The Goodyear blimp made a stop at the Lake City Gateway Airpor on Thursday. The blimp is a frequent visitor to the airport, which serves as a permanent fuel stop for the blimp as it makes its way in and out of Florida. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

The Goodyear blimp made a stop at the Lake City Gateway Airpor on Thursday. The blimp is a frequent visitor to the airport, which serves as a permanent fuel stop for the blimp as it makes its way in and out of Florida. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Big visitor returns to airport

Friday, June 12, 2026

The Lake City Gateway Airport recently had one of its largest visitors make a return trip to the airfield this week when it served as a mooring site for the Goodyear blimp.“We have the Goodyear blimp that comes in frequently,” said Ed Bunnell, Lake City Gateway Airport director.

Local

A veteran visits the Pinnacle Home Care table at last week’s Freedom 250 Veterans Fest at the Lake City VA Medical Center. (COURTESY)

A veteran visits the Pinnacle Home Care table at last week’s Freedom 250 Veterans Fest at the Lake City VA Medical Center. (COURTESY)

Veterans Fest helps hundreds with VA resources

TONY BRITT
Friday, June 12, 2026
Roughly 700 veterans, their family members and caregivers attended the Freedom 250 Veterans Fest...
Florida Gateway College President Larry Barrett, speaking at the grand opening of the college’s renovated welding facility earlier this month, received a nearly perfect evaluation from the school’s Board of Trustees. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Florida Gateway College President Larry Barrett, speaking at the grand opening of the college’s renovated welding facility earlier this month, received a nearly perfect evaluation from the school’s Board of Trustees. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Trustees grade Barrett’s work as excellent

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, June 12, 2026
Florida Gateway College’s president excels at his job, according to the FGC Board of Trustees.
VIEW MORE

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...
VIEW MORE

Sports

VIEW MORE
The Goodyear blimp made a stop at the Lake City Gateway Airpor on Thursday. The blimp is a frequent visitor to the airport, which serves as a permanent fuel stop for the blimp as it makes its way in and out of Florida. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

The Goodyear blimp made a stop at the Lake City Gateway Airpor on Thursday. The blimp is a frequent visitor to the airport, which serves as a permanent fuel stop for the blimp as it makes its way in and out of Florida. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Big visitor returns to airport

TONY BRITT
The Lake City Gateway Airport recently had one of its largest visitors make a return trip to the airfield this week when it served as a mooring site for the Goodyear blimp.“We have the Goodyear blimp that comes in frequently,” said Ed Bunnell, Lake City Gateway Airport director. “They use this as…
A veteran visits the Pinnacle Home Care table at last week’s Freedom 250 Veterans Fest at the Lake City VA Medical Center. (COURTESY)

A veteran visits the Pinnacle Home Care table at last week’s Freedom 250 Veterans Fest at the Lake City VA Medical Center. (COURTESY)

Veterans Fest helps hundreds with VA resources

TONY BRITT
Roughly 700 veterans, their family members and caregivers attended the Freedom 250 Veterans Fest last week at the Lake City VA Medical Center.“The event was a tremendous success,” said Katie Butler, public affairs specialist for the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS). “I…
Florida Gateway College President Larry Barrett, speaking at the grand opening of the college’s renovated welding facility earlier this month, received a nearly perfect evaluation from the school’s Board of Trustees. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Florida Gateway College President Larry Barrett, speaking at the grand opening of the college’s renovated welding facility earlier this month, received a nearly perfect evaluation from the school’s Board of Trustees. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Trustees grade Barrett’s work as excellent

JAMIE WACHTER
Florida Gateway College’s president excels at his job, according to the FGC Board of Trustees.As part of the trustees’ meeting Thursday, the board approved its evaluation of President Larry Barrett, who received all excellent marks save one in 35 items across seven categories from all six trustees…

Four officially running in Lake City's D14; two in D10

NEWS STAFF
There are officially two candidates running for one seat on the Lake City Council with four seeking the other position up for grabs in this fall’s election.Chevella Young, the incumbent, and challenger Jennifer Jones qualified in the District 10 race, while Councilman Ricky Jernigan and three…

Foreman, Peeler, Hill all qualify unopposed in Columbia County elections

NEWS STAFF
Columbia County’s attorney and a pair of School Board members won’t face opposition in re-election campaigns.Columbia County Attorney Joel Foreman and District 3 School Board member Cherie Hill and District 5 School Board representative Hunter Peeler all are unopposed following qualifying, which…

SVEC receives $31M in FEMA reimbursement for Idalia

NEWS STAFF
Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative received some help this week for its cleanup and restoration efforts after Hurricane Idalia.As part of $1.1 billion in post-disaster funding for public assistance and hazard mitigation grant program projects that was approved Tuesday, including $90 million for…
Jan Wheeler adds flowers to a planter along Marion Avenue for the Lake City Garden Club. Club members planted the new flowers, which will be red, white and blue, ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary celebration. (COURTESY)

Jan Wheeler adds flowers to a planter along Marion Avenue for the Lake City Garden Club. Club members planted the new flowers, which will be red, white and blue, ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary celebration. (COURTESY)

Garden Club readies downtown for America’s 250th anniversary

TONY BRITT
Downtown Lake City is going get a splash of patriotic colors for the nation’s 250th anniversary next month.Last Saturday, several members of the Lake City Garden Club spent a few hours planting new flowers in the planters that line Marion Avenue.In addition to adding new flowers to the planters,…
Former FGC volleyball players celebrate after a point in 2018. FGC said Friday that volleyball will return for the 2027 season after shutting down in 2021. (FILE)

Former FGC volleyball players celebrate after a point in 2018. FGC said Friday that volleyball will return for the 2027 season after shutting down in 2021. (FILE)

COLLEGE ATHLETICS: Women’s volleyball, men’s golf returning to FGC

NEWS STAFF
The first two sports Florida Gateway College brought back are returning once again.After originally bringing men’s golf and women’s volleyball to the Lake City campus in 2017 before both programs shut down due to declining participation, FGC plans to have both return again in time for the 2027-28…
Columbia pitcher Ryleigh Stone hurls a pitch against Seminole in the Class 4A state semifinals on May 21. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Ryleigh Stone hurls a pitch against Seminole in the Class 4A state semifinals on May 21. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SPORTS: FHSAA unveils spring classifications for 2027, '28

JORDAN KROEGER
The FHSAA's 2027 and 2028 classifications are out for spring sports and the new districts for Columbia’s baseball and softball teams are theirs for the taking.The two CHS squads are in near identical districts in Class 4A, with baseball and softball both competing in District 3 with Ed White, Paxon…
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…
Lake City Reporter e-Edition