooch is taken into custody by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office after being accused of firing 10-plus shots into a residence Wednesday morning. (COURTESY CCSO)

Matthew Gooch is taken into custody by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office after being accused of firing 10-plus shots into a residence Wednesday morning. (COURTESY CCSO)

10+ shots fired into house near jail

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Hours after an altercation at one Columbia County location, a Lake City man tried to settle it with a firearm.