Local

Sharon Bardons (left) and her daughter, Brittany Leet, owner and operator of Brittany’s Cupcake Shoppe, pack a box of cupcakes. Brittany’s Cupcake Shoppe recently moved to the Lake City Plaza after being housed in a downtown location for more than two years. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Sharon Bardons (left) and her daughter, Brittany Leet, owner and operator of Brittany’s Cupcake Shoppe, pack a box of cupcakes. Brittany’s Cupcake Shoppe recently moved to the Lake City Plaza after being housed in a downtown location for more than two years. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Brittany’s Cupcake Shoppe moves to new location on Main Blvd.

TONY BRITT
Friday, July 25, 2025
New menu items with a new paint job, new in-store additions and a new location, are currently the hallmarks of Brittany’s Cupcake Shoppe as the local eatery starts business in a new venue.

Four in Fort White family arrested on child abuse charges

NEWS STAFF
Friday, July 25, 2025
FORT WHITE — Four members of a family weren’t all that familial with several foster and adopted children, according to local law enforcement. Brian and Jill Griffeth, 47 and 41 respectively, were arrested Tuesday by Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies.
Columbia County Economic Development Director Jennifer Daniels said a company interested in coming to the NFMIP would bring roughly 200 jobs to the area. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Economic Development Director Jennifer Daniels said a company interested in coming to the NFMIP would bring roughly 200 jobs to the area. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

BOCC holds emergency econ meeting

TONY BRITT
Friday, July 25, 2025
Harboring hopes of attracting a multi-national steel corporation as a new tenant in the North Florida Mega-Industrial Park, Columbia County officials on Thursday authorized county staff to apply for a rail funding grant at the site.
Richard Powell said state revenues aren’t keeping up with growth rates in Columbia County’s operations. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Richard Powell said state revenues aren’t keeping up with growth rates in Columbia County’s operations. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

County sets maximum millage rate

TONY BRITT
Friday, July 25, 2025
Columbia County officials are anticipating a future filled with lots of “belt-tightening” when it comes to the county’s 2025-26 fiscal year budget.
Land planners Kristin Reed (left) and Blair Knighting get feedback and information from local business and development representatives during a meeting on Friday as the county looks to upgrade its land development regulations. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Land planners Kristin Reed (left) and Blair Knighting get feedback and information from local business and development representatives during a meeting on Friday as the county looks to upgrade its land development regulations. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Business, development leaders give input on LDRs

TONY BRITT
Friday, July 25, 2025
Close to 20 local business and development stakeholders met with planners Friday afternoon to provide feedback for upgrading local comprehensive land use plans and land development regulations.
Cheryl Libbert, former Lake City Garden Club president, formally donates a sculpture created by Ann Opgenorth, to Florida Gateway College during a ceremony on Wednesday at the Wilson S. Rivers Library and Media Center. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Cheryl Libbert, former Lake City Garden Club president, formally donates a sculpture created by Ann Opgenorth, to Florida Gateway College during a ceremony on Wednesday at the Wilson S. Rivers Library and Media Center. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Sculpture lands at FGC

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
A local artist, who has created iconic sculptures for Florida Gateway College, had another piece donated to the college in her honor Wednesday morning. More than 50 people attended the brief ceremony at the Wilson S.
Tara Markham shows hands full of dough after mixing her first sourdough loaf. (COURTESY)

Tara Markham shows hands full of dough after mixing her first sourdough loaf. (COURTESY)

Young chefs rise at 4-H sourdough, jam camp

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
The aroma of freshly baked bread and sweet jam filled the air at the UF/IFAS Extension Columbia County Office this week as youth ages 8 to 18 participated in the first-ever Columbia County 4-H Sourdough and Jam Summer Camp.
The Lake City Gateway Airport recently received grant funds from both the FAA and FDOT for taxiway and hangar projects. (FILE)

The Lake City Gateway Airport recently received grant funds from both the FAA and FDOT for taxiway and hangar projects. (FILE)

Airport bringing in funds, new projects

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
The Lake City Gateway Airport is landing a pair of grants and several new jobs. Lake City Manager Don Rosenthal announced the developments during Monday’s Lake City Council meeting in a review of projects the city has been undertaking.

Utility expansion ongoing at I-75/SR 47 interchange

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Crews are working on an expansion project that will increase utilities at the Interstate 75/State Road 47 interchange. The construction work to extend pipes initially began a few weeks ago and has continued on days when the weather allowed work.