Karla Hatcher (left) gets a hug from Martha Ann Ronsonet at Tuesday’s Columbia County School Board meeting as one of five former educators honored at the district’s Teacher of a Lifetime ceremony. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Karla Hatcher (left) gets a hug from Martha Ann Ronsonet at Tuesday’s Columbia County School Board meeting as one of five former educators honored at the district’s Teacher of a Lifetime ceremony. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Five Hall of Fame educators honored for Teacher of a Lifetime

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

The impact a teacher can have on a community, its children, family members and friends was visibly evident Tuesday night when five local educators were recognized for their contributions to Columbia County schools.

Local

Commissioner Rocky Ford said he was assured by AmeriPro officials the company could pull as many trucks as needed from other areas to supplement the county. The move has yet to happen. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Commissioner Rocky Ford said he was assured by AmeriPro officials the company could pull as many trucks as needed from other areas to supplement the county. The move has yet to happen. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County vote to purchase ambulances fails 3-2

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
The Columbia County commission agreed on one thing in a lengthy special meeting Wednesday:...
Easton Starling, 11, utilizes training he learned at a Lake City Fire Department summer camp to douse flames with a fire extinguisher. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Easton Starling, 11, utilizes training he learned at a Lake City Fire Department summer camp to douse flames with a fire extinguisher. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Kids cool off with LCFD fitness and skills summer camp

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
More than two dozen local youngsters are getting a new physical and educational experience from...
A couple of people pose under the replica mastadon skeleton that was on display at the Columbia County Public Library during a summer kickoff event on Friday. (COURTESY)

A couple of people pose under the replica mastadon skeleton that was on display at the Columbia County Public Library during a summer kickoff event on Friday. (COURTESY)

Replica mastodon skeleton informs all ages at library event

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
A group of Columbia County youths and their parents took a trip through time Friday and were able...
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Around Columbia County

Kathryn Land and J. Reid, former Hamilton County Sheriff Harrell’s Reid’s children, hold his encased medallion after he was posthumously inducted into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame on Saturday. Land and Reid were surrounded by family members and past and present members of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. (COURTESY)

Kathryn Land and J. Reid, former Hamilton County Sheriff Harrell’s Reid’s children, hold his encased medallion after he was posthumously inducted into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame on Saturday. Land and Reid were surrounded by family members and past and present members of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. (COURTESY)

Reid inducted into law enforcement hall of fame

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
TALLAHASSEE — The Dean of the Florida Sheriffs and longest serving sheriff in Florida history now...
The state budget approved by the legislature has more than $5 million appropriated toward master planning and design for the North Florida Regional Emergency Shelter, which will be located in Suwannee County just north of the Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 129 interchange. That funding is among the projects that Florida TaxWatch wants Gov. Ron DeSantis to scrutinize before deciding on what to veto or leave in. (COURTESY)

The state budget approved by the legislature has more than $5 million appropriated toward master planning and design for the North Florida Regional Emergency Shelter, which will be located in Suwannee County just north of the Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 129 interchange. That funding is among the projects that Florida TaxWatch wants Gov. Ron DeSantis to scrutinize before deciding on what to veto or leave in. (COURTESY)

TaxWatch wants Suwannee water projects flushed from budget

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
A state watchdog group sees a pair of “turkeys” headed to Suwannee County and a trio of other...
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Sports

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Karla Hatcher (left) gets a hug from Martha Ann Ronsonet at Tuesday’s Columbia County School Board meeting as one of five former educators honored at the district’s Teacher of a Lifetime ceremony. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Karla Hatcher (left) gets a hug from Martha Ann Ronsonet at Tuesday’s Columbia County School Board meeting as one of five former educators honored at the district’s Teacher of a Lifetime ceremony. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Five Hall of Fame educators honored for Teacher of a Lifetime

TONY BRITT
The impact a teacher can have on a community, its children, family members and friends was visibly evident Tuesday night when five local educators were recognized for their contributions to Columbia County schools.Joann Chamberlin, Karla Hatcher, the late Bobby Simmons, the late Joann Torrans and…
Commissioner Rocky Ford said he was assured by AmeriPro officials the company could pull as many trucks as needed from other areas to supplement the county. The move has yet to happen. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Commissioner Rocky Ford said he was assured by AmeriPro officials the company could pull as many trucks as needed from other areas to supplement the county. The move has yet to happen. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County vote to purchase ambulances fails 3-2

JAMIE WACHTER
The Columbia County commission agreed on one thing in a lengthy special meeting Wednesday: something needs to be done to address emergency medical services provided within the county.However, despite more than two hours of discussion on the matter, there was no consensus on what the fix to that…
Easton Starling, 11, utilizes training he learned at a Lake City Fire Department summer camp to douse flames with a fire extinguisher. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Easton Starling, 11, utilizes training he learned at a Lake City Fire Department summer camp to douse flames with a fire extinguisher. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Kids cool off with LCFD fitness and skills summer camp

