Local

Annie Mattox gearing up for egg-ceptional hunt

TONY BRITT

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

The rainbow of cascading colors associated with an Easter egg hunt — red, blue, green, orange, yellow and sometimes gold, will be featured at the Annie Mattox Park playground area next weekend for a community Easter egg hunt event.

Innovative Masonry Restoration workers get set on tearing down the netting surrounding Lake City Hall. The netting will not make a return once it’s down. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Hall removing net siding amid renovation

JAMIE WACHTER

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Lake City Hall is losing its security blanket. Innovative Masonry Restoration workers have been busy this week removing the safety net from the historic downtown building as part of a building restoration project that is expected to take three months.

Fort White Councilman Lonnie Harrell speaks during a Feb. 18 meeting to discuss the possible dissolution of the town’s charter. Harrell now faces a recall vote on his seat next month. (FILE)

Fort White recall election set for April at cost of $3,000

MORGAN MCMULLEN

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

FORT WHITE — Columbia County’s first recall election in nearly 40 years will cost Fort White just a few thousand dollars.

Youth volunteers show off thank-you signs supporting veterans. The Lake City VA Medical Center is currently looking for volunteers of all ages for various roles. (COURTESY)

Lake City VA Medical Center searching for volunteers

TONY BRITT

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

The Lake City VA Medical Center is hoping to get an infusion of youth through its volunteer services program as the end of the school year approaches. VA medical facilities and clinics began taking applications for youth volunteers earlier this week.

Lake City-based First Federal Bank was named by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging & Community. (FILE)

First Federal honored for workplace culture

NEWS STAFF

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

First Federal Bank has one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging & Community, according to Newsweek.

Lake City pair killed in Lafayette crash

NEWS STAFF

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

BUCKVILLE — A pair from Lake City were killed Friday night when their motorcycle ran into a boat being towed northwest of Mayo. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Chevrolet pickup driven by a Jennings man proceeded into the County Road 53 and U.S. Highway 27 intersection at 8:30 p.m.

New leadership for the 2026-27 school year for the Columbia High School JROTC will be 1st. Sgt. Treena Dettmer, (from left), incoming Cadet/Lt. Col. Romeo Carter, Cadet/Command Sgt. Major Alberto Basalo, Cadet/Major Elijah Deese and Lt. Col. Austin Akers. (COURTESY)

Columbia JROTC celebrates cadets with awards

TONY BRITT

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

The Columbia High School Army JROTC Fighting Tiger Battalion recently held its annual award ceremony where cadets were honored for their achievements and accomplishments during the school year.

State Sen. Corey Simon (left) speaks with Water First North Florida meeting attendees outside the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center Suwannee Valley’s educational pavilion Thursday. Close to 400 people attended the meeting. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Residents voice their opposition to Water First North Florida project

TONY BRITT

Friday, March 20, 2026

LIVE OAK — The proposed plan to use reclaimed water to recharge a portion of the Floridan Aquifer continues to meet staunch opposition in the area.

JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter Columbia County Manager David Kraus said AgroLiquid was moving forward with a septic tank at the North Florida Mega Industrial Park after its permit for a temporary holding tank was denied by the state. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Septic tank planned after permit denial

JAMIE WACHTER

Friday, March 20, 2026

The first tenant at the North Florida Mega Industrial Park may not become a full utility customer.

Columbia County is in extreme drought according to the latest conditions released Thursday. Portions of Suwannee, Hamilton, Lafayette and Madison counties are in exceptional drought. (U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR)

Columbia County burn ban lifted

JAMIE WACHTER

Friday, March 20, 2026

Columbia County residents can resume burning trash and yard debris but should do so with caution. The Columbia County Commission, following Fire Chief Jeff Crawford’s recommendation, unanimously voted to lift the county’s burn ban. The ban was implemented on Feb.