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Members of the American Legion Post 57 Honor Guard of Lake City visited Amy Kirkland Smith’s fifth-grade Safety Patrol class Wednesday at Westside Elementary School to provide a lesson on American Flag etiquette. (COURTESY)

Members of the American Legion Post 57 Honor Guard of Lake City visited Amy Kirkland Smith’s fifth-grade Safety Patrol class Wednesday at Westside Elementary School to provide a lesson on American Flag etiquette. (COURTESY)

Honor Guard teaches Westside students flag etiquette

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, August 22, 2026
The American Legion Post 57 Honor Guard helped teach Westside Elementary School students this week on handling the American flag.Members of the Honor Guard visited Westside teacher Amy Kirkland Smith’s fifth-grade safety patrol class, which learned about American flag etiquette.
Candidates, supporters and other interested local residents wait outside the Supervisor of Elections Office on Tuesday night for results to come in from the primary election. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Candidates, supporters and other interested local residents wait outside the Supervisor of Elections Office on Tuesday night for results to come in from the primary election. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Smooth primary rated ‘best election we’ve had’

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
A larger than expected Columbia County voter turnout served as the hallmark for the 2026 primary election.“The election went better than what I expected,” Columbia County Supervisor of Elections Tomi Brown said Wednesday afternoon after the election wrapped up Tuesday night.

City dedicating streets to Foremans, Lane

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
A trio of local citizens, all career educators, will be honored for their dedication, commitment and service to the community by the City of Lake City next week.The city plans to unveil streets named in their honor at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, beginning at NW Ivory Terrace.
Columbia County Public Library Director Katrina Evans speaks during a previous graduation ceremony for College Online High School students through the library. The program is being relaunched thanks to a a partnership between COHS and Friends of the Library. (FILE)

Columbia County Public Library Director Katrina Evans speaks during a previous graduation ceremony for College Online High School students through the library. The program is being relaunched thanks to a a partnership between COHS and Friends of the Library. (FILE)

Library relaunches Career Online program

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
The Columbia County Public Library is once again providing scholarships to adults in Columbia County to earn a private high school diploma online and gain career skills.
Sara Carter celebrates with her husband, Travis, and sons, Jack (left) and George after winning re-election as Columbia County judge on Tuesday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Sara Carter celebrates with her husband, Travis, and sons, Jack (left) and George after winning re-election as Columbia County judge on Tuesday night. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Carter retains judge seat

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Incumbent Columbia County Judge Sara Carter retained her seat in Tuesday night’s election by defeating challenger Mark Pionessa.Carter collected 8,475 votes during her campaign, roughly 66.54% of the vote. Pionessa, on the other hand, garnered 4,262 votes, roughly 33.46% of the vote.

Jones, Ronsonet unseat incumbents in Districts 10, 14

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Both Lake City Council seats up for grabs Tuesday will be switching hands in the near future. District 10 voters gave challenger Jennifer Jones a 40-vote edge over incumbent Vice Mayor Chevella Young, while former car dealership owner Norbie Ronsonet earned 58.

Pittman, Ford and Phillips, Dicks headed to runoffs

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
There were no seats decided Tuesday night on the Columbia County Commission.Incumbents Rocky Ford (District 2) and Everett Phillips (District 4) both advanced to runoff elections in November where they will be challenged by Clint Pittman (District 2) and Chris Dicks (District 4).
Narrie Smith (right) holds a campaign sign alongside a supporter Tuesday outside the Supervisor of Elections office. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Narrie Smith (right) holds a campaign sign alongside a supporter Tuesday outside the Supervisor of Elections office. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Smith keeps District 1 school board seat

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Longtime educator Narrie Smith, who has served two terms as a Columbia County School Board member, secured her third term Tuesday night by defeating political upstart Niki Goswami.Smith collected 1,368 votes during the campaign, roughly 75.
Lake Shore Hospital Authority Trustee Jerry Bullard said the board isn’t opposed to purchasing the ambulances for Columbia County, but the board tabled that vote to December. (FILE)

Lake Shore Hospital Authority Trustee Jerry Bullard said the board isn’t opposed to purchasing the ambulances for Columbia County, but the board tabled that vote to December. (FILE)

Hospital board tables ambulance request

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
The Lake Shore Hospital Authority is going to take more time to consider Columbia County’s request for funding ambulances to boost emergency services.