Regional

Nick Gerth, a disaster response specialist with IEM, said the transition of emergency management from under the control of the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office to the county shows a program with a ‘strong foundational base.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Nick Gerth, a disaster response specialist with IEM, said the transition of emergency management from under the control of the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office to the county shows a program with a ‘strong foundational base.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County emergency management transition shows opportunities for improvement

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Suwannee County’s emergency management department will be in a better place than it was previously.Sharon Hingson, the county’s new emergency management director, made that point when asked by County Commission Chairman Franklin White on the current status of the department, which transitioned from...
Water sits on top of the parking improvements at the Heritage Square redevelopment area on Tuesday after recent rains. The flooding is due to the project not yet being finished, according to city staff. (COURTESY)

Water sits on top of the parking improvements at the Heritage Square redevelopment area on Tuesday after recent rains. The flooding is due to the project not yet being finished, according to city staff. (COURTESY)

Flooded Heritage Square project still not completed

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Recent rains, and a not completed project, have turned the Heritage Square parking improvements into a small pond.Nicholas Frigiola, the Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency director, said Wednesday that the puddling is just the result of the project not yet being completed.“It’s a shame that...

Suwannee Voters League hosting candidate forum Monday

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Suwannee County voters can meet their local candidates on Monday thanks to the Suwannee County Voters League.The Voters League — a non-partisan organization dedicated to increasing public engagement in the political process through community forums, voter registration drives, and Get Out the Vote...

Mobley, daSilva qualify for ballot unopposed in Suwannee County

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
The District 4 representatives on both the Suwannee County Commission and Suwannee County School Board won’t have to appear on a ballot this fall.Leo Mobley, the District 4 commissioner, and Ed daSilva, the District 4 School Board member, both qualified last week unopposed for re-election.
Suwannee County Attorney Adam Morrison said the county could not put a moratorium in place on data centers since it would violate a 2025 state law. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County Attorney Adam Morrison said the county could not put a moratorium in place on data centers since it would violate a 2025 state law. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Attorney: Suwannee County can’t enact data center moratorium

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
A week after the City of Live Oak moved forward with trying to place a moratorium on data centers, Suwannee County didn’t follow suit Tuesday.Or even consider it after a resident asked them to do just that.Bo Hancock, who had a report from city staff that requested the moratorium be placed on data...

Adams, Byrd, Driver unopposed for re-election in Lafayette County

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
MAYO — Two Lafayette County commissioners and one School Board member won’t have to appear on the ballot to serve another term.District 2 County Commissioner Mason Byrd and District 4 County Commissioner Anthony Adams both qualified unopposed for re-election when the qualifying period ended Friday.

Juneteenth celebration set for Suwannee Coliseum

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
LIVE OAK — Suwannee County residents will be able to celebrate freedom, family, food and fun this weekend when the City of Live Oak, Suwannee County and the Suwannee County branch of the NAACP Unit 5137-B team together to host their annual Juneteenth celebration.The Suwannee County NAACP Juneteenth...
Byron Donalds, a U.S. Representative who is running for governor of Florida, speaks Saturday at a rally in Mason City. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Byron Donalds, a U.S. Representative who is running for governor of Florida, speaks Saturday at a rally in Mason City. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Donalds touts experience, water plan during stop in Mason City

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
MASON CITY — Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds received quite a welcome in southern Columbia County on Saturday.Before Donalds, a U.S. Representative from south Florida, could make his way into the Mason City Community Center to address a little more than 100 people as part of his...
Kathryn Land and J. Reid, former Hamilton County Sheriff Harrell’s Reid’s children, hold his encased medallion after he was posthumously inducted into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame on Saturday. Land and Reid were surrounded by family members and past and present members of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. (COURTESY)

Kathryn Land and J. Reid, former Hamilton County Sheriff Harrell’s Reid’s children, hold his encased medallion after he was posthumously inducted into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame on Saturday. Land and Reid were surrounded by family members and past and present members of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. (COURTESY)

Reid inducted into law enforcement hall of fame

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
TALLAHASSEE — The Dean of the Florida Sheriffs and longest serving sheriff in Florida history now has another title: Hall of Famer.The late Harrell Reid, who passed away in April at the age of 79, was posthumously inducted into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame on Saturday at the...