Pete Herrick, surrounded by friends and family, reacts after firing a breath-powered .308 rifle to set off a stack of cakes filled with Tannerite binary explosives Saturday during his ‘Alive Party.’ Herrick, a Fort White man, was seriously injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom 20 years ago today. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Herrick continues to celebrate his ‘second life’

FORT WHITE — For the last 17 years, Pete Herrick has hosted a party every spring. The Navy veteran, who served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, describes the party as “humbling.” Herrick, a former member of the United States Naval…
FORT WHITE — For the last 17 years, Pete Herrick has hosted a party every spring. The Navy veteran, who served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, describes the party as “humbling.” Herrick, a former member of the United States Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Navy Seabees,…
The Club House on Lake Isabella, a historic building utilized by the Garden Club and Lake City Woman’s Club, has been closed due to safety concerns. The building was shut down Wednesday afternoon following a brief inspection by David Young, the city’s growth management director, who noted issues…
Nearly 50 years after Columbia High School began its Army JROTC program, the school is starting up another outlet for cadets. The CHS archery team is officially off the ground with its inaugural class of 12 cadets. While the program did begin last year according to Lieutenant Colonel Austin Akers…
David Kraus is getting better as Columbia County’s manager, at least according to the county commissioners. The commissioners, per the county charter, have to evaluate Kraus’ performance at its first May meeting annually. Based on the individual performance reviews submitted by the commissioners,…
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Biden administration rule that will require more gun sellers to be licensed and run background checks on buyers. Moody’s office filed the lawsuit in Tampa, alleging that the Biden…
The Lake City Police Department’s participation in the national Drug Take Back Day was a success Saturday. During the local event, 90 pounds of prescription medications were collected, according to an LCPD release. The nationwide event offers people the opportunity to safely and anonymously…
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a controversial measure that will bar selling or manufacturing lab-grown meat in Florida and prevent local regulation of electric-vehicle charging stations. DeSantis said the bill (SB 1084), which includes a series of changes related to the…
During 7-on-7 drills this offseason, Columbia quarterback Xavier Collins was balling. Head coach Brian Allen remembers one day in particular. The offensive linemen had wrapped up their workouts and walked over to watch Collins, who had his O-line cheering with elation with successful throw after…
FORT WHITE — Having graduated several seniors on both sides of the ball, Fort White head coach Demetric Jackson is looking to reload rather than rebuild. The Indians have now completed three days of practice for the spring after beginning Monday, with the notable absence of graduating seniors who…
LIVE OAK — Spring has sprung at Suwannee but with a different look for the Bulldogs. Opening its 3-week spring practice period Monday, there wasn’t much focus on Xs and Os for Suwannee. Rather, the Suwannee coaching staff went over the basics of being a Bulldog, teaching their new and young pups…
JASPER — A Hamilton County jury took less than an hour Tuesday to determine an outspoken Lake City man was not guilty of violently resisting an officer. The jury of six — two black men, a white man, two white women and a Latino woman — took roughly 40 minutes at the end of the two-day trial to…