Christian Peterson reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com On Thursday, Jan. 16, the Branford High School soccer teams had a significant day as they faced their cross-county rivals, the Lafayette High School Hornets. The games closely…
Bucs fall short against Cowboys
Rick Patrick reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com On Thursday, Jan. 16, the Branford High School Buccaneers junior varsity and varsity basketball teams set sail for Madison, Fla., to take on the Cowboys of Madison County…
Suwannee earns shot at state wrestling championship
Christian Peterson reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com The Suwannee High School (SHS) wrestling team had a big day on Thursday, Jan. 16, as three other teams traveled to Live Oak for a showdown to determine…
Get your kids active this spring with Babe Ruth
Christian Peterson reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com Lafayette Babe Ruth registration is officially open! Lafayette Babe Ruth is one of the most popular extra-curricular sports available in Mayo. It covers t-ball, baseball and softball. Registration…
North Central Florida Youth Poet Laureate Program entries are open
Leah Androski reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com Here’s a great opportunity for poets, spoken-word artists, emcees and rappers to participate in the North Central Florida Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) Program. This program aims to identify…
Branford Achievement Council to host Gatsby Scholarship Gala
Danny Federico reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com The Branford Achievement Council is gearing up for an evening of dining, auctions and entertainment to benefit scholarships for Branford High School seniors. The Gatsby Scholarship Gala will…
Local schools celebrate Literacy Week
Danny Federico reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com Reading is a remarkable phenomenon – with a few words printed on paper, an individual can be transported back in time or to an entirely different world. Conversely,…
NFC 2024 Summer and Fall graduates recognized
North Florida College Contributor North Florida College (NFC) awarded 181 students with degrees or certificates at the conclusion of its 2024 Summer and Fall Terms. Many of the summer graduates participated…
Live Oak celebrates Arbor Day with its namesake
Christian Peterson reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com Florida celebrated Arbor Day on Friday, Jan. 17. Arbor Day is a national observance that highlights the benefits of trees in urban environments and encourages tree planting and…
Entries sought for Black History Month contests
Rick Patrick reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com The Florida Department of Education, along with Volunteer Florida, is encouraging students to participate in contests during Black History Month. The contests are using the theme, “Honoring African-American…
Special Olympics teams honor Live Oak Publix
Danny Federico reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com Special Olympics teams from Lafayette County recently visited the Publix supermarket in Live Oak to recognize the store’s contributions to Special Olympics Florida. The co-ed cheerleading and powerlifting…
MLK Day Parade marches through Live Oak
Jason Futch reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com Through the frigid temperatures, the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade marched on, honoring the late Civil Rights leader. The parade was one of a few events that…
Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative gives away trees for Arbor Day
Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative Contributor Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC) passed out free trees for Arbor Day on Saturday, Jan. 18. The giveaway prompted SVEC members to line up early in…
ACA reaccredits Suwannee Correctional Institution
American Correctional Association Contributor The American Correctional Association (ACA) reaccredited seven Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) correctional institutions during the ACA’s 2025 conference in Orlando. The standards created and refined by…
Florida Bar recognizes 3rd Judicial circuit attorney for pro bono service
Danny Federico reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com On Thursday, Jan. 16, the Florida Bar honored 21 lawyers for their work on behalf of low-income and disadvantaged clients. The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Awards,…
John “Mike” Huchingson
John “Mike” Huchingson, 42, of Live Oak, Fla., passed away on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. He was born in Jasper, Fla., on Sept. 28, 1982, was a lifelong resident of Live Oak,…