Local

Andrew Mielke sets up panels for the Music Fest ride on Wednesday evening at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. The 68th annual Florida Gateway Fair begins Friday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Andrew Mielke sets up panels for the Music Fest ride on Wednesday evening at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. The 68th annual Florida Gateway Fair begins Friday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

68th annual fair opens Friday

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Going back in time usually isn’t a pleasing concept to most people. However, a trip back in time at the Florida Gateway Fair is promised to lead to a good time. The 68th annual Florida Gateway Fair begins Friday with gates opening at 5 p.m.

Early voting starts Saturday

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Voters will have the chance to cast their ballots at the polls in a matter of days. Early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 29, and continue for eight consecutive days through Saturday, Nov. 5. The Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Office in Lake City, 971 W. Duval St.
Brandon Ruwe (foreground) is greeted by Sarah Ripple, an Eastside Elementary School third-grade teacher, as he and Andrew Howard, Ryan McDaniel, Kendalynn Coates and Chloe Felton exit a limousine before Tuesday evening’s school board meeting. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Brandon Ruwe (foreground) is greeted by Sarah Ripple, an Eastside Elementary School third-grade teacher, as he and Andrew Howard, Ryan McDaniel, Kendalynn Coates and Chloe Felton exit a limousine before Tuesday evening’s school board meeting. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Red carpet treatment: Students celebrated for perfect test scores

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Who says red carpet events are limited to just Hollywood? A group of six children — current and former Eastside Elementary School students — got to bask in the type of glow befitting a rockstar on Tuesday afternoon.
Peeler (left) and Porter

Peeler (left) and Porter

Candidates offer school safety ideas

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
School safety is the top priority of both Columbia County School Board District 5 candidates. But Hunter Peeler and Elizabeth Porter have different visions for how to make sure students and district employees stay safe moving forward should they be elected during the Nov. 8 general election.
Elizabeth Porter speaks during a rally hosted by the Columbia County Republican Party in July. (FILE)

Elizabeth Porter speaks during a rally hosted by the Columbia County Republican Party in July. (FILE)

Porter: PAC funding could benefit district

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
As part of her day job, Elizabeth Porter talks with colleges, universities and organizations and foundations dealing with education. It comes with the territory as the outreach specialist for Florida Virtual School.

Mail-in ballots delayed in Columbia County

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
A delay in shipping vote-by-mail ballots is affecting some Columbia County voters. Several hundred vote-by-mail ballots have been delayed in reaching voters, according to the Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Office. “If you have requested a vote-by-mail ballot prior to Oct.

Lake City man killed in semi crash

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
GAINESVILLE — A Lake City man was killed Tuesday morning when his semi trailer veered off Interstate 75 in Gainesville. A Florida Highway Patrol release states that while traveling south on I-75 at 7:50 a.m.

Lake City man killed in semi crash

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
GAINESVILLE — A Lake City man was killed Tuesday morning when his semi trailer veered off Interstate 75 in Gainesville. A Florida Highway Patrol release states that while traveling south on I-75 at 7:50 a.m.
School board candidate Elizabeth Porter speaks during a GOP rally at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds in July. (FILE)

School board candidate Elizabeth Porter speaks during a GOP rally at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds in July. (FILE)

Porter picked by her own PAC

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, October 24, 2022
One of Elizabeth Porter’s latest endorsements came from a political committee she formed and chaired at one time.