Regional

Taking the top prizes in the third annual Branford Camera Club Photography Exhibition and Competition were Georgia Schemetz (second from right), first place; Derek Linger (left), third place; and Rob Wolfe (right), honorable mention. Show coordinator Rachel Shelley is pictured with the winners. Not pictured are David Campione, who won second place, and Kathy Smith, who also captured an honorable mention. (COURTESY)

Taking the top prizes in the third annual Branford Camera Club Photography Exhibition and Competition were Georgia Schemetz (second from right), first place; Derek Linger (left), third place; and Rob Wolfe (right), honorable mention. Show coordinator Rachel Shelley is pictured with the winners. Not pictured are David Campione, who won second place, and Kathy Smith, who also captured an honorable mention. (COURTESY)

Winners named in Camera Club exhibition

LAKE CITY — The Branford Camera Club and Gateway Art Gallery celebrate three years of putting photography in the spotlight at the club’s annual exhibition at the Lake City gallery.Sometimes a photograph is more than a picture.
North Florida College students and faculty and staff members take part in last fall’s Mentor-Mentee Mixer. An anonymous donation will expand the college’s iCARE Mentoring program. (COURTESY NORTH FLORIDA COLLEGE)

North Florida College students and faculty and staff members take part in last fall’s Mentor-Mentee Mixer. An anonymous donation will expand the college’s iCARE Mentoring program. (COURTESY NORTH FLORIDA COLLEGE)

$25K gift expands NFC mentoring program

MADISON — A North Florida College mentoring program that has significantly improved student success will continue to grow thanks to a $25,000 gift from an anonymous donor.
Suwannee County Commission Chairman Franklin White, a member of the North Florida Water Utilities Authority board, has a letter prepared to reject Columbia County’s ultimatum on the makeup of the utility board. (FILE)

Suwannee County Commission Chairman Franklin White, a member of the North Florida Water Utilities Authority board, has a letter prepared to reject Columbia County’s ultimatum on the makeup of the utility board. (FILE)

Suwannee plans to say ‘no’ to NFWUA ultimatum

Suwannee County plans to deliver a one-word response to Columbia County’s regional utility authority ultimatum: no, while also requesting that its counterparts look closer before making the decision that could be more complicated than originally thought.
While some areas of North Florida received more than 11 inches of rain in July, the Suwannee River Water Management District received an average of 5.41 inches that month, less than the historical average. (COURTESY)

While some areas of North Florida received more than 11 inches of rain in July, the Suwannee River Water Management District received an average of 5.41 inches that month, less than the historical average. (COURTESY)

District: Dry conditions persist across area

LIVE OAK — While rain in late July and early August has improved groundwater levels across North Florida, July was another month of below-average rainfall that added to the rainfall deficit.
Live Oak City Council President Vanessa Robinson said she felt like City Manager Larry Sessions was looking to ‘hand pick’ or ‘cherry pick’ someone to follow him as manager during Tuesday’s meeting when Sessions asked about creating an assistant manager position. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak City Council President Vanessa Robinson said she felt like City Manager Larry Sessions was looking to ‘hand pick’ or ‘cherry pick’ someone to follow him as manager during Tuesday’s meeting when Sessions asked about creating an assistant manager position. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak adds assistant manager position

Live Oak’s city manager is getting a new right-hand helper.During a lengthy meeting Tuesday night, the Live Oak City Council approved by a 3-2 vote to allow City Manager Larry Sessions to elevate a current department head to assistant city manager.
Suwannee County Commissioner Franklin White, who serves on the North Florida Water Utilities Authority board, said the county has no plans for how to handle utilities after moving those operations to the authority. (FILE)

Suwannee County Commissioner Franklin White, who serves on the North Florida Water Utilities Authority board, said the county has no plans for how to handle utilities after moving those operations to the authority. (FILE)

Suwannee County: No utility plan with authority in limbo

There is no backup plan for Suwannee County utility operations. At least not now.After the Columbia County Commission threatened to move forward with dissolving the North Florida Water Utilities Authority on Aug.

Early voting continues through Saturday; Election Day is Tuesday

Early voting for the primary elections continues around the area through Saturday.The final day to vote in the primary races will be on Election Day, which is Tuesday.There are three early voting sites in Suwannee County that will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Saturday.
Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency Director Nicholas Frigiola said the city’s future plan for Heritage Square was to expand it westward across Ohio Avenue, which was approved Tuesday by the Live Oak City Council. (FILE)

Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency Director Nicholas Frigiola said the city’s future plan for Heritage Square was to expand it westward across Ohio Avenue, which was approved Tuesday by the Live Oak City Council. (FILE)

Heritage Square expanding to the west

Heritage Square is expanding.The Live Oak City Council unanimously approved a resolution at its meeting Tuesday designating a section of town across Ohio Avenue (U.S. Highway 129) from the current Heritage Square redevelopment area as Heritage Square West.

SCSO hosting meeting on Flock cameras

The Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office hopes to dispel some rumors about Flock cameras next week.The SCSO is hosting a community meeting about the Flock Safety Cameras at the Live Oak branch of the Suwannee River Regional Library System at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.