Local

Museum hosting Summer Blast for children

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
While it may not be a full ‘Night at the Museum,’ a few hours of fun are scheduled to take place this weekend when the local historical museum holds its annual summer bash for local children.The Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum’s third annual Summer Blast will take place 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Pittman hired to oversee city parks project

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Columbia County’s loss is the City of Lake City’s temporary gain.Five weeks after Clint Pittman resigned as Columbia County’s parks and landscape director, Pittman is now the city’s superintendent of parks, a temporary position that was approved by the Lake City Council on Monday.

Slater named Reporter’s interim general manager

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Monja Slater has been promoted to interim general manager of the Lake City Reporter, according to Mark Major, the president of Community Newspapers Inc., the owner of the Reporter.Slater joined the Reporter in 2021 and has served as its advertising director and business development manager.
U.S. Army veterans John “Dutch” Shultz (foreground from left), Dawn Huston and Terry Holliday pose for a Flag Day photograph as Kenneth Burkes, an American Legion member, holds the flag. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

U.S. Army veterans John “Dutch” Shultz (foreground from left), Dawn Huston and Terry Holliday pose for a Flag Day photograph as Kenneth Burkes, an American Legion member, holds the flag. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

VA Domiciliary celebrates Army’s birthday, Flag Day

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Residents of the Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans’ Domiciliary Home of Florida spent the past few days celebrating.Tasked with activities such as competitions, a scavenger hunt, venturing through ration packets and  participating in a celebration for the U.S.
North Florida Water Utilities Authority Attorney Grady Williams holds up one of the agreements that established the NFWUA during Monday’s meeting. Williams and Executive Director Shannon Roberts asked the board for direction as far as to the timeline for transferring assets from Columbia and Suwannee counties to the Authority. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

North Florida Water Utilities Authority Attorney Grady Williams holds up one of the agreements that established the NFWUA during Monday’s meeting. Williams and Executive Director Shannon Roberts asked the board for direction as far as to the timeline for transferring assets from Columbia and Suwannee counties to the Authority. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

NFWUA slows down transferring assets

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
The North Florida Water Utility Authority tapped the brakes Monday on completely taking over control of utility plants in Columbia and Suwannee counties.During the NFWUA board’s meeting Monday, talk about potentially transferring the physical assets within the two counties to the Authority by Oct.

Council opts out of new EMS tax

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
The City of Lake City isn’t interested in implementing a tax for emergency medical services.An ordinance to take part in a Municipal Service Taxing Unit for EMS died for lack of a motion during the Lake City Council’s lengthy meeting Monday night.
Erik Bredfelt with Inspire told the Lake City Council that its update of the Community Redevelopment Agency plan was important because those funds can only be spent on projects outlined in the plan. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Erik Bredfelt with Inspire told the Lake City Council that its update of the Community Redevelopment Agency plan was important because those funds can only be spent on projects outlined in the plan. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Revised CRA plan focused on five areas of improvements

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
A revamped Lake City Community Redevelopment Agency plan is focused on improvements in five areas.
North Florida Water Utilities Authority board member Steven Dicks said the group needs to start reaching out to small governments about how it can help with utilities since the proposed property tax cut could limit budgets for those entities. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

North Florida Water Utilities Authority board member Steven Dicks said the group needs to start reaching out to small governments about how it can help with utilities since the proposed property tax cut could limit budgets for those entities. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Property tax cut a ‘golden opportunity’ for utility group

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
The property tax referendum in front of Florida voters this fall may turn out to be a boost to the North Florida Water Utilities Authority.At least one NFWUA board member thinks so.