Local

Brannan seeking $50M for local projects

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
More than $50 million in state funding is being sought for local projects in next year’s legislative session. Rep. Chuck Brannan (R-Macclenny) has filed 16 appropriation request forms ahead of the Jan. 13 start to the legislative session for projects in Columbia County.
The Wellborn Community Association donated earlier this month toward a scholarship fund with the Foundation at Florida Gateway College to help students pursue Career and Technical Education degrees and certificates. Presenting the check to FGC Foundation Executive Director Lee Pinchouck were Sherm Stanley (from left), Fran Martin, Pinchouck, Bob Huffman, Pam Mikitta and Pedro Faria. (MONJA SLATER/Lake City Reporter)

The Wellborn Community Association donated earlier this month toward a scholarship fund with the Foundation at Florida Gateway College to help students pursue Career and Technical Education degrees and certificates. Presenting the check to FGC Foundation Executive Director Lee Pinchouck were Sherm Stanley (from left), Fran Martin, Pinchouck, Bob Huffman, Pam Mikitta and Pedro Faria. (MONJA SLATER/Lake City Reporter)

Wellborn group funds trades scholarship at FGC

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
The Wellborn Community Association had the will to support career and technical education. With the help of the Foundation for Florida Gateway College, there now is a way for others to also get more assistance in supporting trades training as well.
A line of vehicles sit in the drive-through lane at the Columbia County Tax Collector’s Office Monday. More than 300 people were served by the office Monday on one of the busiest days of the year. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

A line of vehicles sit in the drive-through lane at the Columbia County Tax Collector’s Office Monday. More than 300 people were served by the office Monday on one of the busiest days of the year. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Holiday season equals long lines at Tax Collector’s office

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
While some local business are experiencing an end of the year lull, the same cannot be said for the Columbia County Tax Collector’s Office which is experiencing one of its busiest periods of the year.

Naked robber caught after meat market heist

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
A naked man was apprehended after an armed robbery of a Lake City meat market last week. According to a Monday release from the Lake City Police Department, officers responded to a robbery at BJ’s Meat Market on NW Main Boulevard at 8:50 p.m. on Dec.
The bottom of Alligator Lake was a bed of cracked mud this month as the drought conditions that have been experienced in North Florida this month and unplugged sink holes in the lake caused it to drain. (RAY CARPENTER/Lake City Reporter)

The bottom of Alligator Lake was a bed of cracked mud this month as the drought conditions that have been experienced in North Florida this month and unplugged sink holes in the lake caused it to drain. (RAY CARPENTER/Lake City Reporter)

Drought conditions, sinkhole lead to drained Alligator Lake

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, December 26, 2025
Forget white, there wasn’t even a wet Christmas — or fall for that matter — this year. Following a nearly record-setting dry November, even a few showers in December haven’t helped Alligator Lake on the southeast side of Lake City return to being a lake.

FW man charged in Christmas shooting

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 26, 2025
FORT WHITE — A Fort White man is in jail after shooting another man on Christmas. Johnny McNutt, 53, has been charged with attempted second degree murder after shooting a man in the head following an earlier physical altercation.
Lake City’s Adam Sanders said the invite to next year’s Stagecoach Festival is the prize he’s most excited about after winning ‘The Road.’ (COURTESY)

Lake City’s Adam Sanders said the invite to next year’s Stagecoach Festival is the prize he’s most excited about after winning ‘The Road.’ (COURTESY)

Sanders wins ‘The Road’

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Adam Sanders struggled to contain his biggest secret for about eight months. But following Sunday’s finale of ‘The Road’ on CBS, the singer-songwriter can breathe a little easier. Sanders was voted the country music reality show’s inaugural winner Sunday night.
Santa and Mrs. Claus visit with children during the Breakfast with Santa event in Fort White on Saturday. (COURTESY)

Santa and Mrs. Claus visit with children during the Breakfast with Santa event in Fort White on Saturday. (COURTESY)

Fort White celebrates with breakfast, parade

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
FORT WHITE — Youngsters in Fort White added a new tradition to their Christmas celebration by eating pancakes, sausage and other breakfast items during a breakfast with Santa event.
Tammy Harris (from left), Kathy Dix, Bo Beauchemin, Befaithful Coker, Judith McClure, Malachi Thompson, Michael Coker and Victoria Coker, members of It’s About My Efforts, which is part of the Our Community Cares Coalition, visited assisted living facilities on Sunday giving senior citizens goodie bags and other items. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Tammy Harris (from left), Kathy Dix, Bo Beauchemin, Befaithful Coker, Judith McClure, Malachi Thompson, Michael Coker and Victoria Coker, members of It’s About My Efforts, which is part of the Our Community Cares Coalition, visited assisted living facilities on Sunday giving senior citizens goodie bags and other items. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Santa, elves visit assisted living facilities

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Residents at several local assisted living facilities played host to a visiting Saint Nicolas, his wife and elves this past weekend. Santa and his crew of visitors showed up at The Canopy, an assisted living facility in Lake City, around 4 p.m.