Community

From the office of Sheriff Tommy Ford Since Tommy Ford became the Sheriff of Bay County in 2016, he and his agency have learned about resilience while coping with the unexpected. After a short period getting used to his new responsibilities as Sheriff, there was an active shooter incident in May...

By Ed Offley Panama City Beach residents and visitors alike will enjoy an expansion of opportunities for dining, entertainment and sports in the year ahead. Three new projects are on track to finish construction and open their doors to the public in the first half of 2025. They include the 60,000-square-foot...

In a peaceful 52-acre forest of oak, pine, and cypress at the edge of Florida’s capital, the quiet is broken by a pair of honking geese, a snorting horse, and the kinds of woodsy sounds you’d expect of such a sylvan location. Here at the Tallahassee Museum, however, there’s...

By the President of the United States of America George Washington, a Proclamation Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor — and whereas both...

By Rachel C. Willis It’s pumpkin season! There’s no better place to pick out the perfect orange gourd this fall than Camp Helen State Park, home of Lake Powell, the largest coastal dune lake in the northern hemisphere. Each fall, they host the largest pumpkin patch on the Emerald Coast,...

By Mark McQueen, Superintendent As the new school year kicked off, Bay District Schools saw a wave of success, particularly across our beach schools. With an impressive turnout and seamless operations, the first day set the tone for what promises to be an incredible year of learning and growth. The...

By Lee Ann Leonard Panama City Beach is known for its beautiful beaches, but the destination is also home to a rare coastal dune lake. Lake Powell, which straddles Bay and Walton County on the beach’s west end, is one of only a few coastal dune lakes in the world....

By Ed Offley Reacting to a spike in drowning incidents in the Gulf of Mexico during a four-day period in June, both Panama City Beach and the Bay County Tourist Development Council (TDC) have taken emergency action to shore up the city’s Beach Rescue program. Between June 20 and 23, six...

By Ed Offley With the 2024 hurricane season underway, Florida Power & Light and the Bay County Council on Aging have ensured that several hundred seniors are prepared in event a storm disrupts their ability to obtain food. The utility and the seniors organization handed out over 2,200 emergency meal kits...

By K. Bollinger Sometimes, you just want to get away. Sometimes, you want to make a difference. Why not do both at the same time? Within the non-profit organization of Global Effect, there’s a unique opportunity to see the world, visit a new culture, and help make a difference. More than...