Regional

Live Oak Police Chief Keith Davis said while he was ‘99% sure’ the suspicious device found Tuesday in a backyard in Live Oak was a training round, officers called the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad due to ‘that 1% chance.’ The Bomb Squad responded and secured the device. (COURTESY LIVE OAK POLICE DEPARTMENT)

Live Oak Police Chief Keith Davis said while he was ‘99% sure’ the suspicious device found Tuesday in a backyard in Live Oak was a training round, officers called the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad due to ‘that 1% chance.’ The Bomb Squad responded and secured the device. (COURTESY LIVE OAK POLICE DEPARTMENT)

Training round draws bomb squad

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Some backyard cleanup uncovered more than one Live Oak family was hoping for Tuesday.Cleaning out bushes in their backyard uncovered an old training round that eventually ended with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad responding to Live Oak to handle the suspicious device.The bomb squad...
Leila Williams (far left) talks about the Union Burial Ground Cemetery where Hankerson family members were buried. Williams helped organize the tour for Hankerson family descendants through Columbia, Hamilton and Suwannee counties last Saturday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Leila Williams (far left) talks about the Union Burial Ground Cemetery where Hankerson family members were buried. Williams helped organize the tour for Hankerson family descendants through Columbia, Hamilton and Suwannee counties last Saturday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Hankerson reunion, tour connects descendants to tri-county area

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
A chartered bus from Georgia traversed the back roads, dirt roads and often forgotten paths of people from decades ago across North Florida.Down the winding roads, often bumpy with ruts or uneven from shifting gravel, the trip carried the passengers through time to places that held unknown secrets...
Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency Director Nicholas Frigiola said the district has generated $1 million in revenue for the first time. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency Director Nicholas Frigiola said the district has generated $1 million in revenue for the first time. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak CRA cracks $1M in revenue

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
It’s a milestone year for the Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency.During a brief discussion about its upcoming fiscal year budget during Tuesday’s meeting, Live Oak CRA Director Nicholas Frigiola told the board that it should be proud of a particular number on the proposed budget: the...
Lafayette 4-H arrives for the first day at 4-H Camp Cherry Lake in Madison. (COURTESY LAFAYETTE COUNTY 4-H)

Lafayette 4-H arrives for the first day at 4-H Camp Cherry Lake in Madison. (COURTESY LAFAYETTE COUNTY 4-H)

Lafayette 4-H enjoys Cherry Lake Day Camp

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
By Shawn JacksonLafayette County Extension Director and 4-H AgentMADISON — Twenty-five Lafayette County 4-H youth recently joined about 70 campers from Taylor and Madison counties for four fun-filled days at Cherry Lake Day Camp.
Live Oak City Council President Vanessa Robinson said with software upgrades eyed across city departments, another discussion should be had on what tools to use to make sure they are all secure. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak City Council President Vanessa Robinson said with software upgrades eyed across city departments, another discussion should be had on what tools to use to make sure they are all secure. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak eyes software overhaul in upcoming budget

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
The City of Live Oak looks to bring its software and technology into the present day in the upcoming fiscal year.During a budget workshop Tuesday ahead of the Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency meeting, the Live Oak City Council got an update on some of the financial impacts of the upgrades...
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, the swamp in South Georgia and North Florida that spawns the Suwannee River, has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site. (Larry Woodward/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, the swamp in South Georgia and North Florida that spawns the Suwannee River, has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site. (Larry Woodward/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Okefenokee Swamp named World Heritage site

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
By ROSS WILLIAMSGeorgia RecorderThe Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is now a World Heritage site.
The parking improvements at Heritage Square on the north side of downtown Live Oak are now waiting on striping and lining to be completed. (FILE)

The parking improvements at Heritage Square on the north side of downtown Live Oak are now waiting on striping and lining to be completed. (FILE)

Heritage Square parking upgrades nearly finished

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
The Heritage Square parking improvements will be finished next week.During Tuesday’s Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency meeting, CRA Director Nicholas Frigiola told the board that the final section of the semi-permeable material — KBI Flexi-Pave — was put down last week on the parking lot just...

FPL expects data center announcement this year

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
As controversy continues in Florida and nationally about energy-hungry data centers, Florida Power & Light expects to announce a deal on a project by the end of the year.Details were not disclosed Friday during a quarterly earnings call with analysts.
Live Oak firefighter Zach Yarnell (center) grins as Cody Byers (right) has a mouthful of ribs during the contest Tuesday. Kessler Mallory (left) also participated for the Live Oak Fire Department team. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak firefighter Zach Yarnell (center) grins as Cody Byers (right) has a mouthful of ribs during the contest Tuesday. Kessler Mallory (left) also participated for the Live Oak Fire Department team. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Dousing the competition: Firefighters ‘smoke’ cops in rib-eating contest

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
LAKE CITY — The latest friendly battle between Live Oak first responders took place in a different type of arena.There was no basketball hoop, obstacle course or race.
Suwannee County Commissioner Travis Land said a site in Luraville is not going to be a data center, but will host a small solar facility that includes battery storage and cold storage. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County Commissioner Travis Land said a site in Luraville is not going to be a data center, but will host a small solar facility that includes battery storage and cold storage. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Luraville site not a data center

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Prior to a public request for a workshop on data centers, a Suwannee County commissioner assured a full Judicial Annex that a data center isn’t currently planned in the southwestern portion of the county.At the start of Tuesday’s County Commission meeting, Commissioner Travis Land told the...