Category: Community

Panama City Beach Community News

  • Prevent the Summer Slide

    Prevent the Summer Slide

    Northwest Library

    The Northwest Regional Library System aspires to help students to prevent the “summer slide” by providing a variety of engaging, educational programs that encourage imagination, creativity and art throughout the summer. Children and teens who participate in summer library programs become better readers. Summer reading allows children to maintain their reading skills during the summer break while fostering a love of reading when they read for fun! The 2025 theme is Color Our World. Library programs are free and open to the public to attend. Select programs require registration and will be noted in the program description.

    Bay County Libraries Reading Incentives 

    In addition to Summer Reading Programs, the Bay County Public Library Foundation  (https://bcplfoundation.org/) have generously sponsored several reading incentives with prizes to encourage kids to visit the library this summer and pick up more books! The Reading  Incentives are taking place at the Bay County Public Library, Panama City Beach Public Library,  and the Parker Public Library.

    Weekly Art Themed Raffle (K – 6th Grade)

    Bay County Public Library: June 4 – July 9 

    Attend a summer reading program & enter a raffle drawing for a cool art prize! Winners are selected at the end of each program. Must be present to win.

    Cslp 2025 Friendsreading 1

    Parker Public Library and Panama City Beach Public Library: June 9 – July 19 Each day you visit the library, you can enter a raffle drawing for a cool ‘art’ themed prize! Each week, new winners will be selected. Winners will be contacted the following week.

    “Color Our World” Library Bingo (K – 6th Grade) June 2 – July 19 

    Pick up your reading challenge Bingo card from your library, then complete 5 activities in a row to get BINGO and be entered into our end-of-summer raffle. Complete every activity to earn an additional 2 entries. Limit one (1) Bingo card per child.

    Teen Summer Reading Challenge (Ages 12 – 17) 

    June 2 – July 10 

    Pick up a reading challenge from your branch or BCPL Youth Services for a chance to win a  prize! Turn in a completed entry to be added into a raffle.

    Panama City Beach Public Library

    12500 Hutchison Blvd., Panama City Beach

    Cslp 2025 Palettewithtitle

    School-Aged Summer Programming  

    • Color Our World with Art 

    Wednesday, June 11 at 10 a.m. CT

    Jenn, balloon artiste, will make balloon animals, hats, and bracelets. We will also have art supplies available to make paper sculptures, thumbprint art, and popsicle sticks for our collaborative art project.

    Cslp 013 24 Facebookbanner 2

    • Color Our World with Safety: Smokey the Bear 

    Wednesday, June 18 at 10 a.m. CT

    Join us as our local Park Rangers read a story and talk about fire safety. You will also get to see some Park Ranger trucks up close. Have your picture taken with Smokey the Bear,  play some fun games and create your own bear craft.

    • Color Our World with Music: The BUMS Concert 

    Wednesday, June 25 at 10 a.m. CT

    Join us for an hour of lively music by the “Beach Ukulele Music Society” (BUMS) and hilarious jokes.

    • Color Our World with Adventure! Pirate Day at the Library 

    Wednesday, July 2 at 10 a.m. CT

    Ahoy Mateys! Dress as a pirate, if you dare, and join us for a pirate-themed scavenger hunt and an outside story walk. Complete the scavenger hunt and get a prize from the treasure chest.

    • Color Our World with Art: Create Chalk Art Around the Library  

    June 30 – July 3

    Come out and create colorful chalk art on the sidewalk around the library. There will be chalk supplies available at the front desk.

    • Color Our World with FUN FUN FUN! Game Day at the Library! 

    Wednesday, July 9 at 10 a.m. CT

    There will be face painting with Glitter & Glitz with lots of fun games to play. We will have ring toss, Jenga and board games! Mario Kart will be available on the Nintendo  Switch for ages 7 – 12. Program sponsored by the Panama City Beach Library  Foundation.

    • Color our World with Amazement 

    Wednesday, July 16 at 10 a.m. CT

    Miss Calliope presents “Light & Sound: Luz y Sonido” – an interactive musical experience exploring colors, light, language and sound! Program generously sponsored by the  Panama City Beach Library Foundation.

    Adult Summer Programming

    • Sea Needles 

    Fridays at 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. CT

    Bring your projects and make new friends while you work on your sewing or knitting.

    Visit the Panama City Beach Public Library Facebook page or www.nwrls.com for more information about Summer Reading Programming.

    Cslp 2025 Bookstacklarge

  • Scouting Your Garden

    Scouting Your Garden

    By Lauren Goldsby

    A healthy garden doesn’t just happen- it’s something that takes hard work attention and care. One of the easiest and most effective ways to stay on top of plant health is by developing the habit of scouting. Scouting can be done by walking through your garden regularly and observing what’s going on.

