Regional

UF keeps interim president for extra month

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
GAINESVILLE — As the University of Florida continues to search for a permanent leader, interim President Kent Fuchs has agreed to a one-month contract extension ending Sept. 1, a UF spokesperson confirmed Tuesday.
An artist’s rendering of the new five-story, 123-room Hampton Inn & Suites that is planned for the U.S. Highway 129 and Interstate 10 interchange on the north side of Live Oak. Construction will begin on the hotel in November. (COURTESY)

An artist’s rendering of the new five-story, 123-room Hampton Inn & Suites that is planned for the U.S. Highway 129 and Interstate 10 interchange on the north side of Live Oak. Construction will begin on the hotel in November. (COURTESY)

Getting started on ‘Gorilla’

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, July 24, 2025
LIVE OAK — Live Oak and Suwannee County will soon to be home to a gorilla. Or at least a gorilla-sized project near the Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 129 interchange. Nick Patel plans to begin construction on a Hampton Inn & Suites across from the Live Oak Walmart in November.
A picture of the 1927 Suwannee High football team, the second in the program’s history and the first to win a game. This year will be the 100th season for SHS football and the school is planning a centennial celebration Aug. 8. (COURTESY)

A picture of the 1927 Suwannee High football team, the second in the program’s history and the first to win a game. This year will be the 100th season for SHS football and the school is planning a centennial celebration Aug. 8. (COURTESY)

Suwannee football centennial celebration moved to Coliseum

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, July 24, 2025
LIVE OAK — Suwannee High’s 100-year football celebration is moving to a different venue. The centennial celebration of Bulldog football, which will be held on Friday, Aug. 8, is now set for the Suwannee Coliseum, 1302 11th Street SW in Live Oak. It originally was going to be held at the SHS atrium.
Students at the Boys and Girls Club-Mayo Unit work on making catapults during an after-school program lesson this spring. (COURTESY)

Students at the Boys and Girls Club-Mayo Unit work on making catapults during an after-school program lesson this spring. (COURTESY)

Federal funding release helps Mayo Boys and Girls Club

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, July 24, 2025
MAYO — After a few trying weeks, the Boys and Girls Club — Mayo Unit got some good news late last week: the federal funding that supports the 21st Century programming offered at the club was going to be released.

Philosophy change leads Tomlinson back home

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, July 24, 2025
LIVE OAK — Clay Tomlinson’s path to becoming Suwannee County’s career and technical education director began 5-6 years ago. Up until that point, Tomlinson’s career in education had been focused on the STEM fields and how to get students the experience and tools to pursue a college education.
Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency Director Nicholas Frigiola said allowing staff to greenlight the start of projects within the district would streamline the process. CRA Assistant Christian Dixon looks on. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency Director Nicholas Frigiola said allowing staff to greenlight the start of projects within the district would streamline the process. CRA Assistant Christian Dixon looks on. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

CRA eyes speeding up grant process

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, July 24, 2025
LIVE OAK — Getting projects started inside the Live Oak Community Redevelopment Area may have just gotten easier.

Mayo man arrested after toddler walked off

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, July 24, 2025
DOWLING PARK — A Mayo man was arrested Saturday after allowing a naked toddler to walk off alongside a county road. Suwannee County deputies responded to County Road 136 near County Road 250 around 11:18 a.m. Saturday when someone reported a toddler was walking naked along the road.

Immigration enforcement faces detention bed crunch

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — Federal officials are “overwhelmed” by the number of undocumented immigrants being locked up as part of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan because of a detention-bed shortage, according to a key player in Florida’s efforts to assist the White House.