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Columbia County Fire Rescue crews, along with the Lake City Fire Department and the Florida Forest Service, battled a brush fire in beween Sisters Welcome Road and Interstate 75 on Monday afternoon. The interstate was shut down temporarily due to poor visibility from the smoke. (ISAIAH CULLY/Special to the Reporter)

Brush fire closes I-75

A brush fire that shut down Intestate 75 for awhile Monday afternoon was likely caused by a burn pile. Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford said Tuesday that the fire, which burned some fields in between Sisters Welcome Road and I-75 on Monday…JAMIE WACHTER

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Local

Fort White’s Tucker Ayers won the First Coast Spelling Bee on Friday to qualify for the National Spelling Bee in May. (COURTESY)

Ayers qualifies for national spelling bee

TONY BRITT Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Body

FORT WHITE — After winning the Columbia County Spelling Bee two times, Tucker Ayers was just beginning to hit his stride.

Ayers’ stride has earned him a national berth.

The Lee Family Atrium was dedicated in the Wilson S. Rivers Library at Florida Gateway College on Tuesday in honor of Mike and Missy Lee. The Lees are pictured with their daughters Jessica (left) and Meghan (right) and granddaughter Lettie. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Library atrium named for Lee family

JAMIE WACHTER Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Body

The Lee family’s impact on Florida Gateway College may not be measured by pure numbers.

Lake City Public Works Director Steve Brown updates the city council on repair work at different parks during Monday’s meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City parks getting closer look for repairs

MORGAN MCMULLEN Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Body

Lake City Public Works has been putting in the work at local parks.

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Columbia County Fire Rescue crews, along with the Lake City Fire Department and the Florida Forest Service, battled a brush fire in beween Sisters Welcome Road and Interstate 75 on Monday afternoon. The interstate was shut down temporarily due to poor visibility from the smoke. (ISAIAH CULLY/Special to the Reporter)

Brush fire closes I-75

JAMIE WACHTERTuesday, March 3, 2026 A brush fire that shut down Intestate 75 for awhile Monday afternoon was likely caused by a burn pile. Columbia County Fire Chief Jeff Crawford said Tuesday that the fire, which burned some fields in between Sisters Welcome Road and I-75 on Monday, is suspected to have started from a pile where…

Columbia pitcher Nolan Slaymaker pitches against Newberry on Tuesday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Slaymaker leads Columbia past Newberry

JORDAN KROEGERTuesday, March 3, 2026 Columbia coach Chris Howard had a talk with pitcher Nolan Slaymaker ahead of Tuesday’s start against Newberry. The message? Control your emotions. Slaymaker did, and he pitched one of his best games of his young high school career. The righty sophomore was nearly unhittable, allowing just a…

Fort White’s Tucker Ayers won the First Coast Spelling Bee on Friday to qualify for the National Spelling Bee in May. (COURTESY)

Ayers qualifies for national spelling bee

TONY BRITTTuesday, March 3, 2026 FORT WHITE — After winning the Columbia County Spelling Bee two times, Tucker Ayers was just beginning to hit his stride. Ayers’ stride has earned him a national berth. Ayers, an eighth-grader at Fort White Middle School, won the regional title Friday night when he bested 12 other spellers from…

Rashaun Jones, the former Columbia High star accused of killing his University of Miami teammate Bryan Pata in 2006, sits in a courtroom at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami on Monday. A mistrial was declared as the jury was deadlocked. (CARL JUSTE/The Miami Herald/TNS)

Mistrial declared in Jones’ murder case

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICETuesday, March 3, 2026 A judge on Monday declared a mistrial in the case of Rashuan Jones, the former Columbia High and University of Miami football player accused of gunning down his star teammate in 2006, after the jury said it was deadlocked. The six jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict after deliberating…

The Lee Family Atrium was dedicated in the Wilson S. Rivers Library at Florida Gateway College on Tuesday in honor of Mike and Missy Lee. The Lees are pictured with their daughters Jessica (left) and Meghan (right) and granddaughter Lettie. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Library atrium named for Lee family

JAMIE WACHTERTuesday, March 3, 2026 The Lee family’s impact on Florida Gateway College may not be measured by pure numbers. But during a ceremony Tuesday afternoon to honor Mike and Missy Lee and their family, Lee Pinchouck, the executive director of the Foundation for Florida Gateway College, said they still speak loudly. “Their…

