Regional

Branford man charged with sexually assaulting teenage girl

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
BRANFORD — A Branford man was arrested last month for sexual battery of a juvenile. According to a Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office report, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office was contacted Jan. 21 about the incident that took place previously.
Ken Fioretti with HSKC, LLC, said the Circle K store proposed for the west side of Live Oak will be well lit, open 24 hours a day and prioritize safety. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Ken Fioretti with HSKC, LLC, said the Circle K store proposed for the west side of Live Oak will be well lit, open 24 hours a day and prioritize safety. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Zoning change back for Live Oak Circle K

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
A new convenience store on the west side of Live Oak is one step closer to becoming reality.
Suwannee Middle School math teacher Stacey Kibbe accepts the 2026 Suwannee County Teacher of the Year award Thursday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee Middle School math teacher Stacey Kibbe accepts the 2026 Suwannee County Teacher of the Year award Thursday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Kibbe tapped Suwannee's top teacher

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Abigail Ferguson’s speech focused on her third period math teacher’s tactics. For one, Stacey Kibbe, the 20-year veteran in education, is a big believer in encouraging discussions on a subject many students could find less than engaging.
Suwannee County Commissioner Travis Land said the ‘devil is in the details’ when looking at local governments’ budgets, including grant funding. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County Commissioner Travis Land said the ‘devil is in the details’ when looking at local governments’ budgets, including grant funding. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County: Growing budget is success, not waste

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Context is key when it comes to growing budgets, according to Suwannee County officials.
The Live Oak Fire Department recently purchased five new air packs and 10 oxygen bottles thanks to state grant funding. (COURTESY LIVE OAK FIRE DEPARTMENT)

The Live Oak Fire Department recently purchased five new air packs and 10 oxygen bottles thanks to state grant funding. (COURTESY LIVE OAK FIRE DEPARTMENT)

LOFD obtains air packs with state grant

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Live Oak firefighters have new lifesaving equipment thanks to state funding. The Live Oak Fire Department received $57,750 in grant funding from Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia’s office in October.
A brush fire burns alongside County Road 49 on Sunday afternoon. About 10-15 acres burned but a nearby residence was spared major damage. (LILLY WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

A brush fire burns alongside County Road 49 on Sunday afternoon. About 10-15 acres burned but a nearby residence was spared major damage. (LILLY WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

SCFR crews save house from brush fire

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
A Suwannee County home was saved by fire crews after a brush fire was sparked Saturday afternoon south of  Live Oak. A fire that was started in a fire pit caught brush near a mobile home on County Road 49 on Sunday with Suwannee County Fire Rescue crews battling the blaze for nearly an hour.
The Live Oak Elks Lodge #1165 used a $4,000 Beach Grant to privde Christmas meals for 589 people within Suwannee County. (COURTESY)

The Live Oak Elks Lodge #1165 used a $4,000 Beach Grant to privde Christmas meals for 589 people within Suwannee County. (COURTESY)

Live Oak Elks Lodge provides food baskets

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
The Live Oak Elks Lodge #1165 helped make sure Christmas was a bit brighter thanks to grant funding. The Lodge used a $4,000 Beacon Grant to fill 110 Christmas food baskets with non-perishable food items and a $30 gift card to a local grocery store to purchase meat for a Christmas meal.
The dome on the historic Suwannee County Courthouse was damaged by Hurricane Helene in October 2024. The county is rebidding the repair project on the dome. (FILE)

The dome on the historic Suwannee County Courthouse was damaged by Hurricane Helene in October 2024. The county is rebidding the repair project on the dome. (FILE)

Courthouse dome repair back out for bid

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Repairs to the damaged Suwannee County Courthouse dome will have to wait a while longer. The Suwannee County Commission unanimously approved rejecting the line bid the county received for the repair of the copper dome — which was damaged by Hurricane Helene in October 2024 — and rebidding the work.

Roldan found guilty of animal abuse in Sweet Pea case

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
A Live Oak man was quickly found guilty last week of aggravated animal abuse after battering a puppy last spring. Following a one-day trial Jan. 28 in the Suwannee County Courthouse, a jury took less than 30 minutes to deliver a guilty verdict against 45-year-old Eric Roldan.