Local

Amari Murphy (sitting) waits to take photographs for Florida Gateway College students as Kinsey Akins, Savannah Capps and Madisson Jones wait in line Monday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Amari Murphy (sitting) waits to take photographs for Florida Gateway College students as Kinsey Akins, Savannah Capps and Madisson Jones wait in line Monday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

FGC enjoys great start to fall semester

TONY BRITT
Monday, August 22, 2022
From groups of students waiting in line to have their identification cards made, to taking selfies and pictures with the school mascot or watching groups of students fill the walkways heading to and from classes, the Florida Gateway College was busy Monday as the first day of the fall 2023 semester...

State awards $1M to Fort White

TONY BRITT
Monday, August 22, 2022
FORT WHITE — Nearly $1 million in grant funding will provide this southern Columbia County town with sidewalk improvements and increased safety for children accessing the schools.

Local races to be decided Tuesday

NEWS STAFF
Monday, August 22, 2022
The political forecast should become a lot more clear tonight. The primary season officially comes to a close tonight after 12 days of early voting ended Saturday.

Traffic detoured around U.S. 41 N roundabout

NEWS STAFF
Monday, August 22, 2022
Another round of detours for the roundabout on U.S. Highway 41 North will occur this week. As Anderson Columbia continues construction on the roundabout at the U.S. 41 North intersection with Bascom Norris Drive, the Florida Department of Transportation is having traffic detoured from 7 p.m.
Water samples from test wells drilled for the North Florida Mega Industrial Park have had unacceptable levels of arsenic, causing issues for development at the park. (FILE)

Water samples from test wells drilled for the North Florida Mega Industrial Park have had unacceptable levels of arsenic, causing issues for development at the park. (FILE)

Arsenic in test wells causing issues for county development

TONY BRITT
Saturday, August 20, 2022
Columbia County — and the North Florida Mega Industrial Park — has a water issue. Arsenic has been found in test wells drilled by the county near the park and the discovery is impacting the county’s plans future utility plans.

FGC to hold 34th annual College Night

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, August 20, 2022
College Night is returning to Florida Gateway College. The college is hosting the 34th annual College Night on Tuesday in the Howard Center. The event will last from 5:30-7 p.m.
Jamie Lane (standing), a United Way of Suwannee Valley case worker, addresses the audience during the organization’s campaign kickoff Thursday night at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds exhibition hall. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Jamie Lane (standing), a United Way of Suwannee Valley case worker, addresses the audience during the organization’s campaign kickoff Thursday night at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds exhibition hall. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

United Way kicks off fundraising campaign

TONY BRITT
Saturday, August 20, 2022
The United Way of Suwannee Valley held its 2022-23 campaign kickoff Thursday evening at the Columbia County Fairgrounds looking to prime local donors for months of a fruitful campaign fundraising season.
A first responder in a hazmat suit gets decontaminated after a traffic stop Wednesday night. (COURTESY LCFD)

A first responder in a hazmat suit gets decontaminated after a traffic stop Wednesday night. (COURTESY LCFD)

Hazmat team called for late night traffic stop

TONY BRITT
Thursday, August 18, 2022
A late night traffic stop turned into a life-threatening incident Wednesday when pool chemicals created a hazardous cloud for Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputies involved.