Regional

Suwannee County Commissioner Don Hale said he was OK keeping the millage rate flat to have discussions on lowering it during budget workshops. (FILE)

Suwannee County Commissioner Don Hale said he was OK keeping the millage rate flat to have discussions on lowering it during budget workshops. (FILE)

Commission eyes 5% tax increase

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Suwannee County property owners are facing the same tax rate, a 5.3% increase over the rollback rate.During its meeting Tuesday night, the Suwannee County Commission unanimously approved setting its maximum millage rate at 8.8 mills, the same rate property owners were taxed at this year. That is 5.
Parts of Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette counties, as well as Jefferson, Levy, Madison, Taylor and Union counties, received more than seven inches of rain in June. Still, the month was drier than normal across the Suwannee River Water Management District. (COURTESY SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT)

Parts of Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette counties, as well as Jefferson, Levy, Madison, Taylor and Union counties, received more than seven inches of rain in June. Still, the month was drier than normal across the Suwannee River Water Management District. (COURTESY SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT)

District: Dry June adds to drought conditions

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Less than average rainfall during the month of June added to the ongoing deficit throughout the Suwannee River Water Management District.
Jhelecia Hawkins, the mayor of Jasper, is the new chair of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council. (COURTESY)

Jhelecia Hawkins, the mayor of Jasper, is the new chair of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council. (COURTESY)

Jasper mayor named planning council chair

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
GAINESVILLE — City of Jasper Mayor Jhelecia Hawkins has been elected chair of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council.
Retired Sergeant Major Harry R. Martinez, who wrote the best-selling ‘One Is a Warrior,’ will be presenting a leadership seminar at the Live Oak branch of the Suwannee River Regional Library system on Aug. 7. (COURTESY)

Retired Sergeant Major Harry R. Martinez, who wrote the best-selling ‘One Is a Warrior,’ will be presenting a leadership seminar at the Live Oak branch of the Suwannee River Regional Library system on Aug. 7. (COURTESY)

Decorated combat veteran hosting leadership seminar

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Leadership is easy to discuss in theory. It is far more difficult when lives depend on your split-second decisions.Retired Sergeant Major Harry R.
Franklin White, a North Florida Water Utilities Authority board member and Suwannee County commissioner, said there likely will be ‘some kicking and screaming’ over the proposed utility rate increases, but added that the NFWUA made cuts as well as the two counties contributing more to the venture so it was fair to all. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Franklin White, a North Florida Water Utilities Authority board member and Suwannee County commissioner, said there likely will be ‘some kicking and screaming’ over the proposed utility rate increases, but added that the NFWUA made cuts as well as the two counties contributing more to the venture so it was fair to all. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Utility rate jumps approved; Suwannee below 100%

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
LIVE OAK — Requests made by several North Florida Water Utilities Authority board members have led to likely reduced rate increases on customers.The NFWUA board approved blended rate recommendations by a 4-1 vote on Monday.
Steven Dicks, an at-large member to the North Florida Water Utilities Authority board, questioned why an alternative utility budget was presented to the Columbia Cunty Commission before the NFWUA board. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Steven Dicks, an at-large member to the North Florida Water Utilities Authority board, questioned why an alternative utility budget was presented to the Columbia Cunty Commission before the NFWUA board. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

NFWUA requesting $520K from counties

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
LIVE OAK — Sent back to the drawing board after a workshop last week, the North Florida Water Utilities Authority is seeking to limit the impact on customers in Columbia and Suwannee counties.

Water shortage order extended through rest of year

NEWS STAFF
Friday, July 17, 2026
LIVE OAK — Despite beneficial rainfall during the months of May and June, drought conditions continue to persist across North Florida. Due to that, the Suwannee River Water Management District governing board voted Tuesday to extend current water shortage conservation measures until Dec. 31, 2026.
Lily Weaver gets the opportunity to hold an owl during the Columbia County 4-H Year Two session of the School of Life Skills for Magical Beings camp from June 22-26. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY 4-H)

Lily Weaver gets the opportunity to hold an owl during the Columbia County 4-H Year Two session of the School of Life Skills for Magical Beings camp from June 22-26. (COURTESY COLUMBIA COUNTY 4-H)

‘Magical’ camp teaches kids valuable lessons

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Magic returned to Columbia County 4-H during the third week of its summer day camp season as magical beings gathered for the Year Two session of the School of Life Skills for Magical Beings.