Lake City Public Works Director Steve Brown updates the city council on repair work at different parks during Monday’s meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Lake City parks getting closer look for repairs

MORGAN MCMULLENTuesday, March 3, 2026 Lake City Public Works has been putting in the work at local parks. Public Works Director Steve Brown gave an update on the city’s work on local parks during Monday’s Lake City Council meeting. Brown said his department has been looking at ways to upgrade city parks over the last year. The…

Biker critically injured on I-75

NEWS STAFFTuesday, March 3, 2026 A Tennessee man was critically injured Monday when his motorcycle crashed into a parked semi truck along Interstate 75. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 34-year-old was headed north on I-75 just after noon Monday when his motorcycle ran into the back of the semi. The FHP release said…

Lake City Councilwoman Tammy Harris said she was “embarrassed” after not receiving support for a proposed Unity Festival. Harris dropped her request for city funding for the event Monday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Unity Fest funding request rescinded

MORGAN MCMULLENTuesday, March 3, 2026 There was no love lost in the debate — and ultimately, the withdrawal — of a proposed Unity Festival. Lake City Councilwoman Tammy Harris withdrew her ask of $10,000 for a citywide celebration of “love” and “unity” during Monday’s Lake City Council meeting. Harris originally proposed the event at…

The current Lake City Hall, pictured here, could soon move a short distance away to the former Vann Carpet building, pending council approval. (FILE)

Lake City has new candidate for proposed city hall

MORGAN MCMULLENTuesday, March 3, 2026 The quest for a new Lake City Hall has a new target close by. Lake City Manager Don Rosenthal proposed a new location for the city’s administration at Monday’s city council meeting. Rosenthal is asking the council to seriously consider acquiring the former Vann Carpet building near the…

County: Scammers targeting permit applicants

NEWS STAFFTuesday, March 3, 2026 Applicants for permits or building applications are being targeted through fraudulent emails, according to Columbia County officials. The county has released an alert to residents, contractors and other permit applicants that a scam is currently circulating, requesting additional payment on those…

Columbia center fielder Luisa Taylor (left) and Santa Fe catcher Ainslea Kelsoe react to a safe call from the umpire during the Tigers' 13-2 loss Tuesday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia gets run-ruled by undefeated Santa Fe

MORGAN MCMULLENTuesday, March 3, 2026 Things were off for Columbia even before the first pitch Tuesday night. The game only got further away from them after that. Starting pitcher Kinley King couldn’t get out of the first inning, while Santa Fe strung together 10 hits and took advantage of five errors in a 13-2 run-rule blowout at…

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Around Columbia County

Rashaun Jones, the former Columbia High star accused of killing his University of Miami teammate Bryan Pata in 2006, sits in a courtroom at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami on Monday. A mistrial was declared as the jury was deadlocked. (CARL JUSTE/The Miami Herald/TNS)

Mistrial declared in Jones’ murder case

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Body

A judge on Monday declared a mistrial in the case of Rashuan Jones, the former Columbia High and University of Miami football player accused of gunning down his star teammate in 2006, after the jur

DeSantis

Special session expected on property taxes

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA Friday, February 27, 2026 Body

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis said the effort to offer voters property tax relief will require time beyond the regular session.

Clay refunding capital credits

NEWS STAFF Friday, February 27, 2026 Body

Clay Electric Cooperative members are receiving a refund.

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Sports

Columbia pitcher Nolan Slaymaker pitches against Newberry on Tuesday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Slaymaker leads Columbia past Newberry

JORDAN KROEGER Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Body

Columbia coach Chris Howard had a talk with pitcher Nolan Slaymaker ahead of Tuesday’s start against Newberry.

The message? Control your emotions.

Columbia center fielder Luisa Taylor (left) and Santa Fe catcher Ainslea Kelsoe react to a safe call from the umpire during the Tigers' 13-2 loss Tuesday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia gets run-ruled by undefeated Santa Fe

MORGAN MCMULLEN Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Body

Things were off for Columbia even before the first pitch Tuesday night.

The game only got further away from them after that.

Suwannee wrestlers Rylan Milian (from left), Holden Corbin and Landon Slater qualified for state after reaching the medal stand at the Region 1-1A meet on Saturday. (COURTESY)

VARSITY WEEKLY: Suwannee qualifies 3, Columbia sending 1 wrestler to state

JORDAN KROEGER Monday, March 2, 2026 Body

Holden Corbin was crowned a champion, and Suwannee finished the day with three state qualifiers.

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