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Karyss Butler (from left) and Christopher Hardman, two Columbia High seniors, get recruitment and career tips from Mary Sharpelletti, Chief Petty Officer with the USCG recruiting office in Jacksonville during the Columbia High School College and Career Fair on Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Karyss Butler (from left) and Christopher Hardman, two Columbia High seniors, get recruitment and career tips from Mary Sharpelletti, Chief Petty Officer with the USCG recruiting office in Jacksonville during the Columbia High School College and Career Fair on Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

CHS students learn about opportunities at Career Fair

TONY BRITT
Friday, March 29, 2024
A large contingent of Columbia High School students spent a huge chunk of their time studying in the gymnasium Thursday.
An area high school student tries her hand on working with electric lines at the Clay Electric Cooperative booth at the 2022 Build My Future event. This year’s event is Wednesday at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. (FILE)

An area high school student tries her hand on working with electric lines at the Clay Electric Cooperative booth at the 2022 Build My Future event. This year’s event is Wednesday at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. (FILE)

Build My Future event returns Wednesday

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
The Florida Gateway Fairgrounds will transform into an expo site Wednesday morning when local trade professionals showcase their industries to local high school students. The 2024 Build My Future event will take place Wednesday, April 3, at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds.

City manager search down to pair

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
The search for the City of Lake City’s next city manager is down to two. Juan Guerra, the controller for the City of Cape Coral, has withdrawn from Lake City’s search due to accepting a different position, according to a manager search update report to the Lake City Council.

TDC pulling away from springs

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Florida’s Springlands is being drained. Less than two years after the Columbia County Tourist Development Council launched its new logo and branding of “Lake City, Florida’s Springlands,” the county department is now looking to “diversify its message.

Lake City man convicted of murder

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
After two hours of deliberations Wednesday afternoon, a Columbia County jury found a Lake City man guilty of second-degree murder while armed in a May 2022 shooting death.
The team of the Chief’s Council Members — Halpatter’s Mug Club — assemble Easter eggs for Saturday’s hunt. Douglas Weisberg (from left), Kristen Jones, Tim Jones, Lindsey Strickland, Casey Woods, Ryan Scuglia, Glenn Rasmussen and Heidi Scuglia put together roughly 3,000 eggs filled with candy and local coupons for the event. (COURTESY)

The team of the Chief’s Council Members — Halpatter’s Mug Club — assemble Easter eggs for Saturday’s hunt. Douglas Weisberg (from left), Kristen Jones, Tim Jones, Lindsey Strickland, Casey Woods, Ryan Scuglia, Glenn Rasmussen and Heidi Scuglia put together roughly 3,000 eggs filled with candy and local coupons for the event. (COURTESY)

Halpatter hosting adult egg hunt

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
The beer won’t be the only hoppy thing in downtown Lake City this weekend. Halpatter Brewing Company is set to host its sixth annual Hippity Hop Adult Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. The event will begin with Halpatter staff handing out maps at the beer garden in the brewery at 12:45 p.m.
Brock and William Dees, the winners of the inaugural DeSoto Derby Canoe Race, lead down the home stretch of their heat during Saturday’s fundraising event for Lake City Elks Lodge #893. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Brock and William Dees, the winners of the inaugural DeSoto Derby Canoe Race, lead down the home stretch of their heat during Saturday’s fundraising event for Lake City Elks Lodge #893. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Inaugural DeSoto Derby Canoe Race raises fun, funds

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
The western bank of Lake DeSoto was brimming with activity Saturday morning. However, most of the attention was centered on the lake itself for the inaugural DeSoto Derby Canoe Race.
A line of first responders wait to order at Big Chicken during Tuesday’s sneak peek at the new Lake City restaurant. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

A line of first responders wait to order at Big Chicken during Tuesday’s sneak peek at the new Lake City restaurant. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Shaq’s Big Chicken: A ‘slam dunk’

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
The Lake City Big Chicken has big plans for its biggest fans. When the restaurant in the Gateway Crossing subdivision at the Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 90 interchange opens officially today at 10 a.m., the first 10 customers through the door will win a free sandwich every week for a year.

Gerard bringing Mark Twain to Gallery

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Area residents will soon have an opportunity to learn about life along the Mississippi as seen through the eyes of one of America’s greatest storytellers — Mark Twain — at the Gateway Art Gallery. The Gallery will host “An Evening with Mark Twain” featuring Bob Gerard as Twain on Friday, April 5.