Regional

Finalists that competed in the fourth annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting contest included O’Brien’s KJ Wingate (from left), Katherine Ball, David Rodock, Sweet William Billy Ennis, Jimi Davies and his brother, Kathy Lou Gilman and Rachel Hillman. Not pictured are Brandon Fox and Lake City’s Rachel Grubb, who could not attend. (ANGELA DUNCAN/Courtesy of WWALS)

Finalists that competed in the fourth annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting contest included O’Brien’s KJ Wingate (from left), Katherine Ball, David Rodock, Sweet William Billy Ennis, Jimi Davies and his brother, Kathy Lou Gilman and Rachel Hillman. Not pictured are Brandon Fox and Lake City’s Rachel Grubb, who could not attend. (ANGELA DUNCAN/Courtesy of WWALS)

O’Brien man places in songwriting contest

NEWS STAFF
Monday, August 23, 2021
VALDOSTA — Chosen from a record number of finalists, an O’Brien man was one of three winners named Saturday night at the fourth annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.
Syringes full of the Pfizer vaccine are ready to go at Oakland University as they hold a Covid vaccine clinic for 18-24-year olds on April 13. (TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE)

Syringes full of the Pfizer vaccine are ready to go at Oakland University as they hold a Covid vaccine clinic for 18-24-year olds on April 13. (TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE)

U.S. regulators give full approval to Pfizer covid-19 vaccine

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, August 23, 2021
WASHINGTON — The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer's covid-19 vaccine Monday, potentially boosting public confidence in the shots and instantly opening the way for more universities, companies and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory.
U.S. President Joe Biden, flanked by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, delivers remarks on the evacuation of American citizens and their families, SIV applicants and their families, and vulnerable Afghans from Afghanistan, in the East Room of the White House complex on Friday in Washington, DC. (KENT NISHIMURA/Los Angeles Times)

U.S. President Joe Biden, flanked by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, delivers remarks on the evacuation of American citizens and their families, SIV applicants and their families, and vulnerable Afghans from Afghanistan, in the East Room of the White House complex on Friday in Washington, DC. (KENT NISHIMURA/Los Angeles Times)

Biden vows to evacuate all Americans from Afghanistan

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, August 20, 2021
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden pledged firmly Friday to bring all Americans home from Afghanistan — and all Afghans who aided the war effort, too — as officials confirmed that U.S. military helicopters flew beyond the Kabul airport to scoop up 169 Americans seeking to evacuate.

Unemployment rate falls across Suwannee Valley

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Friday, August 20, 2021
Florida’s unemployment rate ticked up to 5.1% in July, as state officials pointed to people continuing to re-enter the labor force during the covid-19 pandemic. The state Department of Economic Opportunity reported Friday that the July rate was up from a 5.0% mark in June.
In this photo provided by the U.S. Marine Corps, two civilians during processing through an Evacuee Control Checkpoint during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport on Thursday in Kabul, Afghanistan. (STAFF SGT. VICTOR MANCILLA/U.S. Marine Corps via AP)

In this photo provided by the U.S. Marine Corps, two civilians during processing through an Evacuee Control Checkpoint during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport on Thursday in Kabul, Afghanistan. (STAFF SGT. VICTOR MANCILLA/U.S. Marine Corps via AP)

U.S. struggles to speed Kabul airlift despite Taliban, chaos

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, August 19, 2021
WASHINGTON — The United States struggled Thursday to pick up the pace of American and Afghan evacuations at Kabul airport, constrained by obstacles ranging from armed Taliban checkpoints to paperwork problems. With an Aug.
First responders arrive on the scene to investigate a report of an explosive device in a pickup truck near the Library of Congress on Capitol Hill on Thursday in Washington, D.C. The suspect has since surrendered and has been arrested after the area was evacuated. (WIN MCNAMEE/Getty Images/TNS)

First responders arrive on the scene to investigate a report of an explosive device in a pickup truck near the Library of Congress on Capitol Hill on Thursday in Washington, D.C. The suspect has since surrendered and has been arrested after the area was evacuated. (WIN MCNAMEE/Getty Images/TNS)

N.C. man surrenders after claiming to have bomb near U.S. Capitol

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, August 19, 2021
WASHINGTON — A North Carolina man who claimed to have a bomb in a pickup truck near the U.S. Capitol surrendered to law enforcement after an hourslong standoff Thursday that prompted a massive police response and the evacuations of government buildings in the area.
Rep. Chuck Brannan and Hunter Peeler, a legislative aide for Sen. Jennifer Bradley, presented the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners with a $500,000 state appropriations check Tuesday. Pictured are County Commissioner Travis Land (from left), County Commissioner Don Hale, Peeler, Brannan, County Commissioner Franklin White, County Commissioner Clyde Fleming and County Commissioner Len Stapleton. (COURTESY)

Rep. Chuck Brannan and Hunter Peeler, a legislative aide for Sen. Jennifer Bradley, presented the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners with a $500,000 state appropriations check Tuesday. Pictured are County Commissioner Travis Land (from left), County Commissioner Don Hale, Peeler, Brannan, County Commissioner Franklin White, County Commissioner Clyde Fleming and County Commissioner Len Stapleton. (COURTESY)

Brannan presents $500K check to Suwannee BOCC

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
LIVE OAK — State Rep. Chuck Brannan visited the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners and came bearing gifts. Brannan (R-Macclenny) and Hunter Peeler, a legislative aide for Sen.
U.S. President Joe Biden gestures as he delivers remarks on the covid-19 response and the vaccination program in the East Room of the White House on Aug. 18 in Washington, DC. (ANNA MONEYMAKER/Getty Images/TNS)

U.S. President Joe Biden gestures as he delivers remarks on the covid-19 response and the vaccination program in the East Room of the White House on Aug. 18 in Washington, DC. (ANNA MONEYMAKER/Getty Images/TNS)

Biden to require covid vaccine for nursing home staff

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced that his administration will require that nursing home staff be vaccinated against covid-19 as a condition for those facilities to continue receiving federal Medicare and Medicaid funding.
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the covid-19 response and the vaccination program in the East Room of the White House on Aug. 18 in Washington, D.C. (ANNA MONEYMAKER/Getty Images/TNS)

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the covid-19 response and the vaccination program in the East Room of the White House on Aug. 18 in Washington, D.C. (ANNA MONEYMAKER/Getty Images/TNS)

Biden: Troops will stay in Afghanistan to evacuate Americans

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he is committed to keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated, even if that means maintaining a military presence there beyond his Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawal. He also pushed back against criticism that the U.S.