Regional

A large oak tree split and crashed onto the Live Oak animal shelter late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. (COURTESY)

A large oak tree split and crashed onto the Live Oak animal shelter late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. (COURTESY)

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Live Oak animal shelter closed after tree damage

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
The Live Oak Animal Control shelter is closed until further notice. A large oak tree split late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, blocking the road next to the shelter, 701 Lime Ave. NW, and blocking access to the adjacent wastewater treatment plant.

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House committee backs property tax proposals

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — Four proposed constitutional amendments aimed at reducing property taxes for homeowners continued moving forward Tuesday in the Florida House, despite concerns about how they could hit funding for local services.
The ‘Rural Renaissance’ bill, filed by Sen. Corey Simon, whose district includes Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette counties, is set to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee next week. It is a priority of Senate President Ben Albritton. (FILE)

The ‘Rural Renaissance’ bill, filed by Sen. Corey Simon, whose district includes Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette counties, is set to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee next week. It is a priority of Senate President Ben Albritton. (FILE)

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‘Rural Renaissance’ on Senate fast track

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
The Senate Appropriations Committee next week is scheduled to take up Senate President Ben Albritton’s priority “rural renaissance” bill, possibly setting the stage for it to go before the full Senate after the 2026 legislative session starts in January.

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Lulu teen killed in Saturday crash

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
A Lulu teenager was killed Saturday night when his truck struck a tree. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 17-year-old boy was driving eastbound on SW County Road 240 when his pickup, for unknown reasons, drove off the road at 11:10 p.m.

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Former SCSO finance director arrested

NEWS STAFF
Friday, November 28, 2025
LIVE OAK — A former Suwannee County Sheriff’s finance director faces grand theft and fraud charges after unauthorized use of a credit card. Megan Corbin, 38, was arrested Tuesday in Taylor County following a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation, according to an SCSO release.

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Four killed in fiery Tuesday crash

NEWS STAFF
Friday, November 28, 2025
LIVE OAK — Four people, including two children, were killed Tuesday night in a fiery crash in Suwannee County. According to an updated Florida Highway Patrol release Wednesday night, the three-vehicle crashed occurred around 9:50 p.m. Tuesday on U.S.
A girl tries to catch ‘snow’ blowing off The Journey Church’s float during a prior Downtown Christmas parade in Mayo. (FILE)

A girl tries to catch ‘snow’ blowing off The Journey Church’s float during a prior Downtown Christmas parade in Mayo. (FILE)

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Santa, parade to follow holiday market in Mayo

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
MAYO — Lafayette County isn’t waiting any longer to start up some holiday cheer. Downtown Mayo will play host to the Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce’s Hometown Holiday event on Saturday. The celebration begins at 10 a.m.
Pat Hines Mitchell talks about the Southern Heritage Historical Farm’s historical marker after it was unveiled Saturday during a ceremony at the farm southwest of Live Oak. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Pat Hines Mitchell talks about the Southern Heritage Historical Farm’s historical marker after it was unveiled Saturday during a ceremony at the farm southwest of Live Oak. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

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Honoring Hemming’s legacy: Historical marker unveiled on Suwannee County farm

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
The Southern Heritage Historical Farm is now officially a Florida Heritage Site. A historical marker was unveiled at the farm, 13158 116th Street (Christmas Hemming Street), southwest of Live Oak during a ceremony Saturday morning.
Suwannee County Sheriff Sam St. John address the County Commission in April over operations at the Emergency Operations Center, which resulted in an independent audit performed on the department. (FILE)

Suwannee County Sheriff Sam St. John address the County Commission in April over operations at the Emergency Operations Center, which resulted in an independent audit performed on the department. (FILE)

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Suwannee Sheriff’s Office may lose EOC control

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Suwannee County is looking to take emergency management oversight away from the sheriff’s office. The Suwannee County Commission is hosting a special meeting Dec. 3 at the Judicial Annex, 218 Parshley Street SW, starting at 5:30 p.m.