Regional

A group of children brace for the water to fall on them from a dumping bucket at the new splash pad at the First Federal Sportsplex in Live Oak. The splash pad opened last week. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

A group of children brace for the water to fall on them from a dumping bucket at the new splash pad at the First Federal Sportsplex in Live Oak. The splash pad opened last week. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Making a splash: Splash pad opens to rave reviews at Live Oak park

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, April 7, 2022
LIVE OAK — The newest attraction for the Suwannee County Parks & Recreation Department is making quite the splash. The splash pad at the First Federal Sportsplex officially opened for community use last week. The raves are pouring in about as fast as the water bucket on the splash pad empties out.
Ketanji Brown Jackson, sworn in for her hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in March, was confirmed to the Supreme Court on Thursday. (JACQUELYN MARTING/Associated Press)

Ketanji Brown Jackson, sworn in for her hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in March, was confirmed to the Supreme Court on Thursday. (JACQUELYN MARTING/Associated Press)

Jackson confirmed to Supreme Court

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, April 7, 2022
WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court on Thursday, shattering a historic barrier by securing her place as the first Black female justice and giving President Joe Biden a bipartisan endorsement for his effort to diversify the high court.

SRWMD pushing springs protection

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, April 7, 2022
LIVE OAK — To help increase awareness about the importance of Florida’s springs and encourage residents and stakeholders to participate in the protection of those springs, the Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board has signed a proclamation recognizing April as Springs Protection...
An example of the suspect’s Ford Edge provided by the Florida Highway Patrol after Monday’s hit-and-run accident. (COURTESY)

An example of the suspect’s Ford Edge provided by the Florida Highway Patrol after Monday’s hit-and-run accident. (COURTESY)

Child, 5, critically injured in hit-and-run

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
JENNINGS — The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a Ford Edge that critically injured a young Hamilton County child Monday. According to an FHP release, a 5-year-old Jennings child was riding his bicycle near Mary Street and County Road 143 (Hamilton Ave.
Suwannee FFA’s Maddie Carte and Branford FFA’s Braxton Young are finalists in the Florida FFA Association’s ‘Stars of Florida’ award program in the State Star Chapter Degree category. (COURTESY)

Suwannee FFA’s Maddie Carte and Branford FFA’s Braxton Young are finalists in the Florida FFA Association’s ‘Stars of Florida’ award program in the State Star Chapter Degree category. (COURTESY)

Suwannee’s Carte, Branford’s Young up for FFA awards.

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
A local pair are among the “Stars of Florida,” according to the Florida FFA Association. The FFA Association recently selected 22 student members as finalists in the “Stars of Florida” award recognition program, including Suwannee FFA’s Maddie Carte and Branford FFA’s Braxton Young.
Gov. Ron DeSantis presents a check for $5.4 million for infrastructure improvements to Hamilton County Commissioners Robert Brown (from left), Richie McCoy, Jimmy Murphy, Josh Smith and Randy Ogburn during a press conference Tuesday in Jasper. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Gov. Ron DeSantis presents a check for $5.4 million for infrastructure improvements to Hamilton County Commissioners Robert Brown (from left), Richie McCoy, Jimmy Murphy, Josh Smith and Randy Ogburn during a press conference Tuesday in Jasper. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

DeSantis delivers dough to Hamilton County

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
JASPER — Looking for ways to make an impact, Gov. Ron DeSantis found about 5.4 million of them for Hamilton County. At a press conference Tuesday morning at the Hamilton County Courthouse Annex, DeSantis announced the award of $5.
Chance and Chelsie Windham took their three-week-old daughter, Sadie June, to meet Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday during his Jasper visit. Also pictured is Josh Smith (right), a family member. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Chance and Chelsie Windham took their three-week-old daughter, Sadie June, to meet Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday during his Jasper visit. Also pictured is Josh Smith (right), a family member. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

DeSantis visit draws a crowd

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
JASPER — It’s not every day when Florida’s governor decides to visit Hamilton County. So when Gov. Ron DeSantis made a stop in Jasper on Tuesday morning, he was met by an audience of well more than 100 people — including people from Columbia and Suwannee counties.
Fort White Middle School students Cyler Robinson (left) and Jonaz Watson earned statewide recognition for their science project at the 67th State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida last week in Lakeland. (COURTESY)

Fort White Middle School students Cyler Robinson (left) and Jonaz Watson earned statewide recognition for their science project at the 67th State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida last week in Lakeland. (COURTESY)

Fort White Middle students place at state science fair

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
LAKELAND — A pair of Fort White Middle School students cultivated statewide recognition for their agriculture science project.