Regional

Alden Rosner is Suwannee County’s new parks and recreation director. (FILE)

Alden Rosner is Suwannee County’s new parks and recreation director. (FILE)

Rosner takes over as parks director

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
LIVE OAK — Suwannee County’s parks are in familiar hands. Alden Rosner, who returned to Suwannee’s parks and recreation department in the fall of 2023 after previously working there six years, was appointed the department’s new director this month by the recreation board.
Meagan Camp with Gray Purvis and Company said the City of Live Oak needs to focus on addressing its aging infrastructure due to 'substantial' water line loss that is occurring. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Meagan Camp with Gray Purvis and Company said the City of Live Oak needs to focus on addressing its aging infrastructure due to 'substantial' water line loss that is occurring. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Audit: City of Live Oak needs to focus on water line loss

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
LIVE OAK — While the City of Live Oak received a clean financial bill of health, it also received some homework moving forward.
Uncle Sam made at an appearance at a previous year’s Freedom Festival in downtown Live Oak. This year’s event is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. on July 4. Purple Heart recipients from Suwannee County will be recognized. (FILE)

Uncle Sam made at an appearance at a previous year’s Freedom Festival in downtown Live Oak. This year’s event is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. on July 4. Purple Heart recipients from Suwannee County will be recognized. (FILE)

Freedom Festival to honor Purple Heart recipients

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
LIVE OAK — Live Oak’s Independence Day celebration will highlight Purple Heart recipients from Suwannee County. The city’s Freedom Festival will be held July 4th in downtown Live Oak, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Members of The Ability Experience’s Gear Up Florida event enjoy dinner at The Arc North Florida last week. The group of 30 cyclists and six crew members stopped off in Live Oak on Florida on their biking event across the state. (ROB WOLFE/Lake City Reporter)

Members of The Ability Experience’s Gear Up Florida event enjoy dinner at The Arc North Florida last week. The group of 30 cyclists and six crew members stopped off in Live Oak on Florida on their biking event across the state. (ROB WOLFE/Lake City Reporter)

Gear Up Florida visits The Arc

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
LIVE OAK — Three dozen fraternity brothers geared up and took on Florida the past couple of weeks. The Ability Experience’s Gear Up Florida cycling team’s two-week trek across the state to raise awareness and support for people with disabilities included a pit stop last week in Live Oak.
Live Oak CRA Director Nicholas Frigiola suggested the board consider some technology upgrades as projects for next year, including helping the Live Oak Police Department purchase cameras to help solve crimes. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak CRA Director Nicholas Frigiola suggested the board consider some technology upgrades as projects for next year, including helping the Live Oak Police Department purchase cameras to help solve crimes. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

CRA eyes technology upgrades next year

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
LIVE OAK — When the Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency board didn’t present ideas for projects next year, Director Nicholas Frigiola offered his own. Frigiola’s first thought was to help the Live Oak Police Department to install cameras to help with solving crimes.

Cohn named acting director of CareerSource North Florida

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
MADISON — CareerSource North Florida has a new acting director. After Diane Head stepped down following nearly 20 years of service to CareerSource, Deborah Cohn was appointed the agency’s acting executive director, effective at the beginning of May.
Lake City’s Rachel Grubb with her two prize plaques from last year’s WWALS River Revue. Grubb will headline this year’s event. (COURTESY KAREN CORBIN)

Lake City’s Rachel Grubb with her two prize plaques from last year’s WWALS River Revue. Grubb will headline this year’s event. (COURTESY KAREN CORBIN)

Grubb headlining River Revue

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
HAHIRA, Ga. — Lake City’s Rachel Grubb will sing her haunting encore from last year, as well as the song she won with, as the headliner for the 2025 Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest. Come hear this year’s finalists and Grubb on Sept. 6 at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta.
A tree was blown over on top of a shed on SW Castle Heights Terrace during Hurricane Helene last year. Another active storm season is expected this year. (FILE)

A tree was blown over on top of a shed on SW Castle Heights Terrace during Hurricane Helene last year. Another active storm season is expected this year. (FILE)

Active hurricane season expected

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Friday, May 23, 2025
Hurricane experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expect an above-average storm season in 2025, according to a forecast released Thursday. NOAA’s outlook for the Atlantic hurricane season, which will run from June 1 to Nov.