Regional

Sen. Corey Simon said Monday he is working on a rural renaissance bill that will bring additional resources that ‘cover everything’ to support rural communities. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Sen. Corey Simon said Monday he is working on a rural renaissance bill that will bring additional resources that ‘cover everything’ to support rural communities. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Simon filing bill to boost rural support

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
LIVE OAK — A rural renaissance really is coming to Florida. While Florida Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula) used that phrase to describe the focus of his two-year term in leading that chamber of the Florida Legislature upon being sworn in in November, Sen.
Suwannee County Economic Development Director Jimmy Norris said the regional storm shelter planned for north of Live Oak is the county’s ‘big project.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County Economic Development Director Jimmy Norris said the regional storm shelter planned for north of Live Oak is the county’s ‘big project.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee seeks funding for shelter

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
LIVE OAK — A big reward last year is now Suwannee County’s biggest focus moving forward.

Live Oak man killed in head-on collision

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
WELLBORN — A 22-year-old Live Oak man was killed in a head-on collision Saturday morning. According to a Florida Highway Patrol release, a sedan – driven by the 22-year-old — and an SUV collided head first around 1:57 a.m. Saturday on County Road 49 near the intersection with Bulb Farm Road.

Suspect killed in Suwannee County shootout

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, February 7, 2025
LIVE OAK — A Gadsden County murder suspect was killed in a shootout with Live Oak police officers Friday morning. The suspect, who still had not been identified by Friday evening, fled from an armed robbery at a gas station in Quincy early Friday where he shot four people, killing two.
Suwannee County is considering whether to renovate the John Hale Community Center with $808,614 in state grant funding or to demolish and build a new facility. (COURTESY)

Suwannee County is considering whether to renovate the John Hale Community Center with $808,614 in state grant funding or to demolish and build a new facility. (COURTESY)

Suwannee eyes new building, not renovating Hale center

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, February 7, 2025
LIVE OAK — A Live Oak community center’s future may involve an entirely new facility. The Suwannee County Commission unanimously approved accepting an $808,614 Florida Commerce Multi-Purpose Community Facility grant agreement at its meeting Tuesday.
Lafayette County Supervisor of Elections Travis Hart speaks at the county’s legislative delegation hearing last week at the Lafayette County Courthouse. (COURTESY)

Lafayette County Supervisor of Elections Travis Hart speaks at the county’s legislative delegation hearing last week at the Lafayette County Courthouse. (COURTESY)

Hart seeks leeway on early voting locations

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
MAYO — Travis Hart just pointed over his shoulder last week while addressing Lafayette County’s legislators — Rep. Jason Shoaf and Sen. Corey Simon — to get his point across.

DeSantis proposes $115.6B budget

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis late Sunday proposed a $115.6 billion budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year that calls for increasing pay for state law-enforcement officers and firefighters, eliminating a commercial-lease tax and holding a new sales-tax “holiday” on guns and ammunition.
The Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency district may be expanded or have additional districts created. The current district runs from the north end of the city to the south along Ohio Avenue (U.S. Highway 129) and includes the bulk of downtown Live Oak. (COURTESY CITY OF LIVE OAK)

The Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency district may be expanded or have additional districts created. The current district runs from the north end of the city to the south along Ohio Avenue (U.S. Highway 129) and includes the bulk of downtown Live Oak. (COURTESY CITY OF LIVE OAK)

Live Oak considering expanding CRA

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, January 31, 2025
LIVE OAK — Live Oak’s Community Redevelopment Agency district could soon grow. During the Live Oak CRA board meeting Tuesday, Councilwoman Vanessa Brown Robinson broached the topic of expanding the current CRA boundary. The CRA board previously voted to explore an expansion last June.
Sen. Corey Simon said during Thursday’s legislative delegation hearing in Lafayette County that he is focused on policy and the important things to the families in his district, not the political fighting over the immigration bill passed by the legislature this week. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Sen. Corey Simon said during Thursday’s legislative delegation hearing in Lafayette County that he is focused on policy and the important things to the families in his district, not the political fighting over the immigration bill passed by the legislature this week. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Simon focused on policy, not politics

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, January 31, 2025
MAYO — Don’t expect Corey Simon to get involved with the in-fighting among Florida Republican leaders over the new immigration legislation.