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Fort White Elementary fifth-grader Tucker Ayers placed second in the First Coast Spelling Bee in Jacksonville last week. (COURTESY)

Fort White Elementary fifth-grader Tucker Ayers placed second in the First Coast Spelling Bee in Jacksonville last week. (COURTESY)

Fort White’s Ayers finishes second in regional bee

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Tucker Ayers, the Fort White Elementary School student who won the Columbia County Spelling Bee, finished second in the regional competition last week.
The City of Lake City’s current district map, which must be redrawn due to the large discrepancy in the number of residents living in each district. (COURTESY)

The City of Lake City’s current district map, which must be redrawn due to the large discrepancy in the number of residents living in each district. (COURTESY)

Consultant: City ‘must redistrict’

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
The Lake City Council has no options: it must redistrict, according to the city’s consultant.

Report: Stolen car chase topped 130 mph

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
One suspect is still on the loose following Monday’s high-speed chase south of Lake City that topped 130 miles per hour. According to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office report released Tuesday, an officer responded to the area of County Road 242A and U.S.

Library looks to go ‘fine-free’

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
A “fine-free future” may be coming to the Columbia County Public Library. Outreach and Youth Services Librarian Kate Duong is scheduled to present the library’s plan to eliminate overdue fines to the County Commission at its meeting Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
Members of the Columbia High School color guard introduce girls to the activity during a clinic Saturday. (COURTESY)

Members of the Columbia High School color guard introduce girls to the activity during a clinic Saturday. (COURTESY)

CHS color guard hosts youth clinic

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Although it was the weekend, there was still lots of spinning and choreography work taking place at Columbia High School. A color guard clinic introduced 19 young girls to the activity Saturday at the multipurpose building on the CHS campus.
Columbia High School senior Shamarria Bowles will sing the national anthem Friday at the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp baseball game and could have the opportunity to perform at a future Jacksonville Jaguars NFL game. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia High School senior Shamarria Bowles will sing the national anthem Friday at the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp baseball game and could have the opportunity to perform at a future Jacksonville Jaguars NFL game. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Bowles performing national anthem for Jumbo Shrimp

TONY BRITT
Monday, April 3, 2023
A Columbia High School senior is ready to deliver her first pitch for a professional sports franchise. Shamarria Bowles, an 18-year-old CHS student, will be singing the national anthem before the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp’s game Friday against the Durham Bulls.

$25K+ embezzled from FW Gun Club

NEWS STAFF
Monday, April 3, 2023
FORT WHITE — A member embezzled more than $25,000 from the Fort White Gun Club, while also stealing funds from a Bell church, according to authorities.

Wellborn man caught on way to teen meetup

NEWS STAFF
Monday, April 3, 2023
A Wellborn man was arrested Monday morning on his way to meet a teenage girl in Lake City. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children unit arrested 33-year-old Terence Lawrence on Monday after performing a traffic stop.
Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Tomi Brown (standing) makes the rounds at a dinner honoring election workers. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Tomi Brown (standing) makes the rounds at a dinner honoring election workers. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Poll workers thanked, recruited

TONY BRITT
Monday, April 3, 2023
The 2024 election season is still months away. The Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Office, though, is already making plans for the upcoming election cycle.
A college recruiter speaks with a prospective student at last year’s Florida Gateway College career fair and transfer day event. (COURTESY)

A college recruiter speaks with a prospective student at last year’s Florida Gateway College career fair and transfer day event. (COURTESY)

FGC hosting career fair, transfer day

NEWS STAFF
Monday, April 3, 2023
Florida Gateway College students will have the chance for a face-to-face encounter with their future today. The college is hosting its annual Spring Fling, career fair and transfer day from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. today on the pedestrian walkways near the Student Center on the Lake City campus.