Local

Aram Petit measures how high sugar-free Sprite shot out of a bottle once Mentos were added to the container. (COURTESY)

Aram Petit measures how high sugar-free Sprite shot out of a bottle once Mentos were added to the container. (COURTESY)

4-H STEM Explorers Club experiments with soda, Mentos

NEWS STAFF
Friday, October 24, 2025
The Columbia County 4-H STEM Explorers Club mixed science and fun during their latest meeting, conducting an exciting outdoor experiment that tested what happens when mint-flavored Mentos candies are dropped into different types of soda.
Lauren Spring (from left), Emily Stuckey Sellers and Lake City’s Rachel Grubb, the trio behind The Krickets, will soon release a compilation album called ‘If You Only Knew’ on Oct. 30. (COURTESY)

Lauren Spring (from left), Emily Stuckey Sellers and Lake City’s Rachel Grubb, the trio behind The Krickets, will soon release a compilation album called ‘If You Only Knew’ on Oct. 30. (COURTESY)

Locally sourced Americana: Grubb, The Krickets, set to release co-written album

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
There was no theme in mind when The Krickets decided to start working on a new album. But Lake City’s Rachel Grubb, a member of the Americana trio from the gulf coast, said as the group started looking over the material they had for the album, “If You Only Knew,” which is being released Oct.
Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Katina Dicks (from left), gets a bag of to-go plates for CCSO staff from Lisa Toliver, an American Legion Auxiliary member. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Katina Dicks (from left), gets a bag of to-go plates for CCSO staff from Lisa Toliver, an American Legion Auxiliary member. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Legion Post 57 feeds first responders

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
A huge contingent of local first responders were the guests of honor during an American Legion Post 57 luncheon on Wednesday.
Robert Stalvey and Hagan Stalvey, then 7, dressed up as Mario and Luigi during the 2019 Trunk or Treat event. (FILE)

Robert Stalvey and Hagan Stalvey, then 7, dressed up as Mario and Luigi during the 2019 Trunk or Treat event. (FILE)

City treating with trunk-or-treat event

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Local youngsters will have opportunity to do their trick or treating and candy collections in a safe, controlled, family-friendly environment this weekend in the midst of downtown Lake City. Trunk-Or-Treat 2025, a City of Lake City event, will take place 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct.

Lake City cyclist dead after crash

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
A crash in northeast Columbia County killed a Lake City cyclist early Wednesday morning. According to a Florida Highway Patrol release, a sedan driven by a 29-year-old Lake City man was heading north on U.S. Highway 441, approaching the intersection of NE Gum Swamp Road around 6:48 a.m.
Workers get set on constructing the Ring of Fire, one of the many attractions coming this weekend as the 71st annual Florida Gateway Fair opens at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds on Friday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Workers get set on constructing the Ring of Fire, one of the many attractions coming this weekend as the 71st annual Florida Gateway Fair opens at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds on Friday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Firing up the fair

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
The Florida Gateway Fairgrounds is busy with activity as preparations are ongoing for the annual fair.
Lauren Rushing, a project manager with NUE Urban Concepts, gives a presentation to the Lake City Council at Monday’s meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lauren Rushing, a project manager with NUE Urban Concepts, gives a presentation to the Lake City Council at Monday’s meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

City seeks street upgrades

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
A long-term vision for the future of public infrastructure in Lake City will get more consideration moving forward.

Doty sentenced 40 years for driveway murder

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
The Lake City man who testified earlier this month against his co-conspirator was sentenced Monday for his role in a February 2024 shooting. Kendall Doty, 27, was sentenced to 40 years in state prison Monday by Judge Leandra Johnson with a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years.
Lake City planning and zoning technician Robert Angelo touted mixed-use zoning practices during a presentation to the Lake City Council on Monday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City planning and zoning technician Robert Angelo touted mixed-use zoning practices during a presentation to the Lake City Council on Monday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Mixed-use zoning could be coming to Lake City

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Following up on an earlier presentation, the Lake City Council received information regarding future growth and zoning during its Monday meeting.
Participants in the first ‘Messy Masterpieces’ class at the West Branch Library show off their artwork Saturday. (COURTESY)

Participants in the first ‘Messy Masterpieces’ class at the West Branch Library show off their artwork Saturday. (COURTESY)

West Library unveils ‘Messy Masterpieces’

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
The West Branch Library has launched a new monthly art class called “Messy Masterpieces.” The first “Messy Masterpieces” class was hosted Saturday by Branch Manager Marcella Marsh with children learning about silhouettes. There were 24 participants for the new program.