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Two SUVs and a camper are engulfed in flames after a crash on State Road 136 near the State Farmer’s Market in White Springs on March 22. (COURTESY OF GLENN ALLEN)

Two SUVs and a camper are engulfed in flames after a crash on State Road 136 near the State Farmer’s Market in White Springs on March 22. (COURTESY OF GLENN ALLEN)

Ag officers honored for actions after crash

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
WHITE SPRINGS — Three Florida agriculture law enforcement officers were honored Friday for their “heroic actions” following a fiery Suwannee County crash a week earlier.
Ethan Humphries (center), a Branford High School student, uses gloves while getting tips from Eric Crawford, a Clay Electric line supervisor, during 2021's Build My Future event. (FILE)

Ethan Humphries (center), a Branford High School student, uses gloves while getting tips from Eric Crawford, a Clay Electric line supervisor, during 2021's Build My Future event. (FILE)

Build My Future pushed back

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Area high school students’ hands-on look at trade professions will have to wait. The 2024 Build My Future event, designed to showcase professions in the building and construction and trade industry to area high school student, has been postponed to May 8, due to the threat of inclement weather.
CHS welders Karsyn Sims (left) and Madison Bailey became the first female students at CHS to earn their welding certificates after passing their tests Tuesday. (COURTESY)

CHS welders Karsyn Sims (left) and Madison Bailey became the first female students at CHS to earn their welding certificates after passing their tests Tuesday. (COURTESY)

Welded together in CHS history

TONY BRITT
Friday, March 29, 2024
Working in helmets designed to protect their eyesight, wearing gloves sturdy enough to protect their hands from a lifetime of scars, a pair of Columbia High School girls have proven they can conquer welding at the top level.

Dicks Realty among best in country

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, March 29, 2024
A Lake City real estate office is one of the best in the nation. Dicks Realty was honored last week at the United Country Real Estate training and awards convention in Texas as one of the brands’ top 20 selling offices in the country.
Sean Dietrich will perform Saturday, April 6, at Florida Gateway College. (FILE)

Sean Dietrich will perform Saturday, April 6, at Florida Gateway College. (FILE)

Tickets scarce for Sean of the South

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, March 29, 2024
When the Sean of the South returns to Lake City next week, he will be greeted by a sellout at the Levy Performing Arts Center. As of late Friday morning, fewer than 10 tickets remained for the “Florida Gateway College presents Sean of the South LIVE” show Saturday, April 6, at the Levy PAC.
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.