Jason Futch Reporter2@RiverbendNews.org Each year, Riverbend News is honored to share with the community each school district’s Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year for the 2025-26 school year….
Category: Counties
Apostolic Lighthouse Church of Live Oak to host Ladies Retreat
Christian Peterson reporter@riverbendnews.org Winter is coming to an end, and with warmer weather beginning to return, many churches are preparing for their annual retreats. The Apostolic Lighthouse Church of Live Oak is no different, as it has scheduled its 2026 conference for…
Suwannee County celebrates Florida Arbor Day
Christian Peterson reporter@riverbendnews.org Arbor Day is celebrated around the nation, but some states observe the holiday at different times of the year. In Florida, Arbor Day is celebrated in January. This year, it was celebrated on Friday, Jan. 17….
Hamilton County High School hits historic graduation rate
Jason Futch Reporter2@riverbendnews.org Hamilton County High School (HCHS) has a lot to celebrate following news of a significant spike in graduation rates for the Class of 2025. The achievement marks the first…
Honoring the musical legacy of Stephen C. Foster
Jason Futch Reporter2@riverbendnews.org Stephen Collins Foster left an enduring mark on American music despite his short life. His creative influence even reached Florida, where he wrote the song “Old Folks at Home.”…
HCHS Beta Club competes at state conference
Jason Futch Reporter2@riverbendnews.org The Hamilton County High School (HCHS) Senior Beta Club earned high marks at the Beta Club state conference, which was held at the Signia by Hilton at Bonnett Creek…
LCHS student receives opportunity of a lifetime
Jason Futch Reporter2@riverbendnews.org Adaya Plummer is a junior at Lafayette County High School and a member of the school’s band, something she has been passionate about for many years. When band director…
Lafayette Extension Office to offer advice to timber landowners
Christian Peterson reporter@riverbendnews.org Lafayette County is well known as an agricultural community. Many people think of common areas of agriculture, dairy, corn, wheat, barely or wool. However, an often – overlooked product is timber. Luckily for local timber farmers, the Lafayette County UF/IFAS Extension Office has…
Suwannee County honors King’s legacy with day of events
Jason Futch Reporter2@riverbendnews.org The Suwannee County Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Committee came together for its annual day of events on Monday, Jan. 19. The theme this year was “Building a community,…
Country Strong Gym set to host Valentines Day Market
The ever-popular romantic holiday of Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. With the annual celebration of sweethearts approaching, plenty of businesses and organizations are offering opportunities for couples to celebrate together. One of those places is Country Strong Gym in Mayo. The gym will host…
Former White Springs councilwoman’s compensation sparks debate
Jason Futch Reporter2@riverbendnews.org During the regular meeting of the White Springs Town Council on Tuesday, Jan. 13, debate ensued over whether the town would request wages paid to former Councilwoman Shirley…
LCSO to support students through Lonny Hempstead Memorial Scholarship Fund
Jason Futch reporter2@riverbendnews.org The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) recently announced that the Lonny Hempstead Memorial Scholarship Fund will be able to support two more students from Lafayette High School (LHS) who…
Branford High School Beta Club walks away with multiple awards
Jason Futch reporter2@riverbendnews.org The Branford High School Senior Beta Club earned high marks at the state convention, which was held at the Signia by Hilton at Bonnett Creek in Orlando. The convention…
Miss Olustee Scholarship Pageant coming to Lake City
Jason Futch reporter2@riverbendnews.org For more than 40 years, the Miss Olustee Scholarship Pageant has supported young women from the surrounding counties by providing scholarship opportunities, developing interview skills, building self- esteem, and…
2025-26 All-Riverbend Football Team
Offense Quarterback Tywan “T.K.” Williamson (#9) Senior, Lafayette High School Completed 95 of 172 passes for 1,906 yards and 30 touchdowns, averaging 173.3 yards per game and posting a 112.1 quarterback rating,…
Branford football program to join Sunshine State Athletic Association in 2026
Christian Peterson reporter@riverbendnews.org Athletic associations play an integral role in high school sports across the country. In Florida, the largest and most well-known is the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA). However,…
African Missionary Baptist Church to celebrate 158th anniversary
Christian Peterson reporter@riverbendnews.org Live Oak is a city with a lot of history, from its early days of settlement to its explosive growth as the center of railroad transit. Although the area…