TONY BRITT
More than two dozen local youngsters are getting a new physical and educational experience from local first responders through a unique summer camp.The youngsters are attending the Lake City Fire Department and Police Department Summer Kids Fitness and firefighter skills camp where they are…
A couple of people pose under the replica mastadon skeleton that was on display at the Columbia County Public Library during a summer kickoff event on Friday. (COURTESY)

A couple of people pose under the replica mastadon skeleton that was on display at the Columbia County Public Library during a summer kickoff event on Friday. (COURTESY)

Replica mastodon skeleton informs all ages at library event

TONY BRITT
A group of Columbia County youths and their parents took a trip through time Friday and were able to see a replica of bones from a mastodon that walked the earth thousands of years ago.The replica that was brought to Columbia County was called “Priscilla” and it was brought to the area by the…
Kathryn Land and J. Reid, former Hamilton County Sheriff Harrell’s Reid’s children, hold his encased medallion after he was posthumously inducted into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame on Saturday. Land and Reid were surrounded by family members and past and present members of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. (COURTESY)

Kathryn Land and J. Reid, former Hamilton County Sheriff Harrell’s Reid’s children, hold his encased medallion after he was posthumously inducted into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame on Saturday. Land and Reid were surrounded by family members and past and present members of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. (COURTESY)

Reid inducted into law enforcement hall of fame

JAMIE WACHTER
TALLAHASSEE — The Dean of the Florida Sheriffs and longest serving sheriff in Florida history now has another title: Hall of Famer.The late Harrell Reid, who passed away in April at the age of 79, was posthumously inducted into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame on Saturday at…
Adam Collins (right) listens as the results were delivered Tuesday night in the Live Oak District 1 runoff election. Collins won the election. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Adam Collins (right) listens as the results were delivered Tuesday night in the Live Oak District 1 runoff election. Collins won the election. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Collins unseats Jefferson in Live Oak District 1 race

JAMIE WACHTER
The Live Oak City Council will have a new member.Adam Collins defeated incumbent Tommie Jefferson in Tuesday’s runoff election for the District 1 seat on the council. Collins, an engineer who currently serves on the city’s planning and zoning board, received 48 votes to Jefferson’s 28.“It feels…
The state budget approved by the legislature has more than $5 million appropriated toward master planning and design for the North Florida Regional Emergency Shelter, which will be located in Suwannee County just north of the Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 129 interchange. That funding is among the projects that Florida TaxWatch wants Gov. Ron DeSantis to scrutinize before deciding on what to veto or leave in. (COURTESY)

The state budget approved by the legislature has more than $5 million appropriated toward master planning and design for the North Florida Regional Emergency Shelter, which will be located in Suwannee County just north of the Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 129 interchange. That funding is among the projects that Florida TaxWatch wants Gov. Ron DeSantis to scrutinize before deciding on what to veto or leave in. (COURTESY)

TaxWatch wants Suwannee water projects flushed from budget

JAMIE WACHTER
A state watchdog group sees a pair of “turkeys” headed to Suwannee County and a trio of other state-funded projects that need extra scrutiny, all totaling more than $7 million.As part of non-partisan Florida TaxWatch’s annual Budget Turkey Watch Report, which was released Monday, the group included…
Live Oak Councilwoman Vanessa Brown Robinson looks at last week’s Live Oak Reporter to reference the impact the city budget would experience from the proposed property tax cuts during Tuesday’s council meeting. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak Councilwoman Vanessa Brown Robinson looks at last week’s Live Oak Reporter to reference the impact the city budget would experience from the proposed property tax cuts during Tuesday’s council meeting. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak Council willing to discuss assistant manager position

JAMIE WACHTER
The Live Oak City Council is considering adding help to its chief administrator.During Tuesday’s city meeting, the council expressed a willingness to consider the possibility of creating an assistant city manager position as part of its 2026-27 budget, pending a workshop to discuss the topic…

New principals named at three district schools

JAMIE WACHTER
Three Suwannee County schools will have new principals for next school year.A pair of school administrators moving to new positions at the Suwannee County School District office led to the domino effect that will have new head administrators at Branford High School, Suwannee Middle School and…

TaxWatch labels Hamilton County water projects as ‘turkeys’

JAMIE WACHTER
All three of the projects funded for Hamilton County in the state budget are “turkeys,” according to a statewide watchdog group.As part of non-partisan Florida TaxWatch’s annual Budget Turkey Watch Report, which was released Monday, the group included funding for a wastewater plant lift station for…

Suwannee registered offender nabbed after online gaming chats

NEWS STAFF
A Live Oak registered sexual offender was arrested last week for chatting with underage girls through social media and online gaming platforms months after being released from state prison.According to a Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office release, 47-year-old Donald Ray King was arrested June 3 for…
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