Regional

State questioning covid death data

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
TALLAHASSEE — With reported covid-19 deaths of Florida residents topping 16,000 this week, the state Department of Health said Wednesday that information about fatalities needs a “more rigorous review.”
Santa Claus visits with Evelyn, left, and Darcy Floyd at last year’s Christmas on the Square in Live Oak. The Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday the 36th annual festival will be held this year with safety protocols in place for the covid-19 pandemic. (SUWANNEE DEMOCRAT)

Santa Claus visits with Evelyn, left, and Darcy Floyd at last year’s Christmas on the Square in Live Oak. The Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday the 36th annual festival will be held this year with safety protocols in place for the covid-19 pandemic. (SUWANNEE DEMOCRAT)

Christmas comes early: Live Oak’s annual Christmas on the Square festival is a go

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
LIVE OAK — Tis the season for Christmas on the Square. The Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce officially announced Tuesday that the annual festival that serves as a kickoff to the holiday season will return Dec. 3-5.
Trick-or-treaters receive candy from the Live Oak Fire Department’s booth at the Candy Carnival in downtown Live Oak last year. This year the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency is helping to sponsor a drive-in event at Heritage Park and Gardens. (SUWANNEE DEMOCRAT)

Trick-or-treaters receive candy from the Live Oak Fire Department’s booth at the Candy Carnival in downtown Live Oak last year. This year the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency is helping to sponsor a drive-in event at Heritage Park and Gardens. (SUWANNEE DEMOCRAT)

Drive-in Halloween planned for Live Oak

NEWS STAFF
Monday, October 19, 2020
LIVE OAK — Trick-or-treating and other Halloween fun is still a go for Live Oak, just with a different look. The downtown Candy Carnival is off, as is the Suwannee High School Key Club’s haunted house at the Suwannee County Coliseum.

Columbia up to 71 deaths linked to covid-19

NEWS STAFF
Monday, October 19, 2020
A 71st Columbia County resident’s death has been linked to covid-19, according to the Columbia County Health Department. The health department received confirmation Saturday of the death of a 77-year-old woman that had previously tested positive for the virus.
President Donald Trump and moderator Savannah Guthrie are seen after an NBC News town hall event at the Perez Art Museum in Miami on Thursday. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

President Donald Trump and moderator Savannah Guthrie are seen after an NBC News town hall event at the Perez Art Museum in Miami on Thursday. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

Trump, Biden square off, sort of, in separate town halls

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, October 15, 2020
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump was evasive Thursday night when pressed if he took a covid-19 test before his first debate with Democrat Joe Biden as the two men squared off again, in a way, after their scuttled second showdown was replaced by dueling televised town halls several channels apart.

Columbia County up to 70 covid-19 deaths

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Two more deaths connected to covid-19 were confirmed in Columbia County on Thursday, raising the county’s death toll from the pandemic to 70. The latest deaths were a 78-year-old man and an 82-year-old man.