Local

2026 Miss Columbia High School Pageant contestants are Corley Wilder (from left), Chloe Tedder, Brook’Lynn Johnson and Tikeria Bryant. (COURTESY)

2026 Miss Columbia High School Pageant contestants are Corley Wilder (from left), Chloe Tedder, Brook’Lynn Johnson and Tikeria Bryant. (COURTESY)

Miss CHS to be crowned Saturday night

TONY BRITT
Friday, March 13, 2026
Connecting with the past will be a central theme for the 2026 Miss CHS pageant this weekend. “A Night full of Legacy” is the unofficial theme for this year’s event, but serves as the common ground when Miss CHS pageant title holders are able to meet the 2026 title holder.
Art League President Laura Hunter-Null (left) and Gateway Art Gallery Curator Sheila Carr model last year’s winning T-shirt, designed by Erin Weiffenbach. (COURTESY)

Art League President Laura Hunter-Null (left) and Gateway Art Gallery Curator Sheila Carr model last year’s winning T-shirt, designed by Erin Weiffenbach. (COURTESY)

Gallery July 4 T-shirt design competition underway

TONY BRITT
Friday, March 13, 2026
Local artists, people with a penchant for drawing or anyone who thinks they can create a design to represent the 250th anniversary of the United States of America is asked to submit an entry into the second July 4th T-shirt design competition.

Growers, Makers Market returns this weekend

NEWS STAFF
Friday, March 13, 2026
The City of Lake City Growers and Makers Market returns from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. today in Olustee Park. This week’s market will feature 50 vendors, who will be selling a variety of goods and wares ranging from baked goods, produce, arts and crafts and other miscellaneous items.
Columbia County School Board Attorney Meagan Logan listens during a previous school board meeting. Logan will remain the board’s attorney through March 31, 2029, after the board approved a new deal. (FILE)

Columbia County School Board Attorney Meagan Logan listens during a previous school board meeting. Logan will remain the board’s attorney through March 31, 2029, after the board approved a new deal. (FILE)

School board seeking deal with firm for new CHS

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
The Columbia County School District has a helping hand as it continues eyeing a new Columbia High School.
Megumi Boutwell (left) and Casey Dettman practice lines during a scene at a lighthouse for the Fort White High School production of Mystic Pizza. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Megumi Boutwell (left) and Casey Dettman practice lines during a scene at a lighthouse for the Fort White High School production of Mystic Pizza. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Mystic Pizza hitting FWHS theater next week

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
FORT WHITE — The decisions of life and love for a group of women working at a pizza parlor, combined with music from the 80s and 90s, will be on display in a few days when the Fort White High School drama department performs its version of Mystic Pizza.
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 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)

Harrell faces recall election

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
A historic vote is scheduled for Fort White next month. A recall election, believed to be the first in Columbia County since Glenel Bowden won an attempt to have his seat on the Lake City Council recalled in 1988, has been set for April 14 for Lonnie Harrell, who represents the town’s District 2.
Gateway Art Gallery curator Sheila Carr said she hopes visitors to this weekend’s Lecture Series event on Michelangelo will learn more about the legendary painter and sculptor. (COURTESY)

Gateway Art Gallery curator Sheila Carr said she hopes visitors to this weekend’s Lecture Series event on Michelangelo will learn more about the legendary painter and sculptor. (COURTESY)

Gallery hosting forum on Michelangelo

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
The life, times and inspirational influences of the artist Michelangelo will be discussed and reviewed during a Gateway Art Gallery program this weekend.
A fire suppression air tanker sits at the Lake City Gateway Airport, ready to assist in combating wildfires and brush fires across the southeast during the ongoing extreme drought. (RAY CARPENTER/Lake City Reporter)

A fire suppression air tanker sits at the Lake City Gateway Airport, ready to assist in combating wildfires and brush fires across the southeast during the ongoing extreme drought. (RAY CARPENTER/Lake City Reporter)

Emergency fire tankers waiting at airport

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
With drought conditions plaguing the southeastern United States, resulting in the high likelihood of wildfires and brush fires, fire suppression tankers and their operating personnel have been in Lake City for the past few weeks. “One of the companies sent in a Dash-8 aircraft.