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During a drug bust Friday at a Koonville Avenue residence, drugs were found in a gun safe in one of the bedrooms, as well as in the kitchen cabinets and on the porch. (COURTESY)

During a drug bust Friday at a Koonville Avenue residence, drugs were found in a gun safe in one of the bedrooms, as well as in the kitchen cabinets and on the porch. (COURTESY)

Pair arrested in drug bust

NEWS STAFF
Monday, June 3, 2024
WELLBORN – A pair of Columbia County men were arrested Friday following a drug bust at their residence near the Suwannee County line.
Keyonis Alexander takes a selfie with her classmates as Fort White High School graduation candidates head to the stadium for the school’s commencement exercise on Friday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Keyonis Alexander takes a selfie with her classmates as Fort White High School graduation candidates head to the stadium for the school’s commencement exercise on Friday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White grads focus on future

TONY BRITT
Friday, May 31, 2024
FORT WHITE — Subdued, yet confident, a group of Fort White High School students sat in designated seats one last time at the school. The students were Class of 2024 graduation candidates and they stood less than an hour away from the greatest achievement in their academic lives up to this point.
Columbia County Tax Collector’s Office employees La Gina Dow (from left), Thelton Goff and Tracy Nettles look at the county’s delinquent tax rolls Friday as the tax sales certificate auction ended. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Tax Collector’s Office employees La Gina Dow (from left), Thelton Goff and Tracy Nettles look at the county’s delinquent tax rolls Friday as the tax sales certificate auction ended. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County recoups $4M+ in tax sales

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, May 31, 2024
Friday was a pretty good revenue day for the Columbia County Tax Collector’s Office. The public auction on tax sale certificates for unpaid property taxes ended Friday with more than 99% of the unpaid money due to the county collected. Out of $4.
The $11.9 million resurfacing project on U.S. Highway 27 that will begin next week will cover the roadway from the Alachua County line to the Suwannee County line. (COURTESY)

The $11.9 million resurfacing project on U.S. Highway 27 that will begin next week will cover the roadway from the Alachua County line to the Suwannee County line. (COURTESY)

U.S. 27 resurfacing begins next week

NEWS STAFF
Friday, May 31, 2024
Construction will begin next week on resurfacing U.S. Highway 27 through Columbia County. The $11.9 million project, which will be performed by Anderson Columbia, will last through early 2025, according to the Florida Department of Transportation, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting.
Columbia County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Steven Khachigan (left photo, right) and Suwannee County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Wayne Kelly (right photo, right) were part of the 15th graduating class of the Florida Sheriff's Association Commanders Academy. Both are pictured with FSA Executive Director Steve Casey. (COURTESY)

Columbia County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Steven Khachigan (left photo, right) and Suwannee County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Wayne Kelly (right photo, right) were part of the 15th graduating class of the Florida Sheriff's Association Commanders Academy. Both are pictured with FSA Executive Director Steve Casey. (COURTESY)

Khachigan, Kelly graduate from FSA Commanders Academy

NEWS STAFF
Friday, May 31, 2024
TALLAHASSEE — Two area law enforcement officers graduated with additional leadership training last week. Sgt. Steven Khachigan with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Sgt.
Darryl Thomas (from left), Columbia High School welding instructor, talks to Sen. Rick Scott’s team members Paul Bonicelli and Sarah Salas on Wednesday morning in the school’s welding facility. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Darryl Thomas (from left), Columbia High School welding instructor, talks to Sen. Rick Scott’s team members Paul Bonicelli and Sarah Salas on Wednesday morning in the school’s welding facility. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Senate aides talk shop at CHS

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Operating under the premise, “if you want the best answer, go to the top source,” members of Sen. Rick Scott’s team visited the Columbia High School welding program Wednesday morning.
A volunteer readies to make blueberry pancakes at last year’s Wellborn Blueberry Festival. (FILE)

A volunteer readies to make blueberry pancakes at last year’s Wellborn Blueberry Festival. (FILE)

Wellborn set for 30th Blueberry Festival

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
WELLBORN — Craft vendors, live music and more than 10,000 pounds of blueberries are ready to return for one of the area’s longest-running community events. The 30th annual Wellborn Blueberry Festival will kick off this Saturday, June 1, at Andrews Square in Wellborn. The event runs from 7 a.m.-4 p.
A Battlefield cross sits in the Veterans Memorial section of the Live Oak Cemetery during the Memorial Day service Monday as flags adorn the graves of the veterans buried there. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

A Battlefield cross sits in the Veterans Memorial section of the Live Oak Cemetery during the Memorial Day service Monday as flags adorn the graves of the veterans buried there. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Fletcher: Memorial Day about recalling fallen heroes

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
LIVE OAK — During his career in the U.S. Air Force, Jeff Fletcher was tasked with keeping others safe as a security specialist. That included two missions with Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf to Central America, including a peacekeeping mission prior to the start of the Gulf War.

Fort White graduating more than 150

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
FORT WHITE — Exactly one week after the 2024 school year ended, more than 150 Fort White High School seniors will get their moment to shine when the school holds its commencement exercise this week. The FWHS graduation ceremony will take place 8 p.m.