Local

Lake City Reporter Publisher Todd Wilson (left) and Editor Jamie Wachter hold up the first-place awards that the Reporter and sister publication Nassau County Record captured last week in the Florida Press Association Weekly Newspaper Contest. (COURTESY)

Lake City Reporter Publisher Todd Wilson (left) and Editor Jamie Wachter hold up the first-place awards that the Reporter and sister publication Nassau County Record captured last week in the Florida Press Association Weekly Newspaper Contest. (COURTESY)

Reporter captures 10 awards, places in General Excellence

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
CHARLOTTE HARBOR — The Lake City Reporter won 10 awards, including a General Excellence finalist, and was named one of the best newspapers in the state, according to the Florida Press Association.

Father charged after son shoots brother

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
A Lake City man was charged with not safely storing a firearm after one of his sons accidentally shot another in the feet last week. Around 4:41 p.m. Thursday, deputies responded to a NW Yates Loop residence when a child accidentally shot his brother.

Mother arrested after young children found alone

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
A Lake City woman was arrested Sunday evening after her four children, all 6 years old or younger, were found unattended at an apartment complex. A Lake City Police Department release said officers were called to Cedar Park Apartments on NW Bascom Norris Drive at 5:20 p.m.

Non-emergency 911 calls leads to arrest

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
False reports of an attempted break-in, followed by a call from the same person for medical treatment, landed a Lake City woman in the Columbia County Detention Facility on Sunday night.
School Board members Narrie Smith (center) and Keith Hudson share a hug with Niblack Elementary School principal Makeba Murphy after she cut the ribbon for the new school on Thursday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

School Board members Narrie Smith (center) and Keith Hudson share a hug with Niblack Elementary School principal Makeba Murphy after she cut the ribbon for the new school on Thursday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Niblack officially opens with ribbon cutting

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 1, 2025
With strands of blue and yellow balloons providing a makeshift archway into the school, more than 200 people gathered at the new Niblack Elementary School building for its official ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday morning.
North Florida Professional Services President Greg Bailey speaks during Thursday’s meeting in Fort White. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

North Florida Professional Services President Greg Bailey speaks during Thursday’s meeting in Fort White. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White holds off on water bids

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, August 1, 2025
FORT WHITE — The Town of Fort White is in no rush to begin work on a proposed wastewater collection system upgrade. Town officials voted 3-1 in favor of tabling the awarding of a bid to begin work on the project during Thursday’s special meeting.
Roger Little (right), Eastside Elementary School principal, greets parents and students as they visit the temporary cafeteria on Thursday during a school Sneak Peak session. More than 100 people visited the school during the session. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Roger Little (right), Eastside Elementary School principal, greets parents and students as they visit the temporary cafeteria on Thursday during a school Sneak Peak session. More than 100 people visited the school during the session. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Strong turnout for Eastside peek

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 1, 2025
With just days to go before starting the new school year, several local children and their parents to some time from their summer vacation to venture to the interim Eastside Elementary School site and visit the school.

Live Oak man arrested in Lake City on DUI charge

NEWS STAFF
Friday, August 1, 2025
A Live Oak man has been arrested after authorities say he hit a pedestrian late Thursday night. According to a Lake City Police Department release, Frank Daniel West, 68, was arrested that night after officers responded to a vehicle crash around 10:15 p.m.
The Boots and Badges basketball tournament will pit first responders from different departments against one another. (COURTESY)

The Boots and Badges basketball tournament will pit first responders from different departments against one another. (COURTESY)

Boots and Badges returning to Columbia High

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 1, 2025
First responders from several local agencies will lay their badges down next weekend for a competitive day on the hardwood against other first responders for bragging rights and to raise funds for the local high school basketball program in the annual Boots and Badges Basketball tournament.
NFWUA Attorney Joel Foreman said Columbia County could mitigate risk with the fledgling utility authority should it fail. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

NFWUA Attorney Joel Foreman said Columbia County could mitigate risk with the fledgling utility authority should it fail. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Authority ready to test drive utility operations

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
The North Florida Water Utilities Authority is ready to take the first steps in learning how to drive the utility operations in Columbia and Suwannee counties.