Regional

Most of the counties within the Suwannee River Water Management District received between 1 and 2 inches of rain in January, below the historical average and adding to the existing drought conditions for North Florida. (SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT)

Most of the counties within the Suwannee River Water Management District received between 1 and 2 inches of rain in January, below the historical average and adding to the existing drought conditions for North Florida. (SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT)

SRWMD: Dry conditions persist

NEWS STAFF
Friday, February 13, 2026
Drought conditions continue to persist across North Florida, according to the Suwannee River Water Management District. The SRWMD’s hydrologic conditions report, released this week, said the 15-county district has a rainfall deficit over the past 12 months of 14.78 inches.
Melody Christian Academy’s Christian Davis won the Suwannee County Spelling Bee last week to qualify for the First Coast Regional Spelling Bee. (COURTESY SUWANNEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT)

Melody Christian Academy’s Christian Davis won the Suwannee County Spelling Bee last week to qualify for the First Coast Regional Spelling Bee. (COURTESY SUWANNEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT)

Melody Christian’s Davis wins spelling bee

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
As soon as the word was issued, Melody Christian Academy’s Christian Davis knew the title was all his. Seventeen rounds into the Suwannee County Spelling Bee last Thursday at the Suwannee County School District office, Davis locked up the 2026 title by correctly spelling the word portrait.
Live Oak City Manager Larry Sessions addresses the council on Tuesday night. The council has not fully completed its annual performance review of Sessions. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak City Manager Larry Sessions addresses the council on Tuesday night. The council has not fully completed its annual performance review of Sessions. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak Council still has not reviewed Sessions

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
The Live Oak City Council still isn’t saying how its city manager is performing.
Sixth grade winners in the Suwannee County 4-H Public Speaking Contest were Kendell Wynn, third place (from left); Mikayla Richardson, second place; Kellyn Crocker, first place; and Katie Jones, 4-H Extension Agent. (COURTESY)

Sixth grade winners in the Suwannee County 4-H Public Speaking Contest were Kendell Wynn, third place (from left); Mikayla Richardson, second place; Kellyn Crocker, first place; and Katie Jones, 4-H Extension Agent. (COURTESY)

4-H speaking program showcases youth voices

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
On Jan. 30, the Suwannee County 4-H Public Speaking Contest brought together an impressive lineup of young speakers from public and private schools across the county to compete for County Champion.
Live Oak Councilwoman Vanessa Brown Robinson expressed frustration Tuesday night with the lack of progress on awarding a bid on an audit of the city’s cyber security and financial policies. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak Councilwoman Vanessa Brown Robinson expressed frustration Tuesday night with the lack of progress on awarding a bid on an audit of the city’s cyber security and financial policies. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

City cyber security audit still on deck

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
A year after the City of Live Oak lost nearly half a million dollars in a cyber attack, it appears finally ready to move ahead with a cyber security audit.
Heather Henderson-Scheu, Suwannee County’s emergency management director, was appointed to the Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency board on Tuesday. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Heather Henderson-Scheu, Suwannee County’s emergency management director, was appointed to the Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency board on Tuesday. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Henderson-Scheu appointed to CRA board

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
The Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency board no longer has a vacancy. After hearing from a pair of interested volunteers willing to serve on the board, the Live Oak City Council unanimously appointed Heather Henderson-Scheu to fill the vacant board seat.

Burn ban issued in Lafayette County

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
MAYO — A temporary burn ban is in place in Lafayette County. The Lafayette County Commission issued the temporary burn ban during its Tuesday meeting. The burn ban is in place through Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Branford man charged with sexually assaulting teenage girl

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
BRANFORD — A Branford man was arrested last month for sexual battery of a juvenile. According to a Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office report, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office was contacted Jan. 21 about the incident that took place previously.

Wellborn man arrested after sexting teen

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
SUWANNEE RANCHETTES — Sending sexually explicit text messages to a teenager led to a Wellborn man’s arrest last month. Following an investigation that began in July, the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office arrested 45-year-old Stephen Sanders on Jan.