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A rendering shows the potential design and layout of future playground equipment at Youngs Park. The Lake City Council discussed the possibility of new equipment at Monday’s city council meeting. (COURTESY)

A rendering shows the potential design and layout of future playground equipment at Youngs Park. The Lake City Council discussed the possibility of new equipment at Monday’s city council meeting. (COURTESY)

Major upgrades teased for Youngs Park

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
One of Lake City’s oldest parks is now looking to make wholesale changes with its playground equipment. Steve Brown, the city’s director of public works, gave a presentation to the Lake City Council at its Monday meeting regarding the decaying conditions at Youngs Park.
Florida Gateway College President Larry Barrett approves of the college’s new sign for its Lake Shore campus next to the former two-story women’s center building on the banks of Lake DeSoto in downtown Lake City. (COURTESY FLORIDA GATEWAY COLLEGE)

Florida Gateway College President Larry Barrett approves of the college’s new sign for its Lake Shore campus next to the former two-story women’s center building on the banks of Lake DeSoto in downtown Lake City. (COURTESY FLORIDA GATEWAY COLLEGE)

FGC progressing with Lake Shore campus

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Florida Gateway College is still on track to open its downtown Lake Shore campus this fall.The college erected a sign outside its building, the two-story women’s center building, on the former Lake Shore Hospital campus this week.
Lake City Councilwoman Chevella Young is hoping City Attorney Clay Martin and City Manager Don Rosenthal can come back at a future meeting with a more robust ordinance to deal with street closures during public events. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Councilwoman Chevella Young is hoping City Attorney Clay Martin and City Manager Don Rosenthal can come back at a future meeting with a more robust ordinance to deal with street closures during public events. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City street closure ordinance in works

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Noting concern from the community, a Lake City Councilor is hoping city staffers can produce clearer protocols to keep order during public events.

Massachusetts man arrested on child sex charges

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
A Massachusetts man was arrested in Osceola County last week after traveling to have sex with who he thought was a child.According to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office release, CCSO detectives coordinated with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office on the arrest of 28-year-old Canaan Boddie on Friday.
A tanker drops fire retardant on the ongoing brushfire in the Osceola National Forest near the gun range on the northeast side of Lake City. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

A tanker drops fire retardant on the ongoing brushfire in the Osceola National Forest near the gun range on the northeast side of Lake City. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Road to gun range closed as crews continue to battle blaze

TONY BRITT
Monday, April 20, 2026
Firefighting crews continue to fight a wildfire that has burned approximately 125 acres the past two days.The fire, reportedly ignited Sunday afternoon and was still consuming acreage into Monday afternoon, burning through dry, arid areas of the Osceola National Forest.
Helicopters will be making water drops on hot spots in the Osceola National Forest brush fire that started Sunday near the rifle range on the northeast side of Lake City. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Helicopters will be making water drops on hot spots in the Osceola National Forest brush fire that started Sunday near the rifle range on the northeast side of Lake City. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Containment lines holding on gun range fire

NEWS STAFF
Monday, April 20, 2026
Crews are continuing to battle the brush fire near the rifle range in the Osceola National Forest.According to the Lake City Fire Department, drones flown by the U.S. Forest Service estimate the fire Monday morning to be around 130-150 acres with containment lines holding.
A rendering of the massive Busy Bee store planned for Ellisville, which is expected to open in 2027. The store will be 75,000 square feet and the site will include approximately 700 parking spaces. (COURTESY)

A rendering of the massive Busy Bee store planned for Ellisville, which is expected to open in 2027. The store will be 75,000 square feet and the site will include approximately 700 parking spaces. (COURTESY)

Massive Busy Bee’s tax rebate approved

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 17, 2026
A super-sized convenience store — the largest in Florida — is in line to get a break off its similarly outsized tax contributions to Columbia County.
Columbia County Commission Chairman Tim Murphy (left) and Commissioner Rocky Ford (right) engage in a back-and-forth shouting match during Thursday’s meeting over the sale of the wastewater treatment plant at the North Florida Mega Industrial Park to the City of Lake City. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Commission Chairman Tim Murphy (left) and Commissioner Rocky Ford (right) engage in a back-and-forth shouting match during Thursday’s meeting over the sale of the wastewater treatment plant at the North Florida Mega Industrial Park to the City of Lake City. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County agrees to sell plant to city

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 17, 2026
Columbia County is selling the North Florida Mega Industrial Park wastewater plant to the City of Lake City.
Roger Little (far right), Eastside principal, addresses the audience during the school’s open house event on Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Roger Little (far right), Eastside principal, addresses the audience during the school’s open house event on Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Eastside open house attracts thousands

TONY BRITT
Friday, April 17, 2026
For nearly a year construction crews have been working on building a new Eastside Elementary School on the same property where the school was built more than 50 years ago.
All of Columbia County, as well as Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette counties, are in exceptional drought. (U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR)

All of Columbia County, as well as Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette counties, are in exceptional drought. (U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR)

Columbia County reinstates burn ban

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 17, 2026
Outdoor burning is again banned in Columbia County.Following the recommendation from Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford, the Columbia County Commission unanimously approved reinstating a burn ban at its meeting Thursday night.