Local

Logan Rivera (left), 5, poses in front of a back to school sign for Isabel Garcia, as he prepares to head to his first day of school. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Logan Rivera (left), 5, poses in front of a back to school sign for Isabel Garcia, as he prepares to head to his first day of school. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Schools kick off ‘smooth’ return to class

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
New clothing, new haircuts, and new teachers combined with the opening of a new school were the key ingredients of the Columbia County School District beginning a new school year.
Lake City Councilman Ricky Jernigan echoed City Manager Don Rosenthal’s sentiments when it came time to deciding whether or not to support a raise. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City Councilman Ricky Jernigan echoed City Manager Don Rosenthal’s sentiments when it came time to deciding whether or not to support a raise. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

City staff getting 3% raises

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
City of Lake City employees are in line to receive a 3% pay bump in the next fiscal year. Late in the Lake City Council’s two-and-half-hour budget workshop Monday evening, the council provided consensus by a 3-2 vote to include the across-the-board raises for city staff.
Halpatter Brewing Company’s Chris Candler prepares a beverage during the 2024 Gateway City Craft Beer & Wine Festival. (FILE)

Halpatter Brewing Company’s Chris Candler prepares a beverage during the 2024 Gateway City Craft Beer & Wine Festival. (FILE)

Chamber killing beer fest

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Pour one out for the Gateway City Craft Beer & Wine Festival. The Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is pulling the plug on its festival after nine years.
Lake Shore Hospital Authority Attorney Todd Kennon said Lake City Attorney Clay Martin was satisfied with the latest language in an agreement to have Meridian Healthcare occupy the main hospital building on the Lake Shore campus. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake Shore Hospital Authority Attorney Todd Kennon said Lake City Attorney Clay Martin was satisfied with the latest language in an agreement to have Meridian Healthcare occupy the main hospital building on the Lake Shore campus. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Meridian deal gets back on track

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Solving a few misunderstandings could save a deal to occupy the main hospital building on the Lake Shore campus. The Lake Shore Hospital Authority heard updates at its Monday meeting regarding ongoing efforts to deed the building to Meridian Healthcare.
The Legal Eagles won their third straight Boots and Badges championship on Saturday at Columbia High School. The courthouse-centric team topped the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in the title game. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE)

The Legal Eagles won their third straight Boots and Badges championship on Saturday at Columbia High School. The courthouse-centric team topped the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in the title game. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE)

Legal Eagles dynasty wins third straight Boots and Badges title

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Another year, another Boots and Badges title for the Legal Eagles.

Man wanted for threatening to kill his wife

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Authorities are still searching for a man who allegedly pointed a shotgun at his wife and threatened to kill her Monday morning. According to the Lake City Police Department, a domestic disturbance around 9:25 a.m. Monday led to a woman calling for assistance to retrieve belongings.
Florida Gateway College President Larry Barrett said the college hopes to have X-ray technician programs at the two-story Women’s Center up and running by 2026. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Florida Gateway College President Larry Barrett said the college hopes to have X-ray technician programs at the two-story Women’s Center up and running by 2026. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Hospital Authority moving ahead with deed to FGC

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Education and career opportunities are coming to downtown Lake City. The Lake Shore Hospital Authority unanimously approved a survey and deed of conveyance to Florida Gateway College for the two-story Women’s Center on the Lake Shore campus.
The Stuff the Buss campaign seeks to help local educators in securing classroom supplies through community and business donations. (COURTESY)

The Stuff the Buss campaign seeks to help local educators in securing classroom supplies through community and business donations. (COURTESY)

Stuff the Bus event seeks donations for teachers

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Columbia County students and teachers have started their 2025-26 school year, and as the adults and students prepare to complete the new school year, there is a growing emphasis regarding materials, supplies and equipment.
Law enforcement officials converged at the Enterprise Rent-A-Car facility on U.S. Highway 90 after an employee noticed a strange device in a car during vehicle inspections. The device was deemed not dangerous by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Law enforcement officials converged at the Enterprise Rent-A-Car facility on U.S. Highway 90 after an employee noticed a strange device in a car during vehicle inspections. The device was deemed not dangerous by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Rental car device deemed no threat

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
An extra device left in a returned rental car Monday morning was deemed no threat by law enforcement.
A First Coast Highlanders bagpipe player leads the procession of Florida Gateway College professors and graduation candidates into the gymnasium on Thursday evening for the school’s summer graduation ceremony. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

A First Coast Highlanders bagpipe player leads the procession of Florida Gateway College professors and graduation candidates into the gymnasium on Thursday evening for the school’s summer graduation ceremony. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Marching into the future: FGC grads encouraged to think critically

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 8, 2025
An afternoon rain storm and high humidity levels did little to dampen the spirits of close to 100 Florida Gateway College students who were bright and sunny with attitudes to match during the school’s summer commencement Thursday.