Regional

Marshall Rawson, speaking at the Columbia County Republican Party rally last month, won the primary for the Florida House District 10 seat. (FILE)

Marshall Rawson, speaking at the Columbia County Republican Party rally last month, won the primary for the Florida House District 10 seat. (FILE)

Rawson downs Brannan in D10 primary

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
A farmer from Bradford County defeated the son of current District 10 state Rep. Chuck Brannan in Tuesday’s Republican primary.
Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Jacob Williamson shows nearly 30 people at the Suwannee River Regional Library’s Live Oak branch a Flock camera during Monday’s community meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Jacob Williamson shows nearly 30 people at the Suwannee River Regional Library’s Live Oak branch a Flock camera during Monday’s community meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County’s Flock camera use questioned

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Local residents showed no shortage of questions during a Monday meeting on Flock cameras.

Hines, Bass elected to Suwannee school board

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
The Suwannee County School Board will have two new members.During Tuesday’s election, Malcolm Hines (District 3) and Aaron Bass (District 5) were elected to seats on the board. Bass defeated incumbent Ronald White to win his seat. Bass, a local business owner and coach, received 1,249 votes or 60.

McCray, Folsom win Lafayette school board seats

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
MAYO — The Lafayette County School Board’ two new members are now known.During Tuesday’s election, Mary Anne Koon McCray edged Mark Beach by 160 votes to win the District 3 seat on the school board with Kristyn Folsom topping Ann Murphy by 280 votes for the District 5 seat.
Congresswoman Kat Cammack and Mike McWaters, the president and CEO of SVEC and the chairman for the board of managers of Rapid Fiber Internet, are pictured at the Aug. 12 celebration of the Rapid Fiber service rollout completion. It is now available to all SVEC members. (COURTESY RAPID FIBER INTERNET)

Congresswoman Kat Cammack and Mike McWaters, the president and CEO of SVEC and the chairman for the board of managers of Rapid Fiber Internet, are pictured at the Aug. 12 celebration of the Rapid Fiber service rollout completion. It is now available to all SVEC members. (COURTESY RAPID FIBER INTERNET)

Rapid Fiber rollout complete

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative’s $93 million plan to eliminate the digital divide in rural North Florida is complete.SVEC and its broadband internet subsidiary, Rapid Fiber Internet, celebrated the completion of its network to its more than 28,000 members last week.
Lafayette County 4-H youth took part in the Northeast District 4-H Tailgate and Grilling competition in Gainesville, three advancing to the state competition. (COURTESY)

Lafayette County 4-H youth took part in the Northeast District 4-H Tailgate and Grilling competition in Gainesville, three advancing to the state competition. (COURTESY)

Lafayette 4-H youth fire up grilling skills at district event

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
By Shawn JacksonLafayette County Extension DirectorLafayette County 4-H youth spent two exciting days learning the art of charcoal grilling during the annual 4-H Grilling Camp.

Blue wins Suwannee's District 2 primary

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
The final leg of the race for the District 2 seat on the Suwannee County Commission is now set.During Tuesday’s Democratic primary election, Stefan Blue defeated Billy White Sr. and Cynthia Robinson to win the Democratic nomination on November’s general ballot, receiving 47.