Regional

Three covid-19 deaths added in Columbia

Three more Columbia County residents have died from the covid-19 coronavirus. The Columbia County Health Department announced the deaths Friday of a 102-year-old woman, an 88-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man. There are now 24 deaths in the county linked to the virus.

Holtzclaw’s devotion to education recalled

O’BRIEN — James “J.M.” Monroe Holtzclaw worked for more than just peanuts. In addition to spending most of his life as a farmer, Holtzclaw also worked just as hard for students in Suwannee County, where he spent 32 years as a member of the Suwannee County School Board.

Cops: Man painted stolen truck to disguise it

LIVE OAK — A Live Oak man is facing several theft charges after authorities say he stole a pickup truck from the Enviro Waste facility at the Suwannee County landfill, disguised it with household paint and sold most of the tools he found on the truck for drugs or cash.

Lafayette County spike in cases stems from Mayo CI

MAYO — An outbreak at Mayo Correctional Institution caused the covid-19 caseload in Lafayette County to more than double Thursday. The Lafayette County Health Department reported an increase of 276 cases Thursday, bringing the total of confirmed cases in the county to 469.

Cops stop truck with explosive devices on board

WHITE SPRINGS — A Michigan construction truck was hauling destructive devices on Interstate 75 on Tuesday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Housing market strong for sellers

Business may be a little slow in the Columbia, Suwannee and Hamilton County housing markets, but signs from all three county’s single family housing sales show the earmarks of a strong sellers’ markets during the second quarter of 2020.

Four covid-19 deaths added in Columbia

Local health department officials reported five deaths, four in Columbia County and one in Suwannee County, related to covid-19 on Wednesday. The deaths of four Columbia residents brings the county’s death toll to 20 people.

Free covid-19 testing offered at Southside Sports Complex

The Columbia County Health Department will offer its free drive-thru covid-19 testing at the Southside Sports Complex beginning today. Health Department officials are requesting that people who are seeking the testing enter the complex from Southwest Bascom Norris Drive.

Nestle’s water use permit tabled

LIVE OAK — Nestle Waters North America and the Seven Springs Water Company will have to wait for their permit renewal to pump water from Ginnie Springs.

Columbia County adds 16th covid-19 death

A 16th person in Columbia County — an 80-year-old male —has died after testing positive for covid-19, the Florida Department of Health reported Tuesday.