Local

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)

Harrell faces recall election

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
A historic vote is scheduled for Fort White next month. A recall election, believed to be the first in Columbia County since Glenel Bowden won an attempt to have his seat on the Lake City Council recalled in 1988, has been set for April 14 for Lonnie Harrell, who represents the town’s District 2.
Gateway Art Gallery curator Sheila Carr said she hopes visitors to this weekend’s Lecture Series event on Michelangelo will learn more about the legendary painter and sculptor. (COURTESY)

Gateway Art Gallery curator Sheila Carr said she hopes visitors to this weekend’s Lecture Series event on Michelangelo will learn more about the legendary painter and sculptor. (COURTESY)

Gallery hosting forum on Michelangelo

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
The life, times and inspirational influences of the artist Michelangelo will be discussed and reviewed during a Gateway Art Gallery program this weekend.
A fire suppression air tanker sits at the Lake City Gateway Airport, ready to assist in combating wildfires and brush fires across the southeast during the ongoing extreme drought. (RAY CARPENTER/Lake City Reporter)

A fire suppression air tanker sits at the Lake City Gateway Airport, ready to assist in combating wildfires and brush fires across the southeast during the ongoing extreme drought. (RAY CARPENTER/Lake City Reporter)

Emergency fire tankers waiting at airport

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
With drought conditions plaguing the southeastern United States, resulting in the high likelihood of wildfires and brush fires, fire suppression tankers and their operating personnel have been in Lake City for the past few weeks. “One of the companies sent in a Dash-8 aircraft.

City seeking help in soup kitchen repair

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
A local soup kitchen is reaching out to the community for help with some much needed repairs.  The Lad Soup Kitchen, run through a partnership between Suwannee Valley Rescue Mission and Cleopatra J. Steele Ministries, is hoping to get homegrown help with a roof repair.

Lake City man nabbed after flag theft

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
An early morning flag caper was quickly snuffed out. According to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office release, the owner of Baker’s Communications in Lake City arrived to work around 8 a.m. last Wednesday after he reported the U.S. flag outside his business was missing.
HCA Florida Lake City Surgical Specialists, alongside HCA Florida Lake City Hospital leaders and community members, gather in celebration before the ceremonial ribbon cutting marking the grand opening of the practice’s new location. (COURTESY HCA LAKE CITY HOSPITAL)

HCA Florida Lake City Surgical Specialists, alongside HCA Florida Lake City Hospital leaders and community members, gather in celebration before the ceremonial ribbon cutting marking the grand opening of the practice’s new location. (COURTESY HCA LAKE CITY HOSPITAL)

HCA Lake City opens new surgical office

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
HCA Florida Lake City Surgical Specialists officially unveiled their newly renovated, on-campus surgical office on Thursday with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony — marking a significant milestone in the continued expansion of surgical services at HCA Florida Lake City Hospital.

Lake City woman killed in I-10 crash

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
BALDWIN — A Lake City woman was killed Sunday night after being rear-ended on Interstate 10 while stuck in traffic. A Florida Highway Patrol release said the woman’s car was stopped in traffic on eastbound I-10 near the U.S. Highway 301 exit when a pickup slammed into the back of it around 6:45 p.
Members of the Lake City VA Medical Center, veterans and law enforcement honored a pair of veterans — Robert Zerby and Peter Daniels — during a Final Mile ceremony Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Members of the Lake City VA Medical Center, veterans and law enforcement honored a pair of veterans — Robert Zerby and Peter Daniels — during a Final Mile ceremony Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

VA Medical Center honors Zerby, Daniels for service

TONY BRITT
Friday, March 6, 2026
Close to 100 people gathered at the Lake City VA Medical Center on Thursday morning to pay their respects and honor a pair of veterans for their service.
Columbia County Commissioner Rocky Ford said he has asked how the water reclamation project would impact the ability to draw more water from the aquifer and hasn't gotten an answer. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Commissioner Rocky Ford said he has asked how the water reclamation project would impact the ability to draw more water from the aquifer and hasn't gotten an answer. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County opposes reclaimed water project

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, March 6, 2026
Columbia County is officially against the plan to recharge the Floridan Aquifer with reclaimed wastewater from Jacksonville.
Blackhawk helicopters refueled at Lake City Gateway Airport on Friday morning as part of a new defense contract between the airport and U.S. military. (COURTESY)

Blackhawk helicopters refueled at Lake City Gateway Airport on Friday morning as part of a new defense contract between the airport and U.S. military. (COURTESY)

Gateway Airport lands defense deal

TONY BRITT
Friday, March 6, 2026
When Ed Bunnell arrived at work on Friday morning, there were three U.S. Blackhawks helicopters on the Lake City Gateway Airport runway, waiting to be refueled, a rare occurrence.