Local

LSHA cancels Meridian meeting set for tonight

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
The Lake Shore Hospital Authority will not meet tonight to discuss further asks from Meridian Healthcare after all. The LSHA canceled its special-called meeting due to a lack of a quorum, according to LSHA Executive Director Dale Williams.
Lake City Fire Department firefighters use their Tower 1 truck to hang the American Flag on the Columbia County Commission Annex Building on Saturday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Fire Department firefighters use their Tower 1 truck to hang the American Flag on the Columbia County Commission Annex Building on Saturday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Flags adorn county, city buildings for patriotic celebration

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Several buildings in the downtown area have taken on a new look as Lake City and Columbia County celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Richardson Sixth Grade Academy students from the school’s chorus and theatre program sing a song during a skit at the local 250th Birthday Party for America kickoff celebration on Tuesday morning. The event was attended by more than 200 people. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Richardson Sixth Grade Academy students from the school’s chorus and theatre program sing a song during a skit at the local 250th Birthday Party for America kickoff celebration on Tuesday morning. The event was attended by more than 200 people. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Locals prep for country’s 250th birthday

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
The pre-party for America’s 250th birthday celebration in Columbia County took place Tuesday morning with more than 200 people attending the event in Olustee Park as a bald eagle flew overheard.
Meridian Healthcare CEO and President Lauren Cohn said in a Feb. 20 letter that new estimates put Meridian’s investment around $20 million for the main hospital building on the LSHA campus. (FILE)

Meridian Healthcare CEO and President Lauren Cohn said in a Feb. 20 letter that new estimates put Meridian’s investment around $20 million for the main hospital building on the LSHA campus. (FILE)

Meridian seeking updates to Lake Shore incentive agreement

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
A regional mental health company is doubling its incentives ask to renovate the main hospital building on the Lake Shore campus. Meridian Healthcare President and CEO Lauren Cohn detailed her company’s request in a Feb. 20 letter to the Lake Shore Hospital Authority Board of Trustees.
Fort White Councilwoman Monica Merricks requested the town dissolution be removed from Monday’s agenda because ‘we got enough town input’ following a Feb. 17 special meeting. (FILE)

Fort White Councilwoman Monica Merricks requested the town dissolution be removed from Monday’s agenda because ‘we got enough town input’ following a Feb. 17 special meeting. (FILE)

Dissolution talk dead in Fort White

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
FORT WHITE — Dissolution is officially over in Fort White. At the outset of the Fort White Town Council’s regular meeting Monday at the Fort White Community Center, Councilwoman Monica Merricks requested deleting the agenda item to vote on dissolving the town’s charter.
Pat Mundorff (from left) helped out Alice Martin alongside Candi Kish and Todd Martin during the Law family fundraiser. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Pat Mundorff (from left) helped out Alice Martin alongside Candi Kish and Todd Martin during the Law family fundraiser. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Community rallies around Law family

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
FORT WHITE — The community continued its support of the Law family following the untimely death of Kaitlynn Law on Thursday by purchasing fundraising dinners during a joint benefit luncheon hosted by Central Florida Electric Cooperative, Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative and Clay Electric...
A SE Murray Street house was severely damaged by a fire Saturday night. A dog was killed in the blaze. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

A SE Murray Street house was severely damaged by a fire Saturday night. A dog was killed in the blaze. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Family loses dog in house fire

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
A Saturday night structure fire severely damaged a local residence, displaced a local family and claimed the life of one of the family’s pets. According to the Lake City Fire Department, units were dispatched at 11:38 p.m.
The Lake City Fire Department responded Monday morning to a fire in the ceiling above the kitchen at the Wendy’s on U.S. Highway 90. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

The Lake City Fire Department responded Monday morning to a fire in the ceiling above the kitchen at the Wendy’s on U.S. Highway 90. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Fire temporarily closes Wendy’s

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
A heavy presence of firefighters and emergency personnel responded to reports of a fire at a local fast-food restaurant Monday morning, which resulted in the restaurant’s closure. According to the Lake City Fire Department, there was an extensive fire truck presence at the Wendy’s on U.S.
A home off SE Buck Glen sustained significant damage from a fire Monday night that appeared to start from chimney issues. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY FIRE RESCUE)

A home off SE Buck Glen sustained significant damage from a fire Monday night that appeared to start from chimney issues. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY FIRE RESCUE)

Chimney sparks house fire

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Issues with a chimney caused a structure fire Monday night. Crews from Columbia County Fire Rescue and the Lake City Fire Department responded around 9:59 p.m. to a structure fire on SE Buck Glen.