Jason Futch [email protected] 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: Suwannee County
News pertaining to the Suwannee County area.
Apostolic Lighthouse Church of Live Oak to host Ladies Retreat
Christian Peterson [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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….
Suwannee County honors King’s legacy with day of events
Jason Futch [email protected] 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,…
Branford High School Beta Club walks away with multiple awards
Jason Futch [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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…
Suwannee 4-H Livestock Judging Team earns high honors during Georgia contest
Jason Futch [email protected] The Suwannee County 4-H Livestock Judging Team participated in the Southeastern 3 Livestock Judging Contest at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, Ga., from Thursday, Dec. 11, to Friday,…
Spring Fling Car Show & Backyard BBQ Cook-off coming to White Springs
Jason Futch [email protected] The Spring Fling Car Show & Backyard BBQ Cook-off is coming to White Springs on Saturday, March 28, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Suwannee Hardware & Feed,…
Jail Report
Lafayette County Jan. 12 Timothy Eplin, operate motorcycle without license, attach registration license plate not assigned, flee/elude LEO with lights siren active Jan. 14 Benito Domingo-Gaspar, operate motor vehicle without valid license…
UF/IFAS to host Walk Off the Holidays Food Drive
Jason Futch [email protected] The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Suwannee County Extension Office, in partnership with the Florida Department of Health, will host the Walk Off the…
North Florida PAWS: Stopping the suffering before it starts
Hailey Waldo [email protected] In rural North Florida, pet overpopulation is not a future concern; it’s a daily reality. Unplanned litters, outdoor animals and limited access to affordable veterinary care have created a…
SCSO locates 10-year-old child near Little River Springs
Jason Futch [email protected] The Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) made a dramatic recovery on Friday, Jan. 9, with the rescue of a 10- year-old child near Little River Springs. The child was…
Branford council weighs county fire services proposal, votes to begin drafting agreement
Danny Federico [email protected] The Branford Town Council met twice this month — during a workshop on Monday, Jan. 5, and again at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13 — to continue…
Wanted sexual predator turns himself in
Jason Futch [email protected] Convicted sexual predator Samuel Dillon Free, who absconded from probation, turned himself in at the Suwannee County Jail on Friday, Jan. 16, at approximately 7:50 a.m. Free, 42, had…