Local

Clover Greene (from left), Chelsey Love, Logan Wright and Gavin Thomas participate in a scene where they discuss the town’s lone stop light in Fort White High School Theater’s upcoming production of ‘One Stoplight Town.’ (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Clover Greene (from left), Chelsey Love, Logan Wright and Gavin Thomas participate in a scene where they discuss the town’s lone stop light in Fort White High School Theater’s upcoming production of ‘One Stoplight Town.’ (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Small town life hits stage

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
FORT WHITE — Fort White High School students will have the unique opportunity to put their own interpretation on small town life when the school’s theater program performs a production focusing on that aspect of Americana.
Members of the Columbia High School JROTC participate in last year’s Sept. 11 Memorial March. This year’s event will begin at 8 a.m. (COURTESY COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL JROTC)

Members of the Columbia High School JROTC participate in last year’s Sept. 11 Memorial March. This year’s event will begin at 8 a.m. (COURTESY COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL JROTC)

9/11 memorials planned across county

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
A quarter century after terrorists crashed airliners into the Pentagon, World Trade Center Twin Towers and a field in Pennsylvania, the county will commemorate the Americans who lost their lives in the surprise attack on the United States.
Lake City Manager Don Rosenthal broke down the city's tentative millage rate back in July. (FILE)

Lake City Manager Don Rosenthal broke down the city's tentative millage rate back in July. (FILE)

Council set to talk budget, potential new fee

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
The City of Lake City will take its next steps in deciding the next fiscal year tomorrow night. The Lake City Council could see the bulk of its 6 p.m. meeting taken up by the latest round of budget talks.
A child shows off a butterfly at last year’s inaugural Laced Up for Love Sneaker Ball. The Catholic Charities fundraiser returns later this month with a sneaker drive added. (COURTESY)

A child shows off a butterfly at last year’s inaugural Laced Up for Love Sneaker Ball. The Catholic Charities fundraiser returns later this month with a sneaker drive added. (COURTESY)

Ready for a (Sneaker) Ball

TONY BRITT
Saturday, September 5, 2026
As it prepares for its biggest fundraiser of the year, Catholic Charities has added a new program to impact youngsters in the community.Catholic Charities will host its second Laced Up for Love Sneaker Ball fundraiser in a few weeks.
Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford told the County Commission on Thursday that ultimately it will be the reason EMS succeeds or fails within the county’s operations. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford told the County Commission on Thursday that ultimately it will be the reason EMS succeeds or fails within the county’s operations. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County buying EMS units

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Columbia County is moving forward with purchasing ambulances to address emergency medical services shortcomings.The Columbia County Commission voted 4-1 during a three-hour meeting Thursday night to allocate $1.
UF/IFAS economist Nathan Palardy speaks during Thursday's data center workshop. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

UF/IFAS economist Nathan Palardy speaks during Thursday's data center workshop. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

BOCC mulls data center financials

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Columbia County Commissioners may be reconsidering their stances on data centers after hearing more on their economic impacts.
Lake City firefighters combat a fire in an attic space of a house on NW Burk Avenue late Thursday morning. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City firefighters combat a fire in an attic space of a house on NW Burk Avenue late Thursday morning. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Nobody injured in house fire

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, September 5, 2026
A Thursday morning structure fire severely damaged a Lake City dwelling, displacing several residents.The fire occurred at a NW Burk Avenue dwelling, just off U.S. Highway 90 and west of downtown.
Columbia County Commission Chairman Tim Murphy said the county’s economic development efforts are ‘100% not working.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Commission Chairman Tim Murphy said the county’s economic development efforts are ‘100% not working.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Murphy airs development concerns

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Columbia County’s efforts to bring in growth and development could become a private operation in the future.

EPA grant helps protect city water from cyberattacks

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Federal funding will help protect Lake City’s water supply from potential cyberattacks.The City of Lake City received $189,875 in grant funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to improve the city’s water system’s resiliency against cybersecurity threats.