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Lorie Vincent, the president of Acceleration by design LLC, the consulting firm that hosts Stand Up Rural America, opened the summit Tuesday at the Howard Center. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Lorie Vincent, the president of Acceleration by design LLC, the consulting firm that hosts Stand Up Rural America, opened the summit Tuesday at the Howard Center. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Rural development summit descends on Lake City

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
As Lorie Vincent tells it, she nearly lost her shirt at a casino at the the previous Stand Up Rural America event this year in Oklahoma.
The former Lake Shore Hospital physical therapy building in downtown Lake City. The building is going to be turned into a primary care clinic ran by Palms Medical Group for the Lake Shore Hospital Authority. (FILE)

The former Lake Shore Hospital physical therapy building in downtown Lake City. The building is going to be turned into a primary care clinic ran by Palms Medical Group for the Lake Shore Hospital Authority. (FILE)

Four contractors vying for LSHA, Palms clinic

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
The task of renovating a former Lake Shore Hospital Authority building into a primary care clinic will fall to four contractors who were qualified for the job.
Vivian Jones (from left) of Palms Medical Group gives a book bag to Erin Neal, 10, at the Lake City Mall on Saturday during the Movin’ and Groovin’ Back to School event. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Vivian Jones (from left) of Palms Medical Group gives a book bag to Erin Neal, 10, at the Lake City Mall on Saturday during the Movin’ and Groovin’ Back to School event. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Mall hosts back-to-school giveaway

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
The Columbia County School District is set to begin classes for the 2026-27 school year in a matter of weeks.As local youngsters round out their final days of summer vacation, local merchants have increased their levels of school materials and clothing.

Deputy arrested for off-duty DUI crash

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
A Columbia County sheriff’s deputy has been suspended without pay after an off-duty drunk driving arrest.According to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office release, Deputy Michael Rooney was arrested Friday on a warrant stemming from Orange County.
Campers pose with all of their completed projects next to the sewing mascot mannequin ‘Chad.’ (COURTESY UF/IFAS EXTENSION COLUMBIA COUNTY)

Campers pose with all of their completed projects next to the sewing mascot mannequin ‘Chad.’ (COURTESY UF/IFAS EXTENSION COLUMBIA COUNTY)

4-H Camp stitches together creativity, confidence

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
By Heather FutchUF/IFAS Extension Columbia County Director/4-H AgentYoung makers spent two exciting days, July 20-21, discovering that a needle, thread, and a little creativity can go a long way during Columbia County 4-H’s Sew Much Fun Camp.
Columbia County Commissioner Kevin Parnell said Thursday night that nobody is ‘coming and getting my land to put a data center on it.’ (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Commissioner Kevin Parnell said Thursday night that nobody is ‘coming and getting my land to put a data center on it.’ (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Moratorium sought on data centers

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, July 24, 2026
Columbia County looks to be saying ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to data centers in the future. The Board of County Commissioners signaled its intention to draft a moratorium on data centers after it heard concerns from more than a dozen residents at a special meeting Thursday.

Fort White interim clerk fires assistant

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, July 24, 2026
FORT WHITE — Three days after being hired, interim Fort White Town Clerk Glenn Hunter fired his assistant.Kelly MacPherson was fired Thursday for insubordination, according to a letter dated Thursday that he sent to MacPherson.
Chase Brannan (left) and Marshall Rawson, Republican candidates for the District 10 state representative seat, spoke during a forum Thursday outlaying their priorities. (Photos by TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Chase Brannan (left) and Marshall Rawson, Republican candidates for the District 10 state representative seat, spoke during a forum Thursday outlaying their priorities. (Photos by TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Brannan, Rawson stump ahead of primary

TONY BRITT
Friday, July 24, 2026
Republican candidates in the Florida House District 10 race squared off in a forum on Thursday, detailing their potential agendas for the upcoming primary.

Trial for forest murder begins

NEWS STAFF
Friday, July 24, 2026
The first trial in the 2023 murder of a Lake City man whose burned body was found in the Osceola National Forest is underway.After three days of jury selection, in which a 12-person jury was selected from a pool of 400 called for jury duty, 35-year-old Jeffery Bell Jr.
Columbia County Commissioner Robby Hollingsworth said the board has done a good job at keeping its millage rate down over the years. The board approved to set it tentatively at the same rate — 7.815 mills — as the current year, but 3.9% above the rollback rate. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Commissioner Robby Hollingsworth said the board has done a good job at keeping its millage rate down over the years. The board approved to set it tentatively at the same rate — 7.815 mills — as the current year, but 3.9% above the rollback rate. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County sets millage 3.9% above rollback

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, July 24, 2026
Columbia County Commissioners have set the maximum proposed millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year. They’re opting to keep the math relatively simple.The BOCC will once again roll with a 7.8150 millage rate on property taxes after a unanimous vote at Thursday’s meeting. The move reflects a 3.