GOVERNMENT

Christian Peterson reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com On Thursday, July 18, the Jasper City Council met for its regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting began with a change to the agenda, adding the swearing in of two new police officers, and a statement on the swimming program. After the agenda was approved, the council moved into public comment. Nancy Cozort stood up to speak, her comment was in regard to item nine on the agenda, in which Vice Mayor Garrett Selph planned to hold an open discussion on continuing the search for a permanent city manager. She began by saying that she doesn't want to see Interim City Manager Mark Meyers fired if that is what the item is about. She also sa.

My name is Brian S. Creech, candidate for sheriff of Hamilton County. I am the son of Gerald and Serena Creech, raised in Hamilton County, with two brothers that have served and continue to serve our great nation and State of Florida. My career began with the military at the age of 17, with the United States Army National Guard, serving in the 1991 Gulf War. After returning home, I married Alison Jones, Hamilton County Resident. While furthering my education at North Florida Community College, I began my career in Law Enforcement, working as a Correctional Officer, Madison C.I., Deputy Sheriff at HCSO and a State Trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol. During my career, I have maintained a high standard of integrity, which I believe is essential in the criminal justice field. The main function and purpose of the sheriff's office to promote public safety for a safe and humane environment for the county. Of the many issues facing the law enforcement community today, maintaining public trust is one of our main objectives. Our deputies are in a position of trust and responsibility for the community. I believe it is important to continually promote high expectations and a clear mission for the Sheriff's office. Courage, Compassion, Teamwork, Trustworthiness, Justice and Service are fundamental values that are the cornerstone of a responsible law enforcement. The employees of the Sheriff's office will receive the best training available to provide the highest quality of service to Hamilton County. By promoting these values on a consistent basis, we will ensure our standard of the highest caliber.

Christian Peterson reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com On Tuesday, July 2, Hamilton County found itself being designated with a very special honor. Many know that the tri-county area continually feeds some of the best men and women into the United States Military. This case is evident just in the Florida Youth Charitable saw the pure amount of Veterans and began looking for a way to show its gratitude. The group has continually worked in the community for years, bettering it through community projects, hometown heroes and more. However, in its search for a way to honor the community's Veterans, it came across a designation given too counties to honor Veterans. The “Purple Heart” design.

My name is Jamie Tyndal. I am your Hamilton County Judge. I was appointed to the bench by Governor DeSantis to fill the vacancy left by Judge Sonny Scaff’s retirement. I have served as your county judge for over a year now. I preside over traffic court, county criminal court, small claims, and county civil cases. I also sit as an acting circuit judge presiding over the county’s juvenile dependency and delinquency, probate, mental health, guardianship cases, and injunctions. In 2023, I established a truancy court and I have been working with several other local county judges to come up with uniform forms to assist pro se litigants (individuals representing themselves) navigate the judicial system.

I’m Samantha Prueter, a fifth-generation Floridian. Over 19 years ago, my family and I fell in love with the rural farming community of Hamilton County and its breathtaking beauty when we moved here from Naples, Fla. Born in Tampa, I was adopted at just 9 months old and grew up in Naples.

I was born and raised in Suwannee County. My mom is Margaret Townsend and my dad is the late Phil Townsend Jr. My parents were 3rd generation farmers. I have been married to Chris Fry for 34 years and we have two sons, John and Jack Fry. Currently, I am...

Eric Musgrove Contributor In the Wednesday, July 17, edition of the Riverbend News, we began a multi-part series on how Live Oak became the county seat and how the present location of the Suwannee County Courthouse was determined. At the beginning of that article, I mentioned that the events included politics, bribery and blackmail, among other things. However, the period discussed in last week's article was tame compared to what would soon transpire in the county's history. In this week's article, we will begin to discuss some of those unethical and illegal activities. Once the State Legislature decided on Aug. 1, 1869, that Live Oak would be the county seat, it was left up to the.

Christian Peterson reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com On Tuesday, July 16, the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners met for its regularly scheduled meeting. Due to a conflict of schedules, Chairman Travis Land was unable to be in attendance, so Commissioner Franklin White took over as acting chairman for the evening. First, the board approved the minutes from the previous meeting. The board then had County Attorney Adam Morrison speak regarding the public comment section of the meeting. He stated he had received many questions about Project Summit, and explained that this project was still in the very early stages and the board only knew three things about it at this time: The.