Community

By Jack Smith I met Jim Corr at the Panama City Beach Senior Center where he was attending a woodworking class. He had just completed an exquisite bowl. He and his wife Judy were kind enough to tell me his remarkable story. Unfortunately, I was not the first newspaperman to conduct...

If you had told Yvette in 4th grade that the boy who surprised her with an oversized Valentine’s Day card would one day be her husband, she would have laughed out loud. But sometimes life has a funny way of working out, and that’s exactly what happened. Yvette and Richard...

By Bill Husfelt, Superintendent, Bay District Schools This is a BB gun. This looks like a real pistol. This has NO BUSINESS being at school, but it was removed from a student just last month. Parents/Guardians/Community members, we need your help! The disruptions at school due to disturbing comments, rumors of...

By Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS Extension If you are looking for an excuse to delay firing up the lawn mower for a few more weeks, consider participating in No Mow March! The UF/IFAS Northwest District Horticulture team has launched this initiative to promote pollinator habitats and there are several ways you...

By Amy Harvey, Principal A. Gary Walsingham Academy is committed to offering students unique learning opportunities that are relevant, meaningful, and have a direct correlation to the real world. We believe this is a vital element for increasing student motivation, empowering students to take ownership of their learning, and igniting...

If you are renting out a home or traveling and leaving an empty home on Panama City Beach during spring break, please consider calling us, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, and leaving your emergency contact information with us. If anything happens on your property that requires us to reach...

The Lost City on the “Forgotten Coast” By Jack Smith Port St. Joe is a riddle wrapped in a strange history. It’s also one of the best-kept secrets in the state and one of the prettiest towns you’ll ever visit. Founded in 1835 as a deepwater port and linked to inland...

Bay County Sheriff’s Office Releases New App Sheriff Tommy Ford announced today a new Bay County Sheriff’s Office App is now available to the public. This free app will provide the public with an additional way to stay informed about the BCSO and receive critical safety messages, in addition to...

By Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS Extension Pruning is one of those landscape maintenance projects that sounds simple but is often done incorrectly. Timing and pruning technique is as important as the tools you use. I’m going to go over some basic tips for pruning flowering shrubs this month. Why prune? The first question...

By Paul Bonnette If you have attended “FinTastic” events such as Tourism Days, Zoo Boo, Chamber of Commerce First Friday, and Pirates of the High Seas Fest, then chances are you may have had a mermaid sighting. For Bay County resident Misty Joy, the phrase “Mermaid Life” takes on a...