Local

Columbia County UF/IFAS Extension Agent Halie Corbitt (second from right) holds the Environmental Education team award at the 2025 Extension Professional Associations of Florida Symposium. The award went to the Columbia County team, including Heather Futch (left) and Zoie Whitlock (right) as well as Paulette Tomlinson, Erin Harlow, Kalie Picklo, Julia Fulton and the Columbia Master Gardener volunteers. (COURTESY)

Columbia County UF/IFAS Extension Agent Halie Corbitt (second from right) holds the Environmental Education team award at the 2025 Extension Professional Associations of Florida Symposium. The award went to the Columbia County team, including Heather Futch (left) and Zoie Whitlock (right) as well as Paulette Tomlinson, Erin Harlow, Kalie Picklo, Julia Fulton and the Columbia Master Gardener volunteers. (COURTESY)

Columbia County Extension wins big at state symposium

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
DAYTONA BEACH — Columbia County UF/IFAS Extension agents were recognized for their outstanding contributions to county education and outreach during the 2025 Extension Professional Associations of Florida (EPAF) Symposium earlier this month.

State argues for moving ahead with execution

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office Tuesday argued the Florida Supreme Court should reject appeals aimed at preventing the scheduled June 10 execution of Anthony Wainwright in the 1994 murder of a woman who was kidnapped from the parking lot of a Lake City grocery store.

Tractor Supply hosting feed swap event

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
A Lake City Tractor Supply store is taking part in a free feed swap event. On Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1, customers can bring in an empty bag of feed to the Lake City Tractor Supply, 5359 W. U.S. Highway 90, and receive a comparable bag of Purine or DuMOR feed for free.
Blanton (top left, clockwise), Brown, Moses and Holliday

Blanton (top left, clockwise), Brown, Moses and Holliday

Four joining CCS teacher Hall of Fame

TONY BRITT
Friday, May 23, 2025
Long hours of work, constant reading, writing and arithmetic and other school chores are the hallmarks of teachers who want to make a difference in the lives of their students. Many people who work as educators believe it is their calling.
Ted McRae received the Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. He was also inducted into the Florida Transportation Builders’ Association Hall of Fame last year. (COURTESY)

Ted McRae received the Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. He was also inducted into the Florida Transportation Builders’ Association Hall of Fame last year. (COURTESY)

McRae built roads, but also support for others

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, May 23, 2025
A “builder of roads,” Terrell “Ted” McRae was also known for building relationships and supporting the community. McRae, the long-time president of Anderson Columbia and Columbia Paving before that, passed away Sunday. He was 89.
Columbia County Commission Chairman Tim Murphy said the joint stakeholder meeting was important to get everybody on the same page as far as plans on utility and infrastructure projects. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Commission Chairman Tim Murphy said the joint stakeholder meeting was important to get everybody on the same page as far as plans on utility and infrastructure projects. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Infrastructure projects focus of joint meeting

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, May 23, 2025
Local government entities gathered on the Florida Gateway College campus Thursday afternoon to discuss their various projects already in progress and how they could be affected by the newly formed North Florida Water Utility Authority.

Wright returning for 100 Men of God program

NEWS STAFF
Friday, May 23, 2025
A Columbia County native is returning home to serve as the guest speaker of a special service at the New Mt. Pisgah AME Church in a few weeks. Russell Wright Sr. will be the guest speaker for the Laity of New Mount Pisgah AME Church during the church’s 100 Men of God program.
Tractor Supply Company opened a second Lake City location on Duval Street on the eastern side of the city last fall. Another store is now planned for the Interstate 75 and State Road 47 interchange. (FILE)

Tractor Supply Company opened a second Lake City location on Duval Street on the eastern side of the city last fall. Another store is now planned for the Interstate 75 and State Road 47 interchange. (FILE)

Tractor Supply planned for 47/75

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, May 23, 2025
Another Tractor Supply is planning to move into Columbia County. The county’s Planning and Zoning Board approved a site plan application for HSC Lake City South at its meeting Thursday night for a Tractor Supply Company site just north of the Interstate 75 and State Road 47 interchange.
Eastside Elementary School faculty and staff members stand along SE Beech Street on Friday afternoon with signs, as students head home for summer vacation. Eastside Elementary School completed its last day of classes on Friday in the building that was opened in 1959. The building will will be demolished in a few weeks, making way for a new Eastside Elementary School. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Eastside Elementary School faculty and staff members stand along SE Beech Street on Friday afternoon with signs, as students head home for summer vacation. Eastside Elementary School completed its last day of classes on Friday in the building that was opened in 1959. The building will will be demolished in a few weeks, making way for a new Eastside Elementary School. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Faculty, students say goodbye to Eastside

TONY BRITT
Friday, May 23, 2025
The current Eastside Elementary School building held its final day of classes Friday, closing out the 2024-25 school year. The building, which originally opened in 1959, will be demolished in the coming weeks as the school district will have a new school building constructed on the property.