Regional

Johnson elected House speaker

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
WASHINGTON — Republicans unanimously elected Rep. Mike Johnson as House speaker on Wednesday, eagerly elevating a deeply conservative but lesser-known leader to the major seat of U.S. power and ending for now the weeks of political chaos in their majority.

Live Oak woman arrested for hiding runaway

NEWS STAFF
Friday, October 20, 2023
LIVE OAK – Hiding a runaway juvenile in her home four months ago has landed a Live Oak woman in jail. Kathryn Williams, 63, was arrested Wednesday for sheltering a minor without notifying a parent or law enforcement and obstruction without violence.
Pioneer Day ‘Granny and Pappy’ Elvoy and Betty Land wave as they serve as the grand marshals of the festival’s parade Saturday in Mayo. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Pioneer Day ‘Granny and Pappy’ Elvoy and Betty Land wave as they serve as the grand marshals of the festival’s parade Saturday in Mayo. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

43rd annual Pioneer Day draws 5,000 to Mayo

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
MAYO — From the weather to the vendors to the crowd, it was all good for the 43rd annual Pioneer Day. The festival, a staple in Lafayette County, drew an estimated 5,000 people to Mayo’s Veterans Memorial Park, for the event and its parade through downtown Mayo.

Upgrades eyed for Lafayette state parks

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
MAYO — The Florida State Park’s plans for three properties in Lafayette County will be presented to the public next week. Lafayette County residents may attend an open house public meeting with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Recreation and Parks on Oct.

3 reappointed to HCDA board

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
JASPER — Three members of the Hamilton County Development Authority board have been reappointed for another term Wednesday. Megan Carter, of White Springs, Nathaniel Combass, of Jasper, and Lowell Klepper, of Jennings, were reappointed to the board by Gov.
Melissa Miller Nece won best drawing at the 2018 Autumn Artfest for her entry, ‘Wall of Water.’ The 25th annual fine arts exhibition opens with its awards reception Saturday at the Suwannee River Regional Library’s Live Oak branch. (COURTESY)

Melissa Miller Nece won best drawing at the 2018 Autumn Artfest for her entry, ‘Wall of Water.’ The 25th annual fine arts exhibition opens with its awards reception Saturday at the Suwannee River Regional Library’s Live Oak branch. (COURTESY)

LOAG’s Autumn Artfest celebrates silver anniversary

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
LIVE OAK — The silver anniversary of the Autumn Artfest will arrive this weekend. The Live Oak Artists Guild’s annual fine art exhibition returns Saturday to the Suwannee River Regional Library’s Live Oak branch, 1848 S. Ohio Avenue (U.S.
An administrative law judge ruled Tuesday that Seven Springs Water Co. should be allowed to pull water from near Ginnie Springs in Gilchrist County. (FILE)

An administrative law judge ruled Tuesday that Seven Springs Water Co. should be allowed to pull water from near Ginnie Springs in Gilchrist County. (FILE)

Judge orders permit for Ginnie withdrawal

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
TALLAHASSEE — After years of legal battling, an administrative law judge Tuesday supported renewing a permit to allow piping hundreds of thousands of gallons of water a day to a North Florida bottling plant.