Regional

Felix Menjivar, owner of .50 Cal Coffee and Desserts, shows Gov. Ron DeSantis and Suwannee County Development Services Director Ron Meeks items on the wall of his downtown Live Oak coffee shop on Wednesday afternoon. DeSantis took a tour of downtown Live Oak to see the damage flood waters caused by Hurricane Debby. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Felix Menjivar, owner of .50 Cal Coffee and Desserts, shows Gov. Ron DeSantis and Suwannee County Development Services Director Ron Meeks items on the wall of his downtown Live Oak coffee shop on Wednesday afternoon. DeSantis took a tour of downtown Live Oak to see the damage flood waters caused by Hurricane Debby. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

DeSantis visits Live Oak to assess damage from Debby

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
LIVE OAK — As he walked through downtown Live Oak, surveying damage flood waters inflicted on local businesses, Gov. Ron DeSantis got an up-close look at some different Hurricane Debby-inflicted destruction as well.
A Family Dollar sign was blown down onto the sidewalk along U.S. Highway 27 in Mayo during Hurricane Debby on Monday. (COURTESY)

A Family Dollar sign was blown down onto the sidewalk along U.S. Highway 27 in Mayo during Hurricane Debby on Monday. (COURTESY)

Lafayette recovering from widespread damage

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
MAYO — After experiencing widespread storm damage for the second straight year, Lafayette County is again on the road to recovery.
The winners from the first preliminary in July were Dalton Clifton, Tye Love, Khloe Grace, Jake Reynolds, Wyatt Shane and wild card winner Shane Patrick. (COURTESY)

The winners from the first preliminary in July were Dalton Clifton, Tye Love, Khloe Grace, Jake Reynolds, Wyatt Shane and wild card winner Shane Patrick. (COURTESY)

Super Star challenge continues at SOSMP

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
LIVE OAK — The path to becoming a Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park Super Star continues this weekend. The second preliminary competition in the park’s Super Star challenge is set for is Saturday.
Homes in the Tara Trace subdivision in Live Oak are surrounded by water as the neighborhood is flooded following Hurricane Debby. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Homes in the Tara Trace subdivision in Live Oak are surrounded by water as the neighborhood is flooded following Hurricane Debby. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee schools call off Meet the Teacher events

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
LIVE OAK — The Suwannee County School District’s Meet the Teacher events set for this week are off. The district announced Tuesday afternoon that the events have been canceled, and replaced instead by a district-wide student and parent day Monday morning.
Flood waters from Hurricane Debby covered downtown Live Oak on Monday. (JASON WILKINSON/Lake City Reporter)

Flood waters from Hurricane Debby covered downtown Live Oak on Monday. (JASON WILKINSON/Lake City Reporter)

Curfew issued for Suwannee County

NEWS STAFF
Monday, August 5, 2024
LIVE OAK - Hurricane Debby’s impact now includes a curfew in Suwannee County. The Suwannee County Sheriff's Office has implemented a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting Monday, Aug. 5.
Tropical Storm Debby is expected to impact North Florida tomorrow as it continues to advance toward Florida. (NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER)

Tropical Storm Debby is expected to impact North Florida tomorrow as it continues to advance toward Florida. (NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER)

Voluntary evacuation issued in Lafayette County

NEWS STAFF
Sunday, August 4, 2024
MAYO — A voluntary evacuation order has been issued for areas prone to flooding in Lafayette County.
A signing ceremony was held Thursday with 23 school districts, including representatives from Columbia, Suwannee and Hamilton county districts, to launch the Space Florida Academy program. (COURTESY)

A signing ceremony was held Thursday with 23 school districts, including representatives from Columbia, Suwannee and Hamilton county districts, to launch the Space Florida Academy program. (COURTESY)

Local districts help launch Space Florida Academy

NEWS STAFF
Friday, August 2, 2024
A new career and technical education program was launched Thursday with the assistance of local officials.

Gas money fight sparked hit-and-run

NEWS STAFF
Friday, August 2, 2024
WELLBORN — A Lake City woman is facing attempted murder charges in Suwannee County after trying to run over a woman last August. Tiffany Murphy, 34, was arrested Thursday in Suwannee County for attempted murder from an Aug. 26, 2023, incident on County Road 250 in Wellborn.