Regional

Campers checking out the Florida Wildlife Commission boat while learning about boating safety. (COURTESY LAFAYETTE COUNTY 4-H)

Suwannee County Commissioner Don Hale said he was OK keeping the millage rate flat to have discussions on lowering it during budget workshops. (FILE)

Parts of Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette counties, as well as Jefferson, Levy, Madison, Taylor and Union counties, received more than seven inches of rain in June. Still, the month was drier than normal across the Suwannee River Water Management District. (COURTESY SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT)

Jhelecia Hawkins, the mayor of Jasper, is the new chair of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council. (COURTESY)

Retired Sergeant Major Harry R. Martinez, who wrote the best-selling ‘One Is a Warrior,’ will be presenting a leadership seminar at the Live Oak branch of the Suwannee River Regional Library system on Aug. 7. (COURTESY)

Franklin White, a North Florida Water Utilities Authority board member and Suwannee County commissioner, said there likely will be ‘some kicking and screaming’ over the proposed utility rate increases, but added that the NFWUA made cuts as well as the two counties contributing more to the venture so it was fair to all. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)