Local

Barbara Etter, community services coordinator with Living Hope, speaks to Columbia County Chief Deputy Katina Dicks at a local event. (COURTESY)

Barbara Etter, community services coordinator with Living Hope, speaks to Columbia County Chief Deputy Katina Dicks at a local event. (COURTESY)

First Federal grants $5K to Living Hope

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Living Hope, Inc. has received a $5,000 grant from First Federal Foundation to support the organization’s First Things First initiative, which provides critical mental health and wellness services to first responders, military veterans, and their families throughout north central Florida.
Ferne Mann (right) tosses the bag of letters to other Scrabble players while her tournament partner Mark Kirby looks on during last year’s Lake City Garden Club’s Scrabble Tournament at First Presbyterian Church. (FILE)

Ferne Mann (right) tosses the bag of letters to other Scrabble players while her tournament partner Mark Kirby looks on during last year’s Lake City Garden Club’s Scrabble Tournament at First Presbyterian Church. (FILE)

Words, funds set to ‘bloom’

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
A decade of connecting letters and words — as well as a community — will be celebrated in two weeks. The Lake City Garden Club is set to host its 10th annual Scrabble tournament on Thursday, Feb. 12. The event is slated to be held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 697 SW Baya Dr.
The 32nd annual IDIDARIDE was held Saturday in White Springs by the Suwannee Bicycle Association. The annual offroad biking challenge, which drew around 275 cyclists, was themed ‘Alien Invasion.’ (COURTESY MICK SHEA)

The 32nd annual IDIDARIDE was held Saturday in White Springs by the Suwannee Bicycle Association. The annual offroad biking challenge, which drew around 275 cyclists, was themed ‘Alien Invasion.’ (COURTESY MICK SHEA)

Hundreds take part in annual off-road biking challenge

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
WHITE SPRINGS — This southern Hamilton County town was invaded by more than 200 bicyclists participating in the 32nd annual IDIDARIDE this past weekend.
America 250 license plates are available in Florida throughout this year in celebration of the country’s semiquincentennial. (COURTESY)

America 250 license plates are available in Florida throughout this year in celebration of the country’s semiquincentennial. (COURTESY)

Patriotism on display with America 250 plates

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Floridians can now display their patriotic pride on the back of their vehicle. In honor of the United State’s of America’s semiquincentennial, the State of Florida is offering a new license plate that will be available for just this year.

Convicted murderer found with firearm in traffic stop

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
A convicted murderer was found with a firearm after running a stop sign early Tuesday morning. A Columbia County sheriff’s deputy stopped 49-year-old Christopher Tanner after he didn’t stop at NW Main Boulevard and W. Duval Street 3:30 a.m. Tuesday in a white Dodge Ram pickup.
Benjamin Ragland won the drawing portion of the Gateway Art Gallery and Art League of North Florida’s member art show with his pen and ink work, ‘Leonardo’s Horse.’ (COURTESY GATEWAY ART GALLERY)

Benjamin Ragland won the drawing portion of the Gateway Art Gallery and Art League of North Florida’s member art show with his pen and ink work, ‘Leonardo’s Horse.’ (COURTESY GATEWAY ART GALLERY)

Winners named in Gallery’s annual art show

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
The Gateway Art Gallery and the Art League of North Florida’s annual member art show highlights the creativity and talent of their members across a wide range of media., This year, the 59 entries were no exception with the winners recently announced.

Four nabbed after failed robbery attempt

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
While three were involved in a Sunday morning robbery attempt, four were ultimately arrested from the resulting investigation. According to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office release, a homeowner on NE Moody Court heard a knock at their front door around 9:15 a.m.

Cops say landlord swiped items off tenant’s porch

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
A Lake City woman’s attempt to “save” one of her tenants’ property eventually led to her arrest. According to a Lake City Police Department arrest report, an officer responded to a call to an apartment complex along SW Hilton Avenue on Thursday afternoon around 2 p.m.