Published: 30 July 2020

12-21-18

A well-lit tradition

Live Oak's lighted Christmas Parade

Winter wonderland was the theme for this year’s annual lighted Christmas parade and float participants did not disappoint the hundreds of residents that lined the streets to watch the parade. Shimmering lights from the many floats lit up the night, Saturday, on the streets of Live Oak. -Photo by Jeffry Boatright

By Jeffry Boatright

Dazzling lights and the sounds of Christmas overtook the streets of Live Oak again Saturday evening with the community’s annual lighted Christmas parade. The much-loved event, which traditionally brings closure to a day of fun-filled festivities associated with Christmas on the Square, had been slated for December 01. Persistent and lingering rain showers, however, forced organizers to postpone the parade until the evening of December 15 instead.

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Published: 29 July 2020

1-30-2011

What (Exactly) Is An Amateur (Ham) Radio Operator And What Do They Do?

 Columbia County’s Emergency Coordinator Richard Heston Talks About 9-11 And Hurricane Floyd

SVT Video by Tami Stevenson

The Suwannee Valley Times had the privilege of visiting Richard Heston at the Columbia County Communications Center in Lake City. It is the Emergency Operations Center or EOC for the county.

“You’re lucky to get in here,” he said, “not very many people are allowed in.” The building certainly is under ‘lock and key’ as I had to go through three people before I could get to Richard and I had an appointment.

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Published: 30 July 2020

1-11-19

Our First Amendment Right;
Speaking Responsibly

By Jeffry Boatright

The Bill of Rights, which consists of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, was carefully constructed to insure our liberties are not infringed upon. These amendments were designed to protect us from government, and in some cases, from one another.

Perhaps the most complex amendment of all is the First Amendment, which the Framers deemed so important that it was the first amendment that they added to our Constitution. We refer to the First Amendment in various ways. Some refer to it as the freedom of speech, others simply call it freedom of religion, and yet others define it as freedom of assembly or freedom of the press. It is all of these things.

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Published: 27 July 2020

Returning to normal
Branford’s Independence Day Celebration was well attended

The crowds were much larger than expected at the Branford River Reunion’s 4th of July celebration. -Photo: Submitted 

By Tami Stevenson

Spring and early summer in North Florida are normally busy times as residents usually enjoy attending events and happenings around the area. This year, however, due to COVID-19, events like the Suwannee River Catfish Festival in Branford, the Florida Folk Festival at Stephen Foster State Park in White Springs, and so many others, were canceled.

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