Regional

According to the Suwannee River Water Management District’s hydrologic conditions report, most of North Florida received between 5 and 9 inches of rain in July. (COURTESY)

According to the Suwannee River Water Management District’s hydrologic conditions report, most of North Florida received between 5 and 9 inches of rain in July. (COURTESY)

SRWMD: July was slightly dry

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
LIVE OAK — Before Hurricane Debby greeted North Florida with buckets of rain in early August, the area was slightly drier than average.

Storm resource center open in Mayo

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
MAYO — Those seeking assistance from Hurricane Debby have a location in Lafayette County to receive that help. The State Emergency Response Team has a Multi-Agency Resource Center set up at the Lafayette County 4-H building next to the Mayo Community Center, 176 SW Community Circle, through Friday.

Head-on collision kills one

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
BRANFORD — A Florahome man is dead and a Fort White woman in serious condition after a Wednesday morning crash. According to a Florida Highway Patrol release, a silver four-door car was heading west on U.S.

FHP troopers searching for driver in hit-and-run crash

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
BEACHVILLE — Authorities are looking for the driver of a Ford F-150 that hit a pair of pedestrians in southeastern Suwannee County early Sunday morning. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a gold or bronze F-150, believed to be an early 2000s model, traveled off County Road 49 around 5:27 a.m.
The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus in Pasco County is a 98,000-square-foot facility originally built as a regional shelter. Suwannee County purchased 390 acres for $5.5 million to serve as the site of a shelter for North Florida. (COURTESY)

The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus in Pasco County is a 98,000-square-foot facility originally built as a regional shelter. Suwannee County purchased 390 acres for $5.5 million to serve as the site of a shelter for North Florida. (COURTESY)

Suwannee OKs $5.5M purchase for shelter

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, August 9, 2024
LIVE OAK — One day after Hurricane Debby passed through North Florida, Suwannee County Commissioners voted to hopefully provide a safe place in future storms. During its meeting Tuesday night, the commission unanimously approved purchasing 390 acres just north of the Interstate 10 and U.S.
Ryan Appling holds his baby, Aubree, after graduating from Florida Gateway College on Thursday. Also pictured with Appling are Sherri Whitaker (left) and Lacee Ellis (right). (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Ryan Appling holds his baby, Aubree, after graduating from Florida Gateway College on Thursday. Also pictured with Appling are Sherri Whitaker (left) and Lacee Ellis (right). (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

FGC graduates 188 during summer ceremony

TONY BRITT
Friday, August 9, 2024
The different seasons of life, ranging from a new college student to a college president to a professional who serves as a college trustee and college graduate, were celebrated Thursday when Florida Gateway College held its Summer 2024 commencement exercise.
Felix Menjivar, owner of .50 Cal Coffee and Desserts, shows Gov. Ron DeSantis and Suwannee County Development Services Director Ron Meeks items on the wall of his downtown Live Oak coffee shop on Wednesday afternoon. DeSantis took a tour of downtown Live Oak to see the damage flood waters caused by Hurricane Debby. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Felix Menjivar, owner of .50 Cal Coffee and Desserts, shows Gov. Ron DeSantis and Suwannee County Development Services Director Ron Meeks items on the wall of his downtown Live Oak coffee shop on Wednesday afternoon. DeSantis took a tour of downtown Live Oak to see the damage flood waters caused by Hurricane Debby. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

DeSantis visits Live Oak to assess damage from Debby

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
LIVE OAK — As he walked through downtown Live Oak, surveying damage flood waters inflicted on local businesses, Gov. Ron DeSantis got an up-close look at some different Hurricane Debby-inflicted destruction as well. After walking through .50 Cal Coffee and Desserts, J.
A Family Dollar sign was blown down onto the sidewalk along U.S. Highway 27 in Mayo during Hurricane Debby on Monday. (COURTESY)

A Family Dollar sign was blown down onto the sidewalk along U.S. Highway 27 in Mayo during Hurricane Debby on Monday. (COURTESY)

Lafayette recovering from widespread damage

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
MAYO — After experiencing widespread storm damage for the second straight year, Lafayette County is again on the road to recovery.