Local

TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter Patricia Proctor with the American Legion Post 57 (left) and Katelyn Holley with South East Elite Working Dogs talk Wednesday about the Legionnaire Dogs program that is being launched by the Legion with help from Holley and the Lake City Humane Society. The program will help get local veterans with companion or service dogs at no cost. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter Patricia Proctor with the American Legion Post 57 (left) and Katelyn Holley with South East Elite Working Dogs talk Wednesday about the Legionnaire Dogs program that is being launched by the Legion with help from Holley and the Lake City Humane Society. The program will help get local veterans with companion or service dogs at no cost. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Legionnaire Dogs program launched

NEWS STAFF
Friday, October 17, 2025
The American Legion Post 57 is hoping to help local veterans find a new man’s best friend. Post 57 is launching the Legionnaire Dogs program where veterans can potentially get service dogs for their physical, social and mental needs.
Columbia EMS co-owner Toby Witt updates the County Commission on Thursday with how the company’s operations went in its first year. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia EMS co-owner Toby Witt updates the County Commission on Thursday with how the company’s operations went in its first year. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County satisfied with Columbia EMS

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, October 17, 2025
A local EMS startup is reporting a successful first year of operations in the county.  So good, in fact, that the Columbia County Commission is getting rid of its backup provider.
Heather Encinosa of the firm Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson explained the ins and outs of MSTUs to the Columbia County Board of County Commissioners Thursday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Heather Encinosa of the firm Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson explained the ins and outs of MSTUs to the Columbia County Board of County Commissioners Thursday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County discusses MSTUs to help fund sheriff

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, October 17, 2025
Columbia County is already exploring alternatives to funding law enforcement ahead of a possible reduction or elimination in property tax ordered by the state.
WastePro Florida Government Affairs Director Dana WIlliams (left) and WastePro Lake City Manager Frank Kramer discussed WastePro’s contract proposal with the county at its Thursday meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

WastePro Florida Government Affairs Director Dana WIlliams (left) and WastePro Lake City Manager Frank Kramer discussed WastePro’s contract proposal with the county at its Thursday meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

County calls for new look at waste contract

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, October 17, 2025
A county contractor felt the need to defend itself and its record after county officials called for a new round of proposals for its waste management.
Rachel Dougherty and Alura Castillo show Neveau Davis, newcomer to poultry and LCMS FFA Member, how to hold and hand off a chicken. (COURTESY UF/IFAS COLUMBIA COUNTY EXTENSION)

Rachel Dougherty and Alura Castillo show Neveau Davis, newcomer to poultry and LCMS FFA Member, how to hold and hand off a chicken. (COURTESY UF/IFAS COLUMBIA COUNTY EXTENSION)

Columbia county youth prepare for upcoming fair

NEWS STAFF
Friday, October 17, 2025
Youth across Columbia County have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming Florida Gateway Fair, taking place Oct. 24 through Nov. 2 at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds.
Columbia High School theater department students Krystin Sutton (from left), Klowe Redding, Alex Vazquez and Kaeli Tice haunt the entry into the school’s performing arts center on Friday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia High School theater department students Krystin Sutton (from left), Klowe Redding, Alex Vazquez and Kaeli Tice haunt the entry into the school’s performing arts center on Friday afternoon. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Urban legends come to life at CHS Haunted House

TONY BRITT
Friday, October 17, 2025
Urban legends of terrifying scenes will come to life this weekend as the Columbia High School Drama program holds its annual haunted house fundraiser. The CHS Haunted House will take place from 7-10 p.m. Saturday at the Norman R.
TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson smiles as he speaks Wednesday during a Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Coffee and Commerce event. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson smiles as he speaks Wednesday during a Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Coffee and Commerce event. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

State ag commish touts food security efforts

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
The Florida Department of Agriculture’s role in everything from farming to hurricane recovery to economics and addressing the needs of residents was addressed Tuesday morning over coffee and discussions of commerce.
Residents pose in front of the MUSE Candle Studio storefront ahead of Friday’s Ghouls Night Out event in downtown Lake City. (COURTESY)

Residents pose in front of the MUSE Candle Studio storefront ahead of Friday’s Ghouls Night Out event in downtown Lake City. (COURTESY)

Shoppers, city ready for Ghouls Night Out

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
\The local downtown area is expected to come to life, after normal business hours, when several businesses, vendors, food trucks and others collaborate for a night of entertainment and shopping.
Ryan Pursel arranges pumpkins on a pallet at the Columbia High School Pumpkin Patch. Local FFA students are trying to sell the 1,502 pumpkins as a fundraiser. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Ryan Pursel arranges pumpkins on a pallet at the Columbia High School Pumpkin Patch. Local FFA students are trying to sell the 1,502 pumpkins as a fundraiser. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Patch ready for picking

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Several Columbia High School and Lake City Middle School FFA students spent Tuesday afternoon creating a fall atmosphere in a local lot.
Charlie Stermer (from left) holds a LifeVac Airway Clearance Device while standing with Ed Carter, Fort White Elementary School principal, and Aubrie Brown, holds a bag with another of the devices. (COURTESY)

Charlie Stermer (from left) holds a LifeVac Airway Clearance Device while standing with Ed Carter, Fort White Elementary School principal, and Aubrie Brown, holds a bag with another of the devices. (COURTESY)

Clearing airways and nerves

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Monday was a training day for several local educators with life-saving training methods. Although the teachers and other staff members were not instructing students, they were learning how to potentially save a student’s life if the child encountered a chocking hazard.