Regional

Most of North Florida received between 3-7 inches of rain in June, although some parts of Lafayette County received more than 9 inches of rain in the month. (COURTESY)

Most of North Florida received between 3-7 inches of rain in June, although some parts of Lafayette County received more than 9 inches of rain in the month. (COURTESY)

District: June drier than normal

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
June was drier than usual across North Florida according to the Suwannee River Water Management District. In its June hydrologic conditions report released Wednesday, the district’s 15-county area across North Florida received 5.46 inches of average rainfall in June.
Live Oak City Council President Matt Campbell received silence from the rest of the council when he asked if there was interest in a workshop to discuss merging the city and county fire departments. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak City Council President Matt Campbell received silence from the rest of the council when he asked if there was interest in a workshop to discuss merging the city and county fire departments. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak Council douses fire merger idea

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
LIVE OAK — The idea of a possible consolidation of fire departments was quickly extinguished Tuesday night.
Grades for Suwannee County schools.

Grades for Suwannee County schools.

Suwannee High scores its first ‘A’ school grade

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
LIVE OAK — Suwannee High School can move to the head of the class. For the first time in the history of the Florida Department of Education’s School Grades, SHS earned an ‘A’ grade when the 2025 grades were released Monday.
Bob Hochmuth stands among hydroponically grown cucumbers during a Small Farms Academy session at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research & Education Center – Suwannee Valley (NFREC-SV) in Live Oak. (TYLER JONES/UF/IFAS)

Bob Hochmuth stands among hydroponically grown cucumbers during a Small Farms Academy session at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research & Education Center – Suwannee Valley (NFREC-SV) in Live Oak. (TYLER JONES/UF/IFAS)

Hochmuth earns Hall of Fame honor

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
UF/IFAS Bob Hochmuth grew up on a 1,000-acre vegetable farm on Maryland’s eastern shore. As a child, he watched his father and two uncles manage the farm, and the three men were always busy. They didn’t allow anyone to disrupt their work. Except one man.
Live Oak City Manager Larry Sessions recommended the City Council adopt a reduced millage as its maximum but not the rollback rate to provide flexibility during the budget process. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak City Manager Larry Sessions recommended the City Council adopt a reduced millage as its maximum but not the rollback rate to provide flexibility during the budget process. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak proposes slight tax rate decrease

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
LIVE OAK — Property owners in the City of Live Oak will pay a reduced tax rate next year. In the Live Oak City Council’s meeting Tuesday night, the council unanimously approved setting the city’s maximum millage rate for the 2025-26 fiscal year at 9.25 mills.
Live Oak Councilwoman Vanessa Brown Robinson said she would not stop pushing on getting answers on what caused the city to lose $450,000 in a cyber attack in February. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak Councilwoman Vanessa Brown Robinson said she would not stop pushing on getting answers on what caused the city to lose $450,000 in a cyber attack in February. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Robinson pushes forward on cyber security audit

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
LIVE OAK — The Live Oak City Council took a second shot at trying to address is cyber security and payment processes.
H2O Senior Vice President Derrel Wilson said the company was willing to work with the city moving forward, including a possible incentivized contract to garner full payment. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

H2O Senior Vice President Derrel Wilson said the company was willing to work with the city moving forward, including a possible incentivized contract to garner full payment. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak seeking public works bids

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
LIVE OAK — The City of Live Oak will continue utilizing a hybrid approach to public works services.