Local

Rep. Chuck Brannan (right) speaks during Tuesday’s legislative delegation meeting at Florida Gateway College while Sen. Jennifer Bradley listens. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Rep. Chuck Brannan (right) speaks during Tuesday’s legislative delegation meeting at Florida Gateway College while Sen. Jennifer Bradley listens. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Legislators want to see tax reform proposals

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
The push to reduce or eliminate property taxes in Florida will dominate the upcoming legislative session.

Mother gets reduced bond in abuse case

NEWS STAFF
Friday, October 24, 2025
A Fort White woman is getting her bond reduced after being charged with three counts of aggravated child abuse. According to records from the Columbia County Clerk of Courts, Jill Griffeth entered a motion for a bond reduction hearing back on Oct. 17.
Vern Lloyd of Lake City hands a flag to a youngster who sprinted to catch up to the Military Officers Association of America float during the 2019 Veterans Day parade. (FILE)

Vern Lloyd of Lake City hands a flag to a youngster who sprinted to catch up to the Military Officers Association of America float during the 2019 Veterans Day parade. (FILE)

Legion Post 57 getting help for Veterans Day parade

TONY BRITT
Friday, October 24, 2025
Local residents will have an opportunity to honor, thank, and celebrate local veterans and their commitment to the country during the Veterans Day Parade, which is scheduled to take place in a few weeks.
Sen. Jennifer Bradley and Rep. Chuck Brannan listen during a previous legislative delegation meeting at Florida Gateway College. This year’s Columbia County meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at FGC. (FILE)

Sen. Jennifer Bradley and Rep. Chuck Brannan listen during a previous legislative delegation meeting at Florida Gateway College. This year’s Columbia County meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at FGC. (FILE)

Legislative delegation meeting Tuesday

NEWS STAFF
Friday, October 24, 2025
Columbia County’s legislative delegation will be in town Tuesday to hear from their constituents. Sen. Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island) and Rep. Chuck Brannan (R-Macclenny) will hold their annual legislative delegation hearing at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Wilson S.
Aram Petit measures how high sugar-free Sprite shot out of a bottle once Mentos were added to the container. (COURTESY)

Aram Petit measures how high sugar-free Sprite shot out of a bottle once Mentos were added to the container. (COURTESY)

4-H STEM Explorers Club experiments with soda, Mentos

NEWS STAFF
Friday, October 24, 2025
The Columbia County 4-H STEM Explorers Club mixed science and fun during their latest meeting, conducting an exciting outdoor experiment that tested what happens when mint-flavored Mentos candies are dropped into different types of soda.
Lauren Spring (from left), Emily Stuckey Sellers and Lake City’s Rachel Grubb, the trio behind The Krickets, will soon release a compilation album called ‘If You Only Knew’ on Oct. 30. (COURTESY)

Lauren Spring (from left), Emily Stuckey Sellers and Lake City’s Rachel Grubb, the trio behind The Krickets, will soon release a compilation album called ‘If You Only Knew’ on Oct. 30. (COURTESY)

Locally sourced Americana: Grubb, The Krickets, set to release co-written album

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
There was no theme in mind when The Krickets decided to start working on a new album. But Lake City’s Rachel Grubb, a member of the Americana trio from the gulf coast, said as the group started looking over the material they had for the album, “If You Only Knew,” which is being released Oct.
Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Katina Dicks (from left), gets a bag of to-go plates for CCSO staff from Lisa Toliver, an American Legion Auxiliary member. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Katina Dicks (from left), gets a bag of to-go plates for CCSO staff from Lisa Toliver, an American Legion Auxiliary member. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Legion Post 57 feeds first responders

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
A huge contingent of local first responders were the guests of honor during an American Legion Post 57 luncheon on Wednesday.
Robert Stalvey and Hagan Stalvey, then 7, dressed up as Mario and Luigi during the 2019 Trunk or Treat event. (FILE)

Robert Stalvey and Hagan Stalvey, then 7, dressed up as Mario and Luigi during the 2019 Trunk or Treat event. (FILE)

City treating with trunk-or-treat event

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Local youngsters will have opportunity to do their trick or treating and candy collections in a safe, controlled, family-friendly environment this weekend in the midst of downtown Lake City. Trunk-Or-Treat 2025, a City of Lake City event, will take place 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct.

Lake City cyclist dead after crash

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
A crash in northeast Columbia County killed a Lake City cyclist early Wednesday morning. According to a Florida Highway Patrol release, a sedan driven by a 29-year-old Lake City man was heading north on U.S. Highway 441, approaching the intersection of NE Gum Swamp Road around 6:48 a.m.
Workers get set on constructing the Ring of Fire, one of the many attractions coming this weekend as the 71st annual Florida Gateway Fair opens at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds on Friday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Workers get set on constructing the Ring of Fire, one of the many attractions coming this weekend as the 71st annual Florida Gateway Fair opens at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds on Friday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Firing up the fair

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
The Florida Gateway Fairgrounds is busy with activity as preparations are ongoing for the annual fair.