Local

The Lake City Fire Department responded to Walmart on Sunday morning as the store filled with smoke following an electrical fire. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

The Lake City Fire Department responded to Walmart on Sunday morning as the store filled with smoke following an electrical fire. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

No injuries in Walmart electrical fire

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Local last minute Christmas shopping in Walmart came to an abrupt halt Sunday morning when units from the Lake City Fire Department were summoned to the store to douse a blaze. According to LCFD reports, at 10:50 a.m.
Lake City’s Adam Sanders performs during last week’s airing of ‘The Road’ on CBS. Sanders is one of three finalists in the reality series that concludes Sunday. (COURTESY)

Lake City’s Adam Sanders performs during last week’s airing of ‘The Road’ on CBS. Sanders is one of three finalists in the reality series that concludes Sunday. (COURTESY)

Sanders thriving on ‘The Road’

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, December 19, 2025
A Lake City singer-songwriter is one stop away from winning “The Road.
A special needs child was rescued from the roof of PetSmart on Wednesday night by Lake City police officers and Lake City firefighters. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

A special needs child was rescued from the roof of PetSmart on Wednesday night by Lake City police officers and Lake City firefighters. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Special needs child saved from rooftop

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 19, 2025
A 12-year-old special needs child was saved from the roof of PetSmart after going missing Wednesday night. After officers from the Lake City Police Department were called to the store around 9:30 p.m.
Second Harvest provided a Holiday Pantry to Plate Cooking Demonstration as part of the Christmas Cheer Bags program Wednesday at Catholic Charities. (COURTESY)

Second Harvest provided a Holiday Pantry to Plate Cooking Demonstration as part of the Christmas Cheer Bags program Wednesday at Catholic Charities. (COURTESY)

Catholic Charities provides Christmas Cheer Bags to 240

TONY BRITT
Friday, December 19, 2025
The local program with a history of addressing food insecurity held its inaugural Christmas event earlier this week.
The old TD Bank building on NW Main Boulevard could be the future home of the Columbia County Tax Collector’s office if an inspection of the building shows no major issues. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

The old TD Bank building on NW Main Boulevard could be the future home of the Columbia County Tax Collector’s office if an inspection of the building shows no major issues. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

County commits $850K for bank

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, December 19, 2025
Columbia County is continuing to pursue a downtown bank building to alleviate parking and space needs.
Donovan Corbett shows off some additions to his gingerbread house as he continued to work Monday during the 4-H STEM Explorers Club’s Christmas meeting. (COURTESY)

Donovan Corbett shows off some additions to his gingerbread house as he continued to work Monday during the 4-H STEM Explorers Club’s Christmas meeting. (COURTESY)

4-H’s sweet structures and smart designs

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 19, 2025
By Zoie Whitlock and Dinah Mayne UF/IFAS Extension On Monday, members of the 4-H STEM Explorers Club came together to celebrate Christmas at their final meeting of 2025.
A special needs child was rescued from the roof of PetSmart on Wednesday night by Lake City police officers and Lake City firefighters. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

A special needs child was rescued from the roof of PetSmart on Wednesday night by Lake City police officers and Lake City firefighters. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Special needs child saved from roof

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, December 18, 2025
A 12-year-old special needs child was saved from the roof of PetSmart after going missing Wednesday night. After officers from the Lake City Police Department were called to the store around 9:30 p.m.
Kylin Barwick, 7, gets a smile from Lake City police officer Kevin Johnson as she tells him about a toy she plans to purchase during the Shop With A Cop event on Wednesday morning at Walmart. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Kylin Barwick, 7, gets a smile from Lake City police officer Kevin Johnson as she tells him about a toy she plans to purchase during the Shop With A Cop event on Wednesday morning at Walmart. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Shop With A Cop provides joy for kids, officers

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Thirty local children had their Christmas dreams become an instant reality when they became the celebrated guests for the Lake City Police Department’s Shop With A Cop event.