Regional

President Donald Trump (right) points at Rep. Chuck Brannan (middle) and thanked him Thursday for sponsoring the bill to name a portion of Southern Boulevard in Palm Beach County after him. Also visiting the West Wing on Thursday from the Florida House of Representatives were Lawrence McClure (from left), House Speaker Daniel Perez, James Buchanan and Tyler Sirois. (COURTESY CHUCK BRANNAN)

President Donald Trump (right) points at Rep. Chuck Brannan (middle) and thanked him Thursday for sponsoring the bill to name a portion of Southern Boulevard in Palm Beach County after him. Also visiting the West Wing on Thursday from the Florida House of Representatives were Lawrence McClure (from left), House Speaker Daniel Perez, James Buchanan and Tyler Sirois. (COURTESY CHUCK BRANNAN)

A day at the White House: Brannan, Florida House leadership spends day with Trump

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 6, 2025
A trip to the White House for a symposium with Cabinet officials turned into the “experience of a lifetime” for Florida State Rep. Chuck Brannan.
Kiersten Parson (center), then the Columbia High JROTC Battalion Commander, leads the cadets on the annual 9/11 Memorial March at the school last year during Patriot Day.

Kiersten Parson (center), then the Columbia High JROTC Battalion Commander, leads the cadets on the annual 9/11 Memorial March at the school last year during Patriot Day.

Patriot Day events set around community

TONY BRITT
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Nearly a quarter century ago, a group of terrorists changed America when they hijacked airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Towers, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.
Matthew Ori, a senior consultant with Raftelis, talks to the North Florida Water Utilities Authority board on Wednesday about the status of the rate study being performed by the group. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Matthew Ori, a senior consultant with Raftelis, talks to the North Florida Water Utilities Authority board on Wednesday about the status of the rate study being performed by the group. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Rate study coming along for NFWUA

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
LIVE OAK — A rate study is on the horizon for the North Florida Water Utilities Authority.
Stephen Douglas, a co-owner of Suwannee Iron Works, speaks during a public hearing Tuesday night in front of the Suwannee County Commission on the company’s request for a special exception to the county’s zoning and Land Development Regulations. Seated next to Douglas is Emily Pierce, one of the company’s attorneys. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Stephen Douglas, a co-owner of Suwannee Iron Works, speaks during a public hearing Tuesday night in front of the Suwannee County Commission on the company’s request for a special exception to the county’s zoning and Land Development Regulations. Seated next to Douglas is Emily Pierce, one of the company’s attorneys. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee Iron Works shut down

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
A long-standing Suwannee County business was denied a special exception to continue operating Tuesday night.
Todd Wilson (left), the publisher of the Lake City Reporter and Live Oak Reporter, speaks with Suwannee County Parks and Recreation Director Alden Rosner during the Reporter’s mix and mingle at its Live Oak office last month. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Todd Wilson (left), the publisher of the Lake City Reporter and Live Oak Reporter, speaks with Suwannee County Parks and Recreation Director Alden Rosner during the Reporter’s mix and mingle at its Live Oak office last month. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Excited to be your community partner

TODD WILSON
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Our Reporter team was humbled to be “officially” welcomed to the Live Oak community last month during our first mix and mingle and ribbon cutting hosted at our office on East Howard Street downtown.
Richard Powell, an accounting consultant for the North Florida Water Utilities Authority, requested the meetings be changed to allow for financial statements to be presented in a timely fashion. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Richard Powell, an accounting consultant for the North Florida Water Utilities Authority, requested the meetings be changed to allow for financial statements to be presented in a timely fashion. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Utility Authority considers changing meeting dates

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
LIVE OAK — The North Florida Water Utilities Authority may soon be moving their meetings. During Wednesday morning’s meeting at the Suwannee County Judicial Annex, accounting consultant Richard Powell asked if the board would be willing to meet on the third week of the month instead of the first.
Live Oak Fire Chief Sidney Hayes speaks during last year’s Patriot Day remembrance in Live Oak. The Live Oak Fire Department will hold its annual event on Sept. 11. (FILE)

Live Oak Fire Chief Sidney Hayes speaks during last year’s Patriot Day remembrance in Live Oak. The Live Oak Fire Department will hold its annual event on Sept. 11. (FILE)

LOFD hosting annual Patriot Day remembrance

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
The Live Oak Fire Department has never forgotten. Next week, it will once again do its part in making sure the Live Oak and Suwannee County community continue to remember Patriot Day as well.

Page named NFC’s new president

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
MADISON — A Suwannee County native and North Florida College alumnus has been named the college’s next president. The NFC Board of Trustees announced Friday that Jennifer Page, the college’s current executive Vice President and chief academic officer, will be the new president.
Suwannee junior Cooper Williams (left) and Branford senior Jon Weisner are the schools’ student ambassadors at the Suwannee County School Board meetings. (PHOTOS COURTESY SUWANNEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT)

Suwannee junior Cooper Williams (left) and Branford senior Jon Weisner are the schools’ student ambassadors at the Suwannee County School Board meetings. (PHOTOS COURTESY SUWANNEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT)

Weisner, Williams named student ambassadors

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
By TJ VICKERS Suwannee County School District A Branford High School senior and Suwannee High School junior will serve as student ambassadors to the Suwannee County School Board for the current school year.
Bo Hancock, a Suwannee County resident, said the public has the right to say what they want at public meetings as the County Commission made changes to how it handles public comment. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Bo Hancock, a Suwannee County resident, said the public has the right to say what they want at public meetings as the County Commission made changes to how it handles public comment. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County adds restrictions on groups’ comments

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Despite criticism that they were trying to silence the public, the Suwannee County Commissioners unanimously approved amending a portion of their policies for public comment at meetings.