Regional

A volunteer serves up some fried catfish during a previous year’s Suwannee River Catfish Festival in Branford. (Suwannee Democrat File)

A volunteer serves up some fried catfish during a previous year’s Suwannee River Catfish Festival in Branford. (Suwannee Democrat File)

Quite the catch: Catfish Festival donates to Gainesville Fisher House

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, April 4, 2022
BRANFORD — After a two-year break, the Suwannee River Catfish Festival is looking to reel in funds for veterans once again. The festival, which is scheduled for Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Greenway Park in Branford, raises funds for the Fisher House in Gainesville.
Protesters fought what they called the “don’t say gay” bill during the legislative session. (NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA)

Protesters fought what they called the “don’t say gay” bill during the legislative session. (NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA)

Gender identity law draws quick challenge

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Friday, April 1, 2022
TALLAHASSEE — Three days after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the measure, LGBTQ-advocacy groups, parents, students and a teacher filed a federal lawsuit Thursday challenging a new law that includes barring instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in early school grades.

Faculty committee says Ladapo’s hiring had irregularities

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, April 1, 2022
GAINESVILLE — A faculty committee charged with looking into how the University of Florida hired controversial Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo says there were “numerous irregularities” in the hiring of the Harvard-trained physician and researcher that concerned committee members.
The Music Center in Live Oak will be closing later this spring as owner Sheila Burnham (left) and sales manager Ken Dolingo plan to retire. Burnham has owned the store for 43 years. (SHELLY WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY)

The Music Center in Live Oak will be closing later this spring as owner Sheila Burnham (left) and sales manager Ken Dolingo plan to retire. Burnham has owned the store for 43 years. (SHELLY WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY)

Music Center hits its coda

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 1, 2022
LIVE OAK — It’s the swan song for The Music Center. Sheila Burnham is ready to retire and after 43 years Live Oak’s full line music store will be tuning out as well. “It’s been a great run,” Burnham said Thursday after the pending retirement was publicly announced.
An astronaut aboard the International Space Station snapped this photo of Hurricane Sam in the Atlantic Ocean on the afternoon of September 29, 2021. (COURTESY/NASA)

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station snapped this photo of Hurricane Sam in the Atlantic Ocean on the afternoon of September 29, 2021. (COURTESY/NASA)

Active hurricane season forecast

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season could be coming at us. AccuWeather forecasters on Wednesday predicted 16 to 20 named storms this year, with six to eight becoming hurricanes.
A Suwannee County Sheriff’s Department watercraft searches for the remains of Paul Gibson. Patrols found the 35-year-old’s body in Peacock Lake on Monday. (COURTESY)

A Suwannee County Sheriff’s Department watercraft searches for the remains of Paul Gibson. Patrols found the 35-year-old’s body in Peacock Lake on Monday. (COURTESY)

Drowned man found in Suwannee County

NEWS STAFF
Monday, March 28, 2022
LIVE OAK — The search is finally over. After five days of scouring Peacock Lake in eastern Suwannee County, officials finally found Paul Gibson Monday around 4 p.m. “Finally, finally, finally,” Sheriff Sam St. John said.