Local

Chris Candler, co-owner of Halpatter Brewing Company, holds one of the cans of Seymour Finnegan’s, the brewery’s first cans set for distribution. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Chris Candler, co-owner of Halpatter Brewing Company, holds one of the cans of Seymour Finnegan’s, the brewery’s first cans set for distribution. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Halpatter ready to ship out first batch of cans

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, March 31, 2023
It’s one of the questions Halpatter Brewing Company hears most when they attend festivals and other events: Where can I buy this? The answer is finally close for Chris Candler and Jonny Frazier and the rest of the Halpatter crew.
Richardson Sixth Grade Academy Principal Lisa Lee was all smiles Thursday as she was honored as a 2022-23 Principal Leadership Award winner by Florida TaxWatch. (COURTESY)

Richardson Sixth Grade Academy Principal Lisa Lee was all smiles Thursday as she was honored as a 2022-23 Principal Leadership Award winner by Florida TaxWatch. (COURTESY)

RSGA’s Lee earns statewide ‘leadership award’

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, March 31, 2023
A local principal has been recognized for going above and beyond her scope to help out her students. Richardson Sixth Grade Academy Principal Lisa Lee was honored Thursday by Florida TaxWatch, earning a 2022-23 Principal Leadership Award for her work in helping her students.
Fort White Elementary School won the 2023 Kiwanis Battle of the Brains on Thursday. Team members, in front, include Sarah Rafael (from left), Wyatt Chism,Tucker Ayers and Brayden Blalock. They are joined in back by Stephanie Lunde, Dr. Marilyn Gassett, Alan Gatzke, John Kasak, and James Carter, the president of Lake City Kiwanis Club. (COURTESY)

Fort White Elementary School won the 2023 Kiwanis Battle of the Brains on Thursday. Team members, in front, include Sarah Rafael (from left), Wyatt Chism,Tucker Ayers and Brayden Blalock. They are joined in back by Stephanie Lunde, Dr. Marilyn Gassett, Alan Gatzke, John Kasak, and James Carter, the president of Lake City Kiwanis Club. (COURTESY)

FWES wins Battle of the Brains

NEWS STAFF
Friday, March 31, 2023
The Columbia County School District hosted its 2023 Kiwanis Battle of the Brains on Thursday afternoon where fifth graders from 10 elementary schools competed in five preliminary rounds.
Elder Carter Snow (from left) helps Sisters Kimberlie Palmer and Tara Wallace secure their bikes on a bicycle rack on Thursday afternoon in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints parking lot on Old Country Club Road. The missionaries were taking part in Transfer Day where they were pairing-up with new companions to conduct their mission work. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Elder Carter Snow (from left) helps Sisters Kimberlie Palmer and Tara Wallace secure their bikes on a bicycle rack on Thursday afternoon in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints parking lot on Old Country Club Road. The missionaries were taking part in Transfer Day where they were pairing-up with new companions to conduct their mission work. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

‘Transfer Day’ sends Elders, Sisters on new missions

TONY BRITT
Friday, March 31, 2023
A sense of excitement, joy, wonder and that feeling of exhilaration associated with new beginnings permeated from teens and twenty-somethings in a church parking lot Thursday afternoon.
Artist Joanna McNally will demonstrate her techniques in the “Keep Simple” landscape painting workshop at the Gateway Art Gallery on April 10. (COURTESY)

Artist Joanna McNally will demonstrate her techniques in the “Keep Simple” landscape painting workshop at the Gateway Art Gallery on April 10. (COURTESY)

McNally set to be April featured artist at Gateway Art Gallery

TONY BRITT
Thursday, March 30, 2023
Traveling around the country has provided Joanna McNally with an opportunity to see and experience small time Americana.

CCS launching half-cent tax oversight panel

TONY BRITT
Thursday, March 30, 2023
Although the 2022-23 school year is winding down, the Columbia County School District is looking for more personnel. The district isn’t looking for additional teachers, though. Rather, the district is seeking individuals to serve on its inaugural Half-Cent Sales Tax Citizen Oversight Committee.
Columbia County Tax Collector Kyle Keen (right) holds the new University of Georgia license plate while Tracy Nettles, the director of motor services at the tax collector’s office, holds the Ducks Unlimited plate. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Tax Collector Kyle Keen (right) holds the new University of Georgia license plate while Tracy Nettles, the director of motor services at the tax collector’s office, holds the Ducks Unlimited plate. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Champion ’Dogs get Florida plates

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, March 30, 2023
Coming off consecutive national championships, University of Georgia fans have another place to showcase their spirit in Florida: attached to their vehicles.
Fort White High School winter guard members Jada McNeal (from left), Kaitlyn Johnson, Brody Crews, Abigail Lambert, Stephanie Selman and Jodalis Alicea earned straight superiors at state competition.

Fort White High School winter guard members Jada McNeal (from left), Kaitlyn Johnson, Brody Crews, Abigail Lambert, Stephanie Selman and Jodalis Alicea earned straight superiors at state competition.

Superior spinning: Fort White winter guard impresses at state competition

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
While most area youngsters were relaxing, gaming or finding other ways of enjoying their spring break last week, a group of six Fort White High School students had fun, traveled and achieved their performance goals in indoor color guard competition.

Visit Florida funding may come locally

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Visit Florida has helped lure travelers to Columbia and Suwannee counties. Any future assistance may come on the back of local funding, according to a Florida House subcommittee proposal.