Lake City’s Adam Sanders performed Wednesday night at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. It was Sanders’ first time performing at the Opry. (COURTESY)

Lake City’s Adam Sanders performed Wednesday night at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. It was Sanders’ first time performing at the Opry. (COURTESY)

From Lake City to the Grand Ole Opry

Adam Sanders continues checking off lifelong dreams from his to-do list. The country music star and Lake City native performed for the entire country music world to see Wednesday night when he took the fabled stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
Jay Swisher, Columbia County’s Clerk of Court who lives off of NW Hackney Terrace, said any plans to put traffic onto the small two-lane road should be revisited. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Jay Swisher, Columbia County’s Clerk of Court who lives off of NW Hackney Terrace, said any plans to put traffic onto the small two-lane road should be revisited. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

BJ’s land use change approved despite neighbors’ concerns

Development for a proposed BJ’s Wholesale Club has passed its first hurdle despite heavy public...
Fireworks explode above Lake City during last year’s Independence Day celebration at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. In addition to fireworks, this year’s 250th celebration will include a laser show and hot air balloons. (FILE)

Fireworks explode above Lake City during last year’s Independence Day celebration at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. In addition to fireworks, this year’s 250th celebration will include a laser show and hot air balloons. (FILE)

Hot air balloons, laser show part of 250th celebration

Local organizers are in the final phases of preparation for the local United States 250th...
Gov. Ron DeSantis still has to sign the $114.5 billion state budget, which is set to go into effect July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year. (FILE)

Gov. Ron DeSantis still has to sign the $114.5 billion state budget, which is set to go into effect July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year. (FILE)

Data center regulations among July 1 new laws

TALLAHASSEE — About 140 laws from the regular session and a trio of special sessions are set to...
Suwannee County School Board member Ronald White, who represents District 5 and is seeking re-election, said he opposes the half-cent sales tax because of a lack of information from district officials. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County School Board member Ronald White, who represents District 5 and is seeking re-election, said he opposes the half-cent sales tax because of a lack of information from district officials. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee school board candidates disagree on sales tax push

Does the Suwannee County School District need a half-cent sales tax?
Lake City’s Adam Sanders performed Wednesday night at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. It was Sanders’ first time performing at the Opry. (COURTESY)

Lake City’s Adam Sanders performed Wednesday night at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. It was Sanders’ first time performing at the Opry. (COURTESY)

Adam Sanders continues checking off lifelong dreams from his to-do list. The country music star and Lake City native performed for the entire country music world to see Wednesday night when he took the fabled stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Sanders had the chance to perform a pair of…
Jay Swisher, Columbia County’s Clerk of Court who lives off of NW Hackney Terrace, said any plans to put traffic onto the small two-lane road should be revisited. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Jay Swisher, Columbia County’s Clerk of Court who lives off of NW Hackney Terrace, said any plans to put traffic onto the small two-lane road should be revisited. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Development for a proposed BJ’s Wholesale Club has passed its first hurdle despite heavy public opposition. Five local residents — including Columbia County Clerk of Court Jay Swisher — weren’t enough to sway a majority of the county’s Planning & Zoning Board during its Thursday meeting.…
The South Florida man arrested in Tuesday’s fatal mid-day shooting admitted to having anger issues, according to a Lake City Police Department report.The LCPD report said that after officers identified 25-year-old Willie Thomas, a Homestead man who was staying at the Cedar Park apartments on the…
JENNINGS — A rabies alert issued last month for northern Hamilton County has now been extended after another confirmed case.The Florida Department of Health in Hamilton County extended the rabies alert Friday in response to a confirmed case of rabies in a fox that died suddenly near Jennings…
Gov. Ron DeSantis still has to sign the $114.5 billion state budget, which is set to go into effect July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year. (FILE)

Gov. Ron DeSantis still has to sign the $114.5 billion state budget, which is set to go into effect July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year. (FILE)

TALLAHASSEE — About 140 laws from the regular session and a trio of special sessions are set to take effect July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year.The changes range from regulations for massive data centers and renaming Palm Beach International Airport for President Donald Trump to…
Three area teams and seven individuals won state titles during the 2025-26 school year, while others made deep postseason runs. (FILE PHOTOS)

Three area teams and seven individuals won state titles during the 2025-26 school year, while others made deep postseason runs. (FILE PHOTOS)

This school year was one to remember. We finally saw teams break through for state titles, while other individuals won championships of their own. But what was the best of the best?Let’s take a look back at the top 10 moments from the 2025-26 school year.10. Haley makes cross country history…
Suwannee catcher Jace Moran is the LCR’s Baseball Player of the Year. (COURTESY)

Suwannee catcher Jace Moran is the LCR’s Baseball Player of the Year. (COURTESY)

LIVE OAK — The brutal schedule — the eighth toughest in the state — was compiled for a reason.Knowing that South Walton and its pair of aces in Coleman Borthwick and Denton Lord was waiting in the Region 1-3A playoffs, Suwannee coach Billy Moran wanted to test the Bulldogs early and often in…
Fireworks explode above Lake City during last year’s Independence Day celebration at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. In addition to fireworks, this year’s 250th celebration will include a laser show and hot air balloons. (FILE)

Fireworks explode above Lake City during last year’s Independence Day celebration at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds. In addition to fireworks, this year’s 250th celebration will include a laser show and hot air balloons. (FILE)

Local organizers are in the final phases of preparation for the local United States 250th anniversary celebration.With everything from hot air balloons, a laser show, antique cars, old fashioned games and hot dog and watermelon eating contests, the historic celebration is aimed at providing…
The man shot and killed Tuesday outside a Lake City apartment complex was identified Wednesday as a Lake City man.The Lake City Police Department said Wednesday that 24-year-old Jayveon Montroll Hall was the victim of the fatal shooting late Tuesday morning. Hall’s next of kin has been notified,…
Lake City firefighters battle a blaze in a duplex on SE Brown Street on Wednesday. Nobody was injured in the fire although a dog perished. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Lake City firefighters battle a blaze in a duplex on SE Brown Street on Wednesday. Nobody was injured in the fire although a dog perished. (COURTESY LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT)

A duplex fire Wednesday morning remains under investigation after crews extinguished the blaze.According to the Lake City Fire Department, LCFD units, along with an automatic aid response from Columbia County Fire Rescue, responded to a structure fire on SE Brown Street around 10:35 a.m. Wednesday.…
Suwannee County School Board member Ronald White, who represents District 5 and is seeking re-election, said he opposes the half-cent sales tax because of a lack of information from district officials. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County School Board member Ronald White, who represents District 5 and is seeking re-election, said he opposes the half-cent sales tax because of a lack of information from district officials. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Does the Suwannee County School District need a half-cent sales tax? It matters on which candidate for the Suwannee County School Board you ask.During the Suwannee County Voters League Meet the Candidates forum at the Suwannee County Coliseum on Monday, two of the three candidates that took part…
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