Local

A ‘For Sale’ sign sits in a Lake City house’s front yard previously. Lake City recently saw a 21.4% reduction in close sales on single-family homes for the third quarter of 2025 from the 2024 mark. (FILE)

A ‘For Sale’ sign sits in a Lake City house’s front yard previously. Lake City recently saw a 21.4% reduction in close sales on single-family homes for the third quarter of 2025 from the 2024 mark. (FILE)

Local housing market mixed in Oct.

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, November 22, 2025
A new regional housing report shows some mixed results in year-to-year sales for the month of October and earlier. According to the October report, released by Florida Realtors, 39 single-family homes were closed on in Columbia County for October 2025, up by three sales the same month in 2024.
Fort White High School Health Occupation Science Academy students Jack Schroader (from left) and Christopher Meagher explain how they conduct a patient examination to FEA President Andrew Spar, who visited the school on a tour Tuesday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White High School Health Occupation Science Academy students Jack Schroader (from left) and Christopher Meagher explain how they conduct a patient examination to FEA President Andrew Spar, who visited the school on a tour Tuesday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

CHS, FWHS students welcome FEA president

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
FORT WHITE — A tour group of eight people from the Florida Education Association made the rounds at local high schools visiting the Career Technical Programs on Tuesday afternoon. Andrew Spar, FEA president, addressed how the group came to Columbia County.
Blue-Grey Army officials unveiled the 2026 Olustee Festival Poster at their meeting Tuesday with Columbia County Clerk of Court Jay Swisher (from left), Past Commanding General General Tom Coleman, Mantha Young of Mac Media, Blue-Grey Army Executive Director Faye Warren and Commanding General Tony Buzzella. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Blue-Grey Army officials unveiled the 2026 Olustee Festival Poster at their meeting Tuesday with Columbia County Clerk of Court Jay Swisher (from left), Past Commanding General General Tom Coleman, Mantha Young of Mac Media, Blue-Grey Army Executive Director Faye Warren and Commanding General Tony Buzzella. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Olustee Festival going red, white and blue for 2026 event

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Columbia County’s oldest and largest festival, the Olustee Festival, will take place in less than 90 days and this year’s event will feature a relationship with the country’s 250th Birthday celebration.
Santa Claus waves after landing in an airplane at the Lake City Gateway Airport for the inaugural Pilots With Presents Fly-In in 2023. (FILE)

Santa Claus waves after landing in an airplane at the Lake City Gateway Airport for the inaugural Pilots With Presents Fly-In in 2023. (FILE)

Pilots flying in presents for Toys for Tots

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
The Christmas holiday season wouldn’t be complete without Santa Claus, gifts and the holiday spirit. This weekend the holiday spirit will fly into town when pilots land at the Lake City Gateway Airport, bringing gifts and holiday cheer with them.
Lake City Councilman Ricky Jernigan was the lone board member to vote against delaying a move to give City Manager Don Rosenthal the authority to issue trespass warnings from city property. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Councilman Ricky Jernigan was the lone board member to vote against delaying a move to give City Manager Don Rosenthal the authority to issue trespass warnings from city property. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Council tables move to let manager issue trespass warnings

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
The Lake City Council wants a closer look at a move that could grant City Manager Don Rosenthal additional power over public land use.
Gigi Gwinn, the widow of Donnell Gwinn, is pictured with Suwannee County Commissioners Leo Mobley (from left), Don Hale, Chairman Travis Land and Franklin White after they passed a proclamation in her late husband’s honor. The county also plans to name a new building at the fairgrounds after Donnell Gwinn. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Gigi Gwinn, the widow of Donnell Gwinn, is pictured with Suwannee County Commissioners Leo Mobley (from left), Don Hale, Chairman Travis Land and Franklin White after they passed a proclamation in her late husband’s honor. The county also plans to name a new building at the fairgrounds after Donnell Gwinn. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee board honors Gwinn’s legacy

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
A legendary Suwannee County farmer’s legacy will be honored at the Suwannee County Fairgrounds. During Tuesday’s Suwannee County Commission meeting, the board unanimously approved a proclamation in honor of Donnell Gwinn, who passed away in August.
Thomas L. Stelling with Historical Markers Restorations paints the blue star on the Blue Star Memorial Highway marker that sits in front of the Lake City VA Hospital. Stelling restored the sign last week for the Lake City Garden Club. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Thomas L. Stelling with Historical Markers Restorations paints the blue star on the Blue Star Memorial Highway marker that sits in front of the Lake City VA Hospital. Stelling restored the sign last week for the Lake City Garden Club. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Blue Star marker shines again

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
A historical marker for the Lake City Garden Club has been revitalized and updated, shedding years of aging due to extreme weather conditions and normal wear and tear.
Former Lake City Councilman Todd Sampson (left) addresses the council regarding its housing plan during Monday’s workshop. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Former Lake City Councilman Todd Sampson (left) addresses the council regarding its housing plan during Monday’s workshop. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

City backs Precept housing plan over open RFP process

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
A heated housing decision is leaving some local developers frustrated with the Lake City Council’s decision to begin a partnership with a fledgling out-of-town land acquisition firm without following the normal procurement process.

Homeowner stabbed, killed by renter

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
ELLISVILLE — A dispute at a boarding house Friday night led to the homeowner being stabbed to death. According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s office, 43-year-old Ernest Pearce killed the woman he rented a room from around 9:10 p.m. Friday.
Paulette Tomlinson (right) and Heather Futch with the Columbia County UF/IFAS Extension Office sort through jars of unopened peanut butter that were donated for the 2025 Peanut Butter Challenge at the Farm to Table event earlier this month. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Paulette Tomlinson (right) and Heather Futch with the Columbia County UF/IFAS Extension Office sort through jars of unopened peanut butter that were donated for the 2025 Peanut Butter Challenge at the Farm to Table event earlier this month. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Spread hope between holidays

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
By Heather Futch UF/IFAS Extension Columbia County As the holidays approach, UF/IFAS Extension Columbia County is calling on the community to spread more than just cheer this season—spread peanut butter!