Regional

Lafayette BOCC fills open positions

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

MAYO — The Lafayette Board of County Commissioners moved to fill a couple of key spots during its Monday meeting. The board unanimously approved Trevor Lawson for an open position with the Road Department before approving Ainsley Fountain for a Library Aid position.

Lafayette County 4-Hers enjoy shelling peas during the annual Farm to Table 4-H day camp last week. The peas were part of a dinner the campers prepared from scratch. (COURTESY)

Lafayette 4-H youth embrace farm-to-table camp

NEWS STAFF

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

By Shawn JACKSON Lafayette County 4-H Agent Young members of Lafayette 4-H immersed themselves in a hands-on experience last week at the annual Farm to Table 4-H day camp.

Lafayette Chamber hosting 4th of July celebration

NEWS STAFF

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

MAYO — The Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce’s 4th of July celebration will take place Thursday at the Edward Perry Sports Complex. The festivities begin at 3 p.m. when Mayo Soccer Rec will be operating water slides as well as serving snow cones and cotton candy until 8 p.m.

Andrea Gallo, a Jacksonville country music singer, will make her Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park debut on Friday. (COURTESY)

Gallo making Spirit of Suwannee debut Friday

NEWS STAFF

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

LIVE OAK — While it is hot outside, the music will be flowing inside where it is cool this weekend at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Andrea Gallo will make her Music Park debut Friday from 7-10 p.m., while the Naturally Southern Band will perform Saturday from 8-11 p.m.

Stolen backhoe at ATM sparks inquiry

JAMIE WACHTER

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

MAYO — Someone looking to do some heavy lifting at the Lafayette State Bank in the overnight hours Saturday caught the attention of the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office. The LCSO is now looking for a pair of suspects who were trying to break into the bank’s ATM. Just after 4 a.m.

Wetlands fight to continue for months

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

TALLAHASSEE — While Florida has sought to speed up the case, an appeals-court battle about permitting authority for projects that affect wetlands likely will not be resolved until late this year — at the soonest. The U.S.

Water closures bill vetoed

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday vetoed a bill that would have required the Florida Department of Health to take steps — including possibly preventing people from swimming in water off beaches — if water quality did not meet standards.

A large male Suwannee alligator snapping turtle awaits being weighed, measured and tagged before being returned to the tannin-black waters of the Suwannee River. (RENEE BODINE/U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

Suwannee snapping turtles get protection

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided to designate Suwannee alligator snapping turtles, large turtles that live in the Suwannee River in North Florida and South Georgia, as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells holds up a photo of Javontee Brice, who shot and killed three people in Manatee County, before being shot and killed after shooting at Hamilton County deputies early Tuesday morning. (COURTESY)

Murder spree ends in Hamilton shootout

JAMIE WACHTER

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

JASPER — A Manatee County triple murder suspect was shot and killed after opening fire on Hamilton County deputies early Tuesday morning.

Brick-tossing Live Oak man arrested

NEWS STAFF

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

LIVE OAK — A Live Oak man was arrested over the weekend for some unwanted home remodeling. According to a Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies responded to a residence on Goldkist Boulevard numerous times Saturday between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.