Regional

Sheriff Sam St. John speaks at a Suwannee County Commission meeting in April where an independent audit was ordered on the Emergency Operations Center. That audit led to the county taking emergency management away from the sheriff’s office. (FILE)

Sheriff Sam St. John speaks at a Suwannee County Commission meeting in April where an independent audit was ordered on the Emergency Operations Center. That audit led to the county taking emergency management away from the sheriff’s office. (FILE)

Audit into $38M in lost grants top regional story of 2025

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
There were plenty of stories to cover in the first year of the Live Oak Reporter.

Lafayette seeking $44M for new school

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
The Lafayette County School District would like to combine its two existing facilities into one new combined school and is seeking special facilities state funding to make it possible.
The Wellborn Community Association donated last week toward a scholarship fund at RIVEROAK Technical College to help students pursue Career and Technical Education degrees and certificates. Presenting the check to RTC Principal Clay Tomlinson were Fran Martin (from left), Sherm Stanley, Mayso Martin, Tomlinson, Austin Little, Bob Huffman, Pedro Faria, Lynn King, Pam Mikitta and Bill Muller. (MONJA SLATER/Lake City Reporter)

The Wellborn Community Association donated last week toward a scholarship fund at RIVEROAK Technical College to help students pursue Career and Technical Education degrees and certificates. Presenting the check to RTC Principal Clay Tomlinson were Fran Martin (from left), Sherm Stanley, Mayso Martin, Tomlinson, Austin Little, Bob Huffman, Pedro Faria, Lynn King, Pam Mikitta and Bill Muller. (MONJA SLATER/Lake City Reporter)

Wellborn group supports trades at RIVEROAK

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
The Wellborn Community Association cooked up more than just a festival with tasty treats this fall. Instead, the group’s Cornbread Festival also has served up the opportunity for long-term training in the trades.
The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus in Pasco County, which serves as a regional storm shelter, is similar to the shelter the state is eying for Suwannee County. The county is seeking additional funding toward the project in the upcoming legislative session. (COURTESY)

The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus in Pasco County, which serves as a regional storm shelter, is similar to the shelter the state is eying for Suwannee County. The county is seeking additional funding toward the project in the upcoming legislative session. (COURTESY)

Shelter, RTC top Suwannee’s funding requests

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Project Summit, the regional storm shelter planned for the north side of Live Oak tops the list of projects in Suwannee County seek state appropriations in the upcoming legislative session.
Palms Medical Group staff raised more than $4,000 for breast cancer awareness in support of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer initiative. (COURTESY)

Palms Medical Group staff raised more than $4,000 for breast cancer awareness in support of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer initiative. (COURTESY)

Palms raises $4K for breast cancer awareness

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 26, 2025
HIGH SPRINGS — Palms Medical Group staff collectively raised $4,259.28 in support of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer movement, an initiative by the American Cancer Society. Palms Medical’s fundraising effort took place during October, celebrated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Kenneth Hammett, 7, tries out a new ball and glove in the aisles during last week’s Shop with a Hero event at the Live Oak Walmart. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Kenneth Hammett, 7, tries out a new ball and glove in the aisles during last week’s Shop with a Hero event at the Live Oak Walmart. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Shop with a Hero helps provide kids with presents

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
It wasn’t just cops on the beat for a two-night spree of holiday charity. Representatives from numerous state and local law enforcement agencies lined the front of the Live Oak Walmart for two nights last week.

Missing Suwannee teens found, rescued

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — A pair of missing Suwannee County teens were part of 43 children found and recovered during Operation Northern Lights. The multi-jurisdictional operation, led by the U.S. Marshals Service, rescued 43 children “critically missing” from 14 North Florida counties in December.