Local

Ocala murder suspect caught in Lake City

NEWS STAFF
Friday, January 2, 2026
An Ocala teen murder suspect was apprehended Monday in Lake City. Columbia County sheriff’s deputies assisted the U.S. Marshal’s task force around 1:30 p.m. Monday near Duval Street and Jacksonville Loop to capture the murder suspect, 19-year-old Cornelius Brown Jr.
Gateway Art Gallery artist and Navy veteran Benjamin Ragland (right) greets military veterans Richard Raposo and Russell Fulmer from the Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Domiciliary at a previous presentation at the Gallery. (COURTESY)

Gateway Art Gallery artist and Navy veteran Benjamin Ragland (right) greets military veterans Richard Raposo and Russell Fulmer from the Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Domiciliary at a previous presentation at the Gallery. (COURTESY)

Gallery to entertain veterans

NEWS STAFF
Friday, January 2, 2026
As another in a series of programs for local veterans, residents of the local Veterans Domiciliary will be treated to “Pie and Coffee with Michelangelo” on Jan. 12 at 3:30 p.m. at the Gateway Art Gallery. Artist Benjamin Ragland will make the presentation.
U.S. Rep. Cory Mills talks during a hearing at the Columbia County Courthouse in September. Mills was hit with a restraining order in October to stay away from Lindsey Langston. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

U.S. Rep. Cory Mills talks during a hearing at the Columbia County Courthouse in September. Mills was hit with a restraining order in October to stay away from Lindsey Langston. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Congressman, Miss U.S. break-up tops local stories of 2025

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
The Columbia County Courthouse provided the venue for some of the biggest stories of the past 12 months. It wasn’t the only site in and around downtown Lake City that captured our attention or the attention of local readers in 2025, but it’s not often that a sitting U.S.

Brannan seeking $50M for local projects

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
More than $50 million in state funding is being sought for local projects in next year’s legislative session. Rep. Chuck Brannan (R-Macclenny) has filed 16 appropriation request forms ahead of the Jan. 13 start to the legislative session for projects in Columbia County.
The Wellborn Community Association donated earlier this month toward a scholarship fund with the Foundation at Florida Gateway College to help students pursue Career and Technical Education degrees and certificates. Presenting the check to FGC Foundation Executive Director Lee Pinchouck were Sherm Stanley (from left), Fran Martin, Pinchouck, Bob Huffman, Pam Mikitta and Pedro Faria. (MONJA SLATER/Lake City Reporter)

The Wellborn Community Association donated earlier this month toward a scholarship fund with the Foundation at Florida Gateway College to help students pursue Career and Technical Education degrees and certificates. Presenting the check to FGC Foundation Executive Director Lee Pinchouck were Sherm Stanley (from left), Fran Martin, Pinchouck, Bob Huffman, Pam Mikitta and Pedro Faria. (MONJA SLATER/Lake City Reporter)

Wellborn group funds trades scholarship at FGC

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
The Wellborn Community Association had the will to support career and technical education. With the help of the Foundation for Florida Gateway College, there now is a way for others to also get more assistance in supporting trades training as well.
A line of vehicles sit in the drive-through lane at the Columbia County Tax Collector’s Office Monday. More than 300 people were served by the office Monday on one of the busiest days of the year. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

A line of vehicles sit in the drive-through lane at the Columbia County Tax Collector’s Office Monday. More than 300 people were served by the office Monday on one of the busiest days of the year. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Holiday season equals long lines at Tax Collector’s office

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
While some local business are experiencing an end of the year lull, the same cannot be said for the Columbia County Tax Collector’s Office which is experiencing one of its busiest periods of the year.

Naked robber caught after meat market heist

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
A naked man was apprehended after an armed robbery of a Lake City meat market last week. According to a Monday release from the Lake City Police Department, officers responded to a robbery at BJ’s Meat Market on NW Main Boulevard at 8:50 p.m. on Dec.
The bottom of Alligator Lake was a bed of cracked mud this month as the drought conditions that have been experienced in North Florida this month and unplugged sink holes in the lake caused it to drain. (RAY CARPENTER/Lake City Reporter)

The bottom of Alligator Lake was a bed of cracked mud this month as the drought conditions that have been experienced in North Florida this month and unplugged sink holes in the lake caused it to drain. (RAY CARPENTER/Lake City Reporter)

Drought conditions, sinkhole lead to drained Alligator Lake

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, December 26, 2025
Forget white, there wasn’t even a wet Christmas — or fall for that matter — this year. Following a nearly record-setting dry November, even a few showers in December haven’t helped Alligator Lake on the southeast side of Lake City return to being a lake.

FW man charged in Christmas shooting

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 26, 2025
FORT WHITE — A Fort White man is in jail after shooting another man on Christmas. Johnny McNutt, 53, has been charged with attempted second degree murder after shooting a man in the head following an earlier physical altercation.