Local

Kaiden Flint (from left) helps Jaime Greenwood as she makes a purchase from the Early Bird Flower Truck during the Spring Market and Multi-Cultural Day event. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Kaiden Flint (from left) helps Jaime Greenwood as she makes a purchase from the Early Bird Flower Truck during the Spring Market and Multi-Cultural Day event. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Rain doesn’t damper Multi-Cultural market

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
While dark clouds slowly accumulated in the area on Saturday, the threat of rain they could potentially bring initially did little to scare visitors from the downtown area who were looking to purchase items, eat cuisine from various cultures, listen to music or just meander downtown.

Man charged for threatening hospital staff

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
An upset patient at HCA Lake City Hospital was arrested Monday after threatening to shoot staff and their family.According to the Lake City Police Department, Ryan Delance, a 45-year-old Lake City man, was upset around 2:24 p.m.
Nursing students at Florida Gateway College check on a doll who is on a radiant warmer donated to the school by the Lake Shore Hospital Authority. (COURTESY FLORIDA GATEWAY COLLEGE)

Nursing students at Florida Gateway College check on a doll who is on a radiant warmer donated to the school by the Lake Shore Hospital Authority. (COURTESY FLORIDA GATEWAY COLLEGE)

LSHA donates to FGC nursing

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Florida Gateway College’s nursing program has received a donation of clinical training equipment from the Lake Shore Hospital Authority.
Clint Pittman resigned as Columbia County’s landscape and parks director Thursday after concerns over his running for county commissioner. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Clint Pittman resigned as Columbia County’s landscape and parks director Thursday after concerns over his running for county commissioner. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Pittman quits county job

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, May 8, 2026
A Columbia County department head quit abruptly Thursday to continue his campaign for county commission.
Florida Gateway College students turn their tassels after graduating on Friday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Florida Gateway College students turn their tassels after graduating on Friday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

FGC graduates 358

TONY BRITT
Friday, May 8, 2026
The most recent crowning academic achievement in the lives of more than 300 Florida Gateway College students took place Friday when they became graduates.
Columbia County Sheriff Wallace Kitchings recites the Lord’s Prayer at the National Day of Prayer observance in Olustee Park on Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Sheriff Wallace Kitchings recites the Lord’s Prayer at the National Day of Prayer observance in Olustee Park on Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Eighty observe Day of Prayer

TONY BRITT
Friday, May 8, 2026
Surrounded by smoke from an area wildfire, more than 80 spectators and 11 speakers took their concerns to God on Thursday.
Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford recommended the County Commission extend the county’s burn ban while also wanting to deny any permits for fireworks at graduations due to fire conditions. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford recommended the County Commission extend the county’s burn ban while also wanting to deny any permits for fireworks at graduations due to fire conditions. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County Commission extends burn ban

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, May 8, 2026
Outdoor burning continues to be banned in Columbia County and that will extend to fireworks for the near future as well.During its meeting Thursday morning, the Columbia County Commission unanimously approved extending the county’s burn ban an additional two weeks.

LCFD not permitting fireworks tents

NEWS STAFF
Friday, May 8, 2026
The Lake City Fire Department is not planning to permit fireworks tent sales due to the current fire danger.Assistant Lake City Fire Chief Ret Tompkins said Friday morning in a letter that the decision was made due to the current county-wide burn ban and the current fire danger conditions.
Mason Carrol (from left), Ashton Ambrose and Jordaeton Youmans work on making one of the beds for the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. (COURTESY)

Mason Carrol (from left), Ashton Ambrose and Jordaeton Youmans work on making one of the beds for the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. (COURTESY)

CHS students help with building beds

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, May 8, 2026
Columbia High School students are making an impact in their communities through a program recently implemented to get them real-world experience. That experience is paying dividends in all directions.