Regional

Branford High hosted its first Civics Fair last week with more than 160 projects presented by seventh-, eighth- and 10th-grade social studies students. (COURTESY)

Branford High hosted its first Civics Fair last week with more than 160 projects presented by seventh-, eighth- and 10th-grade social studies students. (COURTESY)

Branford High hosts inaugural Civics Fair

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
BRANFORD — Branford High School held its first Civics Fair last week with more than 160 projects presented.Seventh-, eighth- and 10th-grade social studies students participating were able to compete in four different categories: Civic Problem Solver, Justice and Equality, Community Builder and...
Teams get ready for the canoe race as part of Tri County Day on Saturday at Wayside Park in White Springs. (COURTESY)

Teams get ready for the canoe race as part of Tri County Day on Saturday at Wayside Park in White Springs. (COURTESY)

Tri County Day brings community together

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
WHITE SPRINGS — Families, youth, and community leaders gathered for a vibrant and impactful Tri County Day, celebrating unity across Columbia, Suwannee and Hamilton counties.

Mayo teen reported missing

NEWS STAFF
Sunday, April 26, 2026
MAYO - A teenage girl from Lafayette County has been reported missing.The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued the missing child alert Sunday afternoon about 15-year-old Genesis Aguilar-Colindres.
Franklin White, a Suwannee County commissioner who serves on the North Florida Water Utilities Authority board, said the two counties are either ‘either all in or we ain’t’ when it comes to supporting the Authority. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Franklin White, a Suwannee County commissioner who serves on the North Florida Water Utilities Authority board, said the two counties are either ‘either all in or we ain’t’ when it comes to supporting the Authority. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

NFWUA board: Are we ‘all in’ on utilities?

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Columbia County’s decision to sell a sewer plant has members of the North Florida Water Utilities Authority questioning its direction.At the end of the NFWUA’s meeting Monday morning, multiple board members questioned what the pending sale of the North Florida Mega Industrial Park utility to the...
North Florida Water Utilities Authority Executive Director Shannon Roberts said some of the firms put on continuining services contracts may have specific areas of expertise that will make them the right choice for certain projects moving forward. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

North Florida Water Utilities Authority Executive Director Shannon Roberts said some of the firms put on continuining services contracts may have specific areas of expertise that will make them the right choice for certain projects moving forward. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

NFWUA puts engineers on continuing deals

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
The North Florida Water Utilities Authority has a handful of engineering firms locked down for assistance moving forward.The NFWUA board directed Executive Director Shannon Roberts to also negotiate with a pair of vendors to help respond to emergency situations involving its utility assets.During...

Mop-up going slow on Sargent

NEWS STAFF
Friday, April 17, 2026
The Sargent wildfire remains at 81% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service.The FFS Suwannee Forestry Center said Friday that the fire, which started April 2 in Baker County and has covered 2,489 acres in northern Baker and Columbia counties in Florida as well as southern Clinch County...
The Suwannee River is among the 10 most endangered rivers in the United States, according to a recent ranking released by American Rivers. (Photo courtesy KELLY BAHR)

The Suwannee River is among the 10 most endangered rivers in the United States, according to a recent ranking released by American Rivers. (Photo courtesy KELLY BAHR)

Conservation group claims Suwannee River among country’s 10 most at-risk waterways

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
The Suwannee River is among the country’s most endangered rivers, according to an environmental group. American Rivers released its annual list Tuesday and ranks the Suwannee River as the 10th most endangered river in the United States for 2026.

SRWMD modifies water shortage order

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
LIVE OAK — As drought conditions persist across North Florida, the Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board on Tuesday announced enhanced water shortage conservation measures.
David Chandler told the Live Oak City Council that there is ‘no right time to do the wrong thing’ in reference to granting annexation for a property that is planned to hold a mixed-use development, including a hotel and apartment complex. The council did not approve annexing the property on 11th Street SW. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

David Chandler told the Live Oak City Council that there is ‘no right time to do the wrong thing’ in reference to granting annexation for a property that is planned to hold a mixed-use development, including a hotel and apartment complex. The council did not approve annexing the property on 11th Street SW. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

LO Council denies mixed-use development annexation

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
The land intended for a mixed-use development near the Suwannee County Coliseum won’t be fully in the City of Live Oak. The annexation request on 13.74 acres along 11th Street SW in Live Oak failed for the lack of a second during Tuesday’s Live Oak City Council meeting.