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Bellamy the Beaver hosted a water celebration at Ichetucknee Springs State Park recently where students conservation and hands-on science. (COURTESY)

Bellamy the Beaver hosted a water celebration at Ichetucknee Springs State Park recently where students conservation and hands-on science. (COURTESY)

Bellamy’s water celebration brings science, sunshine to Ichetucknee

NEWS STAFF
Friday, May 23, 2025
Staff report Excited students from area schools recently gathered at Ichetucknee Springs State Park for Bellamy’s Water Celebration, a lively outdoor event focused on water education, conservation, and hands-on science.

Calvary Baptist hosting community fun day

NEWS STAFF
Friday, May 23, 2025
A local church is set to host a day of merriment for area residents. Calvary Baptist Church, located at 776 NW County Road 25A in Lake City, will put on its Community Fun Day on Saturday, May 31, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The theme for the event will be “The Joy of The Lord.
Columbia County Sheriff Wallace Kitchings gives remarks during Tuesday’s ceremony honoring local first responders at the county’s annual Public Safety Memorial. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Sheriff Wallace Kitchings gives remarks during Tuesday’s ceremony honoring local first responders at the county’s annual Public Safety Memorial. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

First responders mourn, pray for past service members

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
More than 100 people gathered in the Parkview Baptist Church sanctuary Tuesday evening to celebrate the legacy, mourn the loss and pray for the health of local first responders during the county’s annual Public Safety Memorial.
Cattelane (from left), Chowdhury and O'Brien

Cattelane (from left), Chowdhury and O'Brien

Columbia Class of 2025 noted for its resiliency

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
The final chapter in the high school academic book of more than 400 students will come an end this weekend during the Columbia High School graduation. The CHS commencement will take place at 8 p.m. on Friday at Tiger Stadium, 469 SW Fighting Drive in Lake City.
Columbia High School’s JROTC four champion archers were Dakota Bechiner (from left), Erik DelCastillo, Dalton Minton and Chase Peisel. (COURTESY)

Columbia High School’s JROTC four champion archers were Dakota Bechiner (from left), Erik DelCastillo, Dalton Minton and Chase Peisel. (COURTESY)

Columbia JROTC wins archery titles

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
The Columbia High School JROTC program, in its first year of fielding a competitive team, captured a season and tournament championship during the weekend, completing a perfect season.
Bettye Lane was a longtime teacher in the Columbia County School District and also was the first black councilwoman to serve on the Lake City Council. (COURTESY)

Bettye Lane was a longtime teacher in the Columbia County School District and also was the first black councilwoman to serve on the Lake City Council. (COURTESY)

Historic Lane recalled for love of community

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
A local pioneer in the field of education as well as politics who also harbored a love for Lake City and making it a beautiful venue through plants and trees, died on Sunday. Bettye Lane, a long-time educator and city councilwoman, was  87 years old.
The council voted 3-2 at Monday’s meeting in favor of pursuing a legal judgement in its favor to get roughly $200,000 back in severance pay made to former City Manager Paul Dyal (above). (FILE)

The council voted 3-2 at Monday’s meeting in favor of pursuing a legal judgement in its favor to get roughly $200,000 back in severance pay made to former City Manager Paul Dyal (above). (FILE)

City wants invalid Dyal pay back

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
The Lake City Council is ready to try to recoup some of the money members say they believe was improperly paid out to the former City Manager.
Lake City Attorney Clay Martin speaks during Monday’s Lake City Council meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Attorney Clay Martin speaks during Monday’s Lake City Council meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Martin tries to clear up Lake Shore confusion

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
While the Lake City Council didn’t act on the matter at its Monday meeting, it did clarify a few things on a potential deal between itself and the Lake Shore Hospital Authority on the subject of Meridian Healthcare and the main Lake Shore Hospital building.
Belmont Academy administrator Drew Sloan (fourth from right) accepts a plaque from Catholic Charities’ Shannon Moser, Renee LeBlanc and David Boozer on Friday as students look on. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Belmont Academy administrator Drew Sloan (fourth from right) accepts a plaque from Catholic Charities’ Shannon Moser, Renee LeBlanc and David Boozer on Friday as students look on. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Belmont recognized for Catholic Charities food drive

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Students at Belmont Academy went the extra mile last year during the holiday season to collect canned good for food insecure community members.