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Participants take off in a race during last year’s inaugural DeSoto Derby canoe race, sponsored by the Elks Lodge #893. This year’s race has been postponed to June 14. (FILE)

Participants take off in a race during last year’s inaugural DeSoto Derby canoe race, sponsored by the Elks Lodge #893. This year’s race has been postponed to June 14. (FILE)

DeSoto Derby postponed to June 14

NEWS STAFF
Friday, May 9, 2025
Canoe racing on Lake DeSoto will have to wait another month. The Elks Lodge #893 has postponed its second DeSoto Derby canoe race to June 14 due to the threat of inclement weather. The race was originally set for today.
Columbia County Fire Rescue employee Jake Doyle (left) holds a cardiac monitor as Justin Ingle loads an Advanced Life Saving bag onto a fire engine at Station 43 on Friday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County Fire Rescue employee Jake Doyle (left) holds a cardiac monitor as Justin Ingle loads an Advanced Life Saving bag onto a fire engine at Station 43 on Friday morning. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

CCFR upgrading engines to ALS response

TONY BRITT
Friday, May 9, 2025
Residents who live on the western side of Columbia County will now have upgraded medical services available in case of emergency. Columbia County Fire Rescue has recently improved its equipment and personnel, making way for the operation of an Advanced Life Saving engine.
Sakiya Merriex receives her associate in arts degree from Florida Gateway College President Larry Barrett during commencement Thursday at the Howard Center. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Sakiya Merriex receives her associate in arts degree from Florida Gateway College President Larry Barrett during commencement Thursday at the Howard Center. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

FGC graduation centers on thankfulness

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, May 9, 2025
Thankfulness was a central idea on the minds of faculty and students alike Thursday at Florida Gateway College.

Annie Mattox Park closing early on Mother’s Day

NEWS STAFF
Friday, May 9, 2025
Following a recent shooting where a Lake City police officer was wounded by gunfire at an event, the Annie Mattox Park Board of Directors has informed the Lake City Police Department that the park will be closing at 7 p.m. on Sunday for Mother’s Day.
Assistant Superintendent Todd Widergren (right) and Fred Gaylard, the district’s new construction project manager (left), give Half-Cent Sales Tax Advisory Committee members a tour of the new Niblack Elementary School on Wednesday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Assistant Superintendent Todd Widergren (right) and Fred Gaylard, the district’s new construction project manager (left), give Half-Cent Sales Tax Advisory Committee members a tour of the new Niblack Elementary School on Wednesday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Sneak peek at Niblack

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
The Half-Cent Sales Tax Advisory Committee, the group tasked with devising ideas to improve the school district through safety, construction and IT improvements, was given a homework assignment at its latest meeting on Wednesday — look for potential new projects.
Shannon Roberts, the North Florida Water Utility Authority’s choice for director, said the person should bring value to the organization. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Shannon Roberts, the North Florida Water Utility Authority’s choice for director, said the person should bring value to the organization. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Utility offers Roberts $125K with incentives

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
LIVE OAK — The North Florida Water Utilities Authority is hoping a merit-based pay system will incentivize its chosen director to come on board.
Brock and William Dees, the winners of the inaugural DeSoto Derby Canoe Race last year, lead down the home stretch. (FILE)

Brock and William Dees, the winners of the inaugural DeSoto Derby Canoe Race last year, lead down the home stretch. (FILE)

DeSoto Derby returns for second year

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
A dose of history will come to life Saturday on Lake DeSoto. A century after the Elks Lodge #893 rented out canoes for people to enjoy time on the downtown lake, the Elks are again looking to create a fun experience on Lake DeSoto. This Saturday will mark the Elks’ second DeSoto Derby canoe race.

Shooting suspect caught after fleeing

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
A Lake City man was captured after firing shots at a cyclist Tuesday afternoon in northern Lake City. A Lake City Police Department release said authorities responded to NW Railroad Street around 2:30 p.m.

Multicultural Day, Spring Market postponed

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
The City of Lake City has postponed its spring market and multicultural day celebration that was scheduled to take place this weekend. According to Terri Phillips, the city’s community program director, the event was postponed due to weather-related concerns based on weekend weather forecasts.

Cyclists hit, killed in separate incidents

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
A pair of cyclists were killed after being hit by vehicles in two separate incidents Tuesday in Lake City. One cyclist was killed Tuesday afternoon when they were hit by a car on Lake Jeffery Road. A Florida Highway Patrol release said two cyclists were headed west on Lake Jeffery Road around 1 p.