Local

Saint Leo Univesity is closing the Lake City Education Center within the next six months. The Saint Leo location was here for 25 years. (FILE)

Saint Leo Univesity is closing the Lake City Education Center within the next six months. The Saint Leo location was here for 25 years. (FILE)

Saint Leo shuttering Lake City location

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, February 16, 2023
After a quarter of a century, Lions will no longer be produced in Lake City. Saint Leo University announced Thursday that it was closing eight of its 14 education centers, including the Lake City Education Center. The closures are to occur within the next six months.
County Attorney Joel Foreman (left) stressed the importance of threats of penalties for people not obtaining necessary special use permits. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County Attorney Joel Foreman (left) stressed the importance of threats of penalties for people not obtaining necessary special use permits. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County eyes hashing out special use permits

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, February 16, 2023
While law enforcement and public safety issues weren’t at the top of the agenda Thursday night, they certainly became the most talked-about issues during the evening’s Columbia County Board of County Commissioners meeting.
Tristian Huff (from left) and Stevee Boyd look over science fair projects as 2023 Suwannee Valley Regional Science and Engineering Fair judges on Thursday after at the Wilson S. Rivers Media Center on the Florida Gateway campus. Winners will be announced today at the Levy Performing Arts Center. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Tristian Huff (from left) and Stevee Boyd look over science fair projects as 2023 Suwannee Valley Regional Science and Engineering Fair judges on Thursday after at the Wilson S. Rivers Media Center on the Florida Gateway campus. Winners will be announced today at the Levy Performing Arts Center. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Science fair returns to Florida Gateway

TONY BRITT
Thursday, February 16, 2023
More than 20 students, representing seven schools in the region, and their science fair display boards filled the lounge area of the Wilson S. Rivers Media Center on the Florida Gateway College campus Thursday morning.

U.S. 441 reopened

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, February 16, 2023
A stretch of U.S. Highway 441 was closed Thursday morning in northern Columbia County due to smoke and fog. The roadway was back open, as of 9 a.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol. FHP had announced at 7 a.m. that U.S.

Teens face attempted murder charges in shooting

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Two face attempted murder charges for an October shooting near Melrose Park Elementary School. Demontre Paul Ward, a 19-year-old from Lake City, and a male juvenile were arrested Wednesday on four counts of attempted murder for the Oct. 8, 2022, shooting incident.
Brian Stalnaker is led away in handcuffs Wednesday after a day on the run from law enforcement. (COURTESY CCSO)

Brian Stalnaker is led away in handcuffs Wednesday after a day on the run from law enforcement. (COURTESY CCSO)

Fugitive found after day of running

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
A fugitive who escaped custody at a state parole office in Lake City was found and arrested Wednesday after a day on the run. Brian Anthony Stalnaker, 35, was originally arrested Tuesday after violating his probation on a felony battery charge.

Entertainment lineups set for Olustee

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
The 44th annual Olustee Festival begins Friday morning and will continue through Saturday evening at Wilson Park on the shore of Lake DeSoto, featuring a total of nearly 100 vendors, including arts and crafts vendors, food vendors and food trucks, a Kids Zone and several local entertainers.