Regional

State unemployment increases to 3.8%

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Saturday, September 20, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s unemployment rate inched up to 3.8% in August, after holding steady at 3.7% since April, according to a report released Friday by the state Department of Commerce. The August rate represented 424,000 Floridians qualified as unemployed, up 7,000 from July.
Will Carpenter, a 2021 Suwannee High graduate, passed away in 2023 after a bout with cancer. The SHS swim team is hosting its second Will Carpenter Memorial Swim-a-thon this weekend. (COURTESY)

Will Carpenter, a 2021 Suwannee High graduate, passed away in 2023 after a bout with cancer. The SHS swim team is hosting its second Will Carpenter Memorial Swim-a-thon this weekend. (COURTESY)

Swim-a-thon, car show to honor Carpenter

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
When she told her son two years ago to give up his 13-month battle with cancer, Ashleigh Pitzer made him a promise. “When we were hospice and I had to tell him it was time to let go, I just promised him over and over that, ‘Baby, your story will never be over.
Matthugh Garbett with the Suwannee County Fire Rescue honor guard plays the bagpipes during last Thursday’s Patriot Day remembrance at the Live Oak Fire Department. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Matthugh Garbett with the Suwannee County Fire Rescue honor guard plays the bagpipes during last Thursday’s Patriot Day remembrance at the Live Oak Fire Department. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Heroic efforts recalled in annual Patriot Day ceremony

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
As the Live Oak Fire Department’s annual Patriot Day ceremony concluded last week, a pair of firefighters climbed into an engine and filled the air at the downtown fire station with a repeating, screeching alarm sound. It’s the sound first responders hear when a fellow firefighter is down.
Stephen Douglas, a Suwannee Iron Works co-owner, speaks at a Suwannee County Commission meeting on Sept. 2. The company is relocating to Hamilton County and could begin operations there this week. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Stephen Douglas, a Suwannee Iron Works co-owner, speaks at a Suwannee County Commission meeting on Sept. 2. The company is relocating to Hamilton County and could begin operations there this week. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee Iron Works lands in Hamilton County

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
JASPER — There is a rainbow at the end of some turbulent times for Suwannee Iron Works.
Ron Meeks, Suwannee County’s development services director, said any tweaks to the county’s comprehensive plan should be to try to spark residential developments near utilities at interstate interchanges. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Ron Meeks, Suwannee County’s development services director, said any tweaks to the county’s comprehensive plan should be to try to spark residential developments near utilities at interstate interchanges. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

County seeks ways to focus growth

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Suwannee County staff will begin discussions on how the county could possibly amend its comprehensive plan to better control growth.
Erosion issues at Little River Springs will be addressed with funding from the Suwannee River Water Management District. (COURTESY SRWMD)

Erosion issues at Little River Springs will be addressed with funding from the Suwannee River Water Management District. (COURTESY SRWMD)

SRWMD awards funding to address Little River erosion

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Erosion issues at a Suwannee County spring will be addressed with funding from the Suwannee River Water Management District. The SWRWMD Governing Board approved $744,907 at its Sept.
Suwannee County Commissioner Maurice Perkins said he didn’t want to miss out on potential candidates for the county administrator job due to a five-year management requirement. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County Commissioner Maurice Perkins said he didn’t want to miss out on potential candidates for the county administrator job due to a five-year management requirement. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County Commission finalizes details on admin search

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Facing the impending retirement of its county administrator, the Suwannee County Commission is finalizing details to kick its search for a new one into high gear.
Joe First, playing the accordion, performs ‘Beautiful Florida Day’ with Martin Sensiper (guitar) and John White (percussion) in the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest at the WWALS River Revue on Sept. 6 at The Turner Center for the Arts. (COURTESY)

Joe First, playing the accordion, performs ‘Beautiful Florida Day’ with Martin Sensiper (guitar) and John White (percussion) in the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest at the WWALS River Revue on Sept. 6 at The Turner Center for the Arts. (COURTESY)

Dowling Park’s First wins songwriting contest

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
VALDOSTA — Out of the six songs sung at the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest at the WWALS River Revue earlier month, the best was deemed to be from a Dowling Park group.

Hurricane season forecast eased

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Saturday, September 13, 2025
While the U.S. remains forecast to be directly affected by three to six hurricanes before the Nov. 30 end of the hurricane season, the meteorology company AccuWeather on Thursday scaled back predictions for the season.
The Big Engine Band out of Jacksonville will play Saturday night at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. (COURTESY AN IMAGE IN TIME PHOTOGRAPHY)

The Big Engine Band out of Jacksonville will play Saturday night at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. (COURTESY AN IMAGE IN TIME PHOTOGRAPHY)

Trey Tucker, Big Engine playing SOSMP

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
LIVE OAK — A great weekend is waiting local music lovers at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Gainesville country artist Trey Tucker brings his band to the stage from 7-10 p.m. Friday before the Big Engine Band performs Saturday from 8-11 p.m.