Regional

Sen. Corey Simon, whose district includes Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette counties, is the sponsor of the ‘Rural Renaissance’ bill that would boost health care, education, transportation and economic development in rural areas. The bill is expected to be voted on quickly in the Senate during the legislative session that begins Jan. 13. (FILE)

Sheriff Sam St. John said he understood if the county wanted to take over operations of emergency management and would work to make it a seamless transition during the next 90 days. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Maurice Perkins speaks during a previous Suwannee County Commission meeting. Perkins died Nov. 26. (FILE)

Tens of thousands of people flock annually to downtown Live Oak for Christmas on the Square. (FILE)

Suwannee County School District officials and representatives from Scorpio held a topping out ceremony Monday on the new nursing building addition at RIVEROAK Technical College. (COURTESY TJ VICKERS/Suwannee County School District)

EUTAW, Inc. studied the Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency’s Heritage Square redevelopment area to determine the space needed for various developments as well as the infrastructure needed to support it. (COURTESY)

Elite Industrian & Refractory’s Bobby Cason said Live Oak made an ideal location for an office with access across Florida thanks to Interstates 10 and 75. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County Economic Development Coordinator Charissa Setzer recently earned her Basic Economic Development Certification from the University of South Florida. Setzer was honored for the achievement at Tuesday’s Suwannee County Commission meeting by Economic Development Director Jimmy Norris (from left) and Commissioners Leo Mobley, Don Hale, Franklin White and Travis Land. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)