Community

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...

By Steve Mulholland, Executive Director, Man in the Sea Museum The Man in the Sea Museum will be celebrating the 60th Anniversary of SEALAB in Panama City Beach, Florida July 19 and 20, 2024, and will sponsor events honoring their historic efforts. This will be a national celebration. The Man...

Thank you, everyone, for your trust and support in electing me as your mayor. It is an honor to serve the residents of Panama City Beach. I ran for office on a “locals first” platform and your belief in that mantra means everything. I recognize the challenges and needs of...

By Mayor Mark Sheldon It is an incredible time to be a part of the greater PCB community. We are a City built on welcoming visitors from all walks of life to our beautiful beaches. For decades visitors have relocated here, becoming locals. That trend continues and with it comes...

From the Office of Sheriff Tommy Ford It’s true, Spring Break hits our beautiful beaches in the spring of each year. However, behind the scenes planning for Spring Break and the crowds it brings to our county goes on throughout the year for law enforcement. After the last Spring Break tourist...