Local

Diana Duque, the new health officer at the Columbia County Health Department, is looking to strengthen community health in her new role. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Diana Duque, the new health officer at the Columbia County Health Department, is looking to strengthen community health in her new role. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Duque aims to strengthen community health in Columbia County

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
The Columbia County Health Department handles community health needs, environmental health needs and public health concerns for the county.
Jacob Sheldon reads his book, ‘I Think My Cat’s A Wizard’ to students at Belmont Academy. (COURTESY)

Jacob Sheldon reads his book, ‘I Think My Cat’s A Wizard’ to students at Belmont Academy. (COURTESY)

Teen writes, illustrates first book

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Ever wondered what the cat is up to while at work all day? Jacob Sheldon, a 19-year-old paraprofessional at Summers Elementary School, did.

Stamp Out Hunger food drive set for May pickup

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Food delivery will flow the opposite way next month thanks to an upcoming country-wide food drive. The National Association of Letter Carriers is set to conduct its 32nd annual national Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 11.

I-75, 10 exit closing next week

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
One of the exits at the Interstates 10 and 75 interchange will be closed next week. The Florida Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that the exit from I-75 south to I-10 west will close Monday at 8 a.m. so crews can work on erosion repair.
GSMS Developers has two homes on this weekend’s Parade of Homes, both in the Eagle Pointe subdivision east of Live Oak. (STAFF)

GSMS Developers has two homes on this weekend’s Parade of Homes, both in the Eagle Pointe subdivision east of Live Oak. (STAFF)

Parade of Homes expands into Suwannee County

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
When the Parade of Homes extends into Suwannee County for the first time this weekend, it will be greeted by a familiar builder. GSMS Developers, which was part of past Parade of Homes, will have two homes in display on the east side of Live Oak in the Eagle Pointe subdivision.
Fort White High School thespians Gracie Norman (from left), Mason Steele, Casey Dettman, Gracey Ayers and Juliette Torres, rehearse a scene for the school’s upcoming production of Beauty and The Beast. The production is the first musical in the school’s history and the first production in the school’s new performing arts center. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White High School thespians Gracie Norman (from left), Mason Steele, Casey Dettman, Gracey Ayers and Juliette Torres, rehearse a scene for the school’s upcoming production of Beauty and The Beast. The production is the first musical in the school’s history and the first production in the school’s new performing arts center. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Historic FWHS performance

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
FORT WHITE — For the past two decades, Fort White High School students in the drama program,  performed the school’s productions in the gymnasium and other venues. This year, for the first time, the students will get to have their production in a new performing arts center on campus.
Gibraltar Contracting and Mark Bauer have a home in the Country Lake at Woodborough neighborhood on this year’s Parade of Homes showcase this weekend. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Gibraltar Contracting and Mark Bauer have a home in the Country Lake at Woodborough neighborhood on this year’s Parade of Homes showcase this weekend. (TODD WILSON/Lake City Reporter)

Eight houses ready for Parade of Homes

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
The 2024 edition of the Parade of Homes will feature eight homes across two counties. The premier new-home building showcase in North Florida returns this weekend with eight homes on display Saturday and Sunday in Columbia and Suwannee counties.

Tweaked Niblack plans approved

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Modified drawings and plans for the new Minnie J. Niblack Elementary School garnered school board approval Tuesday. The Columbia County School Board unanimously approved the Phase III drawings for the new Niblack school, which will begin construction this summer.

CCSO deputies help save abducted child

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Four Alabama women were arrested Saturday after Columbia County Sheriff’s Office helped save an abducted 7-year-old child from Brevard County. According to a release from the Melbourne Police Department, the boy was kidnapped by multiple female suspects just before 11 a.m.

13th annual Fins and Pins returns Saturday

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Community fun for a good cause will reach its pinnacle this weekend when the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office teams up with the community members for its annual fundraiser combining a bowl-a-thon and fish fry, tabbed as Fins and Pins.