Local

CCSO: County jailer bringing inmates drugs

NEWS STAFF
Friday, October 10, 2025
A Columbia County detention officer was arrested Friday for introducing drugs at the Columbia County Detention Facility. William McGhin, 47, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy to introduce contraband into a detention facility.
The City of Lake City and Richardson Community Center are hosting Family Field Day from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium. (FILE)

The City of Lake City and Richardson Community Center are hosting Family Field Day from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium. (FILE)

Family Field Day set for Memorial Stadium

TONY BRITT
Friday, October 10, 2025
The City of Lake City is partnering with the Richardson Community Center to host the inaugural Family Field Day, which will take place 5-8 p.m. on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, 294 NW Stadium Terrace in Lake City. The theme for the event is “United Under The Lights.
State Attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit John Durrett (left) walks Belmont Academy students through the legal process during a field trip on Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

State Attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit John Durrett (left) walks Belmont Academy students through the legal process during a field trip on Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Belmont students hit the town for educational field trip

TONY BRITT
Friday, October 10, 2025
More than 50 Belmont Academy first graders took a short field trip that showcased a new side of Lake City to the students.
The Lake City Police Department celebrated the graduating classes from this year’s Citizen Police Academy as well as the Explorers program Thursday evening at Teen Town. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

The Lake City Police Department celebrated the graduating classes from this year’s Citizen Police Academy as well as the Explorers program Thursday evening at Teen Town. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

16th Citizen Police Academy class graduates

TONY BRITT
Friday, October 10, 2025
A group of nearly 20 people who has spent more than two months learning about the internal workings of the Lake City Police Department graduated from the agency’s Citizen Police Academy and Explorers programs Thursday evening.
Landry Levai (from left), 2, gets a lift from Blaise Levai after walking on the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Boat during the National Night Out event on Tuesday evening. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Landry Levai (from left), 2, gets a lift from Blaise Levai after walking on the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Boat during the National Night Out event on Tuesday evening. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

National Night on the town

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Hundreds of local youngsters trekked between tents, booths, police vehicles and police equipment on Tuesday afternoon, looking at and touching first responder equipment and meeting first responders from several agencies in the gravel parking lot next to the city’s public safety building.
A proposed Busy Bee, like the one pictured here in Live Oak, recently got go-aheads from two Columbia County offices regarding site plans and a special exception for its Ellisville location. (FILE)

A proposed Busy Bee, like the one pictured here in Live Oak, recently got go-aheads from two Columbia County offices regarding site plans and a special exception for its Ellisville location. (FILE)

Buc-ee’s-sized Bee approved

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Two years after initially announcing plans for the super-sized project, a proposed gas station nearly has the final go-ahead to break ground on the crown jewel of Ellisville.
The Donald and Janie Graham family sold a conservation easement to Alachua Conservation Trust on the 416-acre farm in Columbia and Union counties along the Olustee Creek. (COURTESY)

The Donald and Janie Graham family sold a conservation easement to Alachua Conservation Trust on the 416-acre farm in Columbia and Union counties along the Olustee Creek. (COURTESY)

Conservation easement protects Olustee Creek

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Donald Graham’s family has been farming the same stretch of land along the Olustee Creek just above the confluence with the Santa Fe River since the 1860s. Graham and his wife, Janie, wanted to make sure that it continues to be the case for generations to come.

Naked man arrested after harrassing Walmart workers

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
An overnight visit to Walmart landed a naked Lake City man in jail. Lake City police officers responded to the Lake City Walmart around 2:45 a.m. Wednesday to the report of a suspicious person acting erratically in the store parking lot, according to a Lake City Police Department release.

Robbery attempts at Days Inn lead to arrest

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
A Lake City man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after repeated attempts to steal vehicles at an area hotel. According to a Lake City Police Department release, officers were called to the Days Inn on W. U.S. Highway 90 at 12:35 p.m. Tuesday as an attempted robbery was in progress.