Local

Fort White High Principal Keith Couey walks on to the Arrowhead Stadium field last month for graduation. Couey is being moved to the district office as he prepares to be the district superintendent. (RAY CARPENTER/Special to the Reporter)

Fort White High Principal Keith Couey walks on to the Arrowhead Stadium field last month for graduation. Couey is being moved to the district office as he prepares to be the district superintendent. (RAY CARPENTER/Special to the Reporter)

Couey headed to district office

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, June 21, 2024
Unopposed in his pursuit for the superintendent’s position, Keith Couey’s time at the Columbia County School District office will begin prior to the election.
Stacy Brandon, the late Matt Brandon’s widow, and Deborah Freeman received the Servant’s Heart Award on Tuesday from Community Hospice & Palliative Care. Matt Brandon and Freeman were honored for their community service. (COURTESY)

Stacy Brandon, the late Matt Brandon’s widow, and Deborah Freeman received the Servant’s Heart Award on Tuesday from Community Hospice & Palliative Care. Matt Brandon and Freeman were honored for their community service. (COURTESY)

Community Hospice honors pair for community service

NEWS STAFF
Friday, June 21, 2024
Community Hospice & Palliative Care honored a pair of Lake City residents — one posthumously — for their community service this week.
Colin Maxwell, a 17-year-old from Jacksonville, competes in the long jump Thursday during an AAU regional championship at the Columbia High School track. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Colin Maxwell, a 17-year-old from Jacksonville, competes in the long jump Thursday during an AAU regional championship at the Columbia High School track. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

CHS track attracts hundreds for AAU event

TONY BRITT
Friday, June 21, 2024
The Columbia High School track was busy with activity this week with young athletes running, jumping, racing and competing. While the local schools are on summer break, a bunch of visitors are competing at the local track for the first Regional Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Championship.
Mayor Stephen Witt delivers a speech during Keith Williams’ retirement party Thursday at Marion Street Bistro. Witt also provided Williams with a proclamation celebrating his years of service. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Mayor Stephen Witt delivers a speech during Keith Williams’ retirement party Thursday at Marion Street Bistro. Witt also provided Williams with a proclamation celebrating his years of service. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Williams’ service at humane society celebrated

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, June 20, 2024
Following four years of service as president at the Lake City Humane Society and many more on the board, Keith Williams is calling it a career.
Commissioner Tim Murphy, a former Lake Shore Hospital Authority board member, said Thursday that it’s time the taxpayers of Columbia County decide if the authority is still needed. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Commissioner Tim Murphy, a former Lake Shore Hospital Authority board member, said Thursday that it’s time the taxpayers of Columbia County decide if the authority is still needed. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Hospital Authority future could go to ballot

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, June 20, 2024
Columbia County residents may be asked this fall if they want to see the Lake Shore Hospital Authority go away.
A Jeep is all decked out for the holiday at last year’s Fourth of July Celebration in Wilson Park. (FILE)

A Jeep is all decked out for the holiday at last year’s Fourth of July Celebration in Wilson Park. (FILE)

Rotary excited about July 4 celebration

TONY BRITT
Thursday, June 20, 2024
A bunch of patriotic scenes, themes, festivities and smiles are expected in a few days when the Rotary Club of Lake City hosts its annual event celebrating America’s 248th birthday.
Assistant County Manager Kevin Kirby said he didn’t know what the county could do to fix Rum Island. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Assistant County Manager Kevin Kirby said he didn’t know what the county could do to fix Rum Island. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County considers sending Rum Island back to feds

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, June 20, 2024
Running out of ideas on how to handle the ongoing issues at Rum Island, the Columbia County Commission is interested in making it a federal problem.
Mike Null, the president of the Lake City Columbia County Tennis Association, talks about the tennis courts at Youngs Park and the shade structure that was dedicated Thursday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Mike Null, the president of the Lake City Columbia County Tennis Association, talks about the tennis courts at Youngs Park and the shade structure that was dedicated Thursday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Youngs Park tennis shade unveiled

TONY BRITT
Thursday, June 20, 2024
For the past few years local tennis enthusiasts have had to battle the North Florida sunshine while competing or watching tennis at Youngs Park. However, thanks to a partnership with the Columbia County Commission, spectators and participants now have it made in the shade.

Clifton, Reddish to make Music Park debuts

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, June 20, 2024
LIVE OAK — With the arrival of summer, the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park will be heating up with a debut performance this weekend. On Saturday night, Katie Reddish & Dalton Clifton make their Music Park debut from 7-10 p.m.

I-75 overpass hit by excavator

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, June 20, 2024
Equipment headed west on Interstate 10 on Wednesday afternoon did some unwanted work on the Interstate 75 interchange. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a pickup was headed west on I-10 at 2:25 p.m.