Local

Legion dog program looking for new trainer

NEWS STAFF
Friday, November 28, 2025
The American Legion Post 57’s new service and companion-dog program will have a new partner. Patricia Proctor, a Legion member who is helping launch the Legionnaire Dogs program, said Post 57 is no longer working with South East Elite Working Dogs to train the dogs for local veterans.

UPDATED 10 P.M.: Four killed in fiery Tuesday crash

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
UPDATE 10 P.M. Four people, including two children, were killed Tuesday night in a fiery crash in Suwannee County. According to an updated Florida Highway Patrol release Wednesday night, the three-vehicle crashed occurred around 9:50 p.m. Tuesday on U.S.
The Ichetucknee River and Springs, along with the Lower Santa Fe, is being targeted for a recharge effort using reclaimed water from northeast Florida. (COURTESY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL)

The Ichetucknee River and Springs, along with the Lower Santa Fe, is being targeted for a recharge effort using reclaimed water from northeast Florida. (COURTESY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL)

$1.1B project aims to recharge Ichetucknee, Lower Santa Fe rivers

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
The future health of North Florida’s iconic springs and rivers are getting a collaborative boost from across the region. Earlier this month the Suwannee River and St. Johns River water management districts each approved the Water First North Florida initiative, a $1.
Santa and Mrs. Claus wave from a Columbia County Fire Rescue truck during last year’s Fort White Christmas parade. (FILE)

Santa and Mrs. Claus wave from a Columbia County Fire Rescue truck during last year’s Fort White Christmas parade. (FILE)

Fort White’s Breakfast with Santa, Christmas parade to usher in holidays

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Fort White town officials are combining with the community’s residents to add a new twist to the Christmas season. Next month the Town of Fort White will host its Breakfast With Santa and the Fort White Christmas parade on Sat., Dec. 20.
Miss Olustee Layla Merola smiles with Patti Aldous of the Miss Olustee pageant during the opening of this year’s Olustee Festival. (FILE)

Miss Olustee Layla Merola smiles with Patti Aldous of the Miss Olustee pageant during the opening of this year’s Olustee Festival. (FILE)

Miss Olustee Pageant seeks contestants

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
One of the oldest beauty pageants in the area has transitioned into a scholarship pageant offering contestants the opportunity to compete for scholarship dollars as well as a crown and title.
Catholic Charities volunteers Carrie Alexander (clockwise from left), Madeline Moore and Amani Tunsil add items to boxes that were given to local families for the annual Catholic Charities Thanksgiving Basket giveaway, which was held Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Catholic Charities volunteers Carrie Alexander (clockwise from left), Madeline Moore and Amani Tunsil add items to boxes that were given to local families for the annual Catholic Charities Thanksgiving Basket giveaway, which was held Thursday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Serving up food, support

TONY BRITT
Saturday, November 22, 2025
Retired educators, students, law enforcement officers, accoun- tants, manual labor employees — anyone from the community who wanted to help their neighbors — was at Catholic Charities on Thursday helping distribute 650 Thanksgiving baskets to local community members.

County putting solid waste deal out to bid

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, November 22, 2025
Columbia County’s solid waste disposal contract will go back out to bid. After several rounds of discussions with current contractor Waste Pro about renewing its deal instead, the board voted 3-2 on Thursday to seek new bids. Rocky Ford and Everett Phillips voted against rebidding the contract.
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.