    You’re not just admiring your flowers or checking to see if the tomatoes are ripe- you’re keeping an eye out for signs of pests, diseases, nutrient deficiencies, or other issues before they become serious problems. I often hear people say a problem seemed to appear overnight. While it may feel that way, there are usually early signs of stress that can be seen.

    Scouting is a key part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a science-based approach that combines different strategies to manage pests in the most effective, environmentally responsible way. Rather than reaching for a pesticide the moment you see an insect, IPM strategies consider the problem as a whole. Is that insect actually harmful? Is it a pollinator, or even a beneficial predator helping control the pests for you? IPM helps you make informed decisions using cultural, physical, biological, and, when necessary, chemical controls- always with the goal of reducing harm to people, pollinators, and the environment. Read more about IPM here: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/pests-and-diseases/pests/integrated-pest-management/

    While scouting my garden, I noticed a few signs of stress. Here’s what I did:

    Image1

    I noticed small holes in a few of my tomato leaves, upon turning the leaf over I found small cut worms that had recently hatched. I physically removed any caterpillars I could find and will continue to keep an eye on the tomatoes for any I may have missed. Beneficial wasps and lacewing larvae that naturally occur can help control cutworms too. Avoiding the use of broad spectrum insecticides helps our natural insect population keep this balance.

    Image2

    The oldest tomato leaves are touching the ground and leaf spots have appeared. Using clean pruners, I removed any tomato leaves that were touching the ground as this can be an entryway for pathogens. Reducing overhead irrigation and using drip tubing or a soaker hose for watering can help reduce pathogens as well.

    Lower leaf yellowing also indicates a nitrogen deficiency. Nitrogen is a mobile element and moves from the old leaves to the new leaves when there is not enough. Yellowing on older leaves indicates that fertilizer is needed. This is not always caused by a nutrient imbalance-reach out to the Extension Office if you have any questions about your specific plants.

    Aphids and mealybugs on a dandelion weed growing next to the garden. I removed the weed and disposed of it in my trashcan away from the garden. On an ornamental plant that belongs in my garden I would have to decide how and when to control the aphids and mealybugs. However, on a weed, it is easier and more effective to physically remove it. It’s a great reminder to scout the plants growing around your garden too!

    Image3Scouting doesn’t need to be another chore on your to-do list. You can scout while watering the garden, walking with your morning coffee, or enjoying your glass of wine in the evening. Just a few minutes of regular observation can help you catch things early, when they’re easier to manage. And once you make this a habit, you’ll be surprised by how much you start to notice new blooms, insects you’ve never seen before, and the subtle signs that your plants are either thriving or in need of help.

  • How I Build Golf Clubs – My  Obsession with Perfection

    How I Build Golf Clubs – My  Obsession with Perfection

    By Alan Watson, President, GOLF+ Dothan, AL, and Panama City Beach, FL

    I am not a perfectionist. Rather, I seek to get as close as is humanly possible. I obsess over it. I desire it. I strive for it. In my diet and exercise routine? No. In my quest to read a book every week and watch less TV? No. In my organization and cleanliness of my clothes closet? Absolutely not. No. The only place I work towards being close to perfect is in the build shop at my golf shop. That’s right. I want the clubs I’m working on to be dead on spec. Built just right. Correct in every way. It is my mission.

    For thirty years, I have learned and worked towards the end goal of making my shop the best place for golfers to get their clubs fitted, repaired, and built. I tell all my team members that as we grip, shaft, and adjust clubs we should do so as if the club will end up in a tour player’s bag. My need for this level of competency is probably a little too much for some, but I feel that perfection or the pursuit of it is required when building anything. And the only thing I know how to build are golf clubs.

    “Does it really matter?”  some might say. Some golfers might not have the skill level to be able to discern whether or not the swing weight of an iron is D0 or D1 or D2. Many would not know the difference in a 55-gram shaft or a 60-gram shaft. How many golfers could tell the difference between a grip that is installed .25” too long versus just right? Regardless of these questions and many more, I decided long ago that if I did nothing else in life, I would have top notch, tour van quality repairs and builds come out of my shops. This level of quality sets us apart from many shops. Even if my customers never know the difference. I know. And I care.

    Why does high-level golf club repair and building matter? Using the right components is important for fit and finish. The set needs to look complete and matched. If someone comes in with a broken shafted iron and we rebuild it but we don’t match the ferrule to the rest of the set, then it will be obvious to the golfer and particularly if he goes to sell them down the line, might be obvious to the buyer that the clubs have been worked on. If we don’t match swing weights as we build a set, then the clubs could all vary in spec, resulting in poor contact, bad yardages, and inconsistent shots due to the variance. The golfer might think that it is he or she that is the problem when all along it’s the clubs.

    Even how we take clubs apart matters to me. We are careful to use the correct techniques and tools so as not to damage someone else’s property. It all matters to me. It should matter to you when choosing who you let work on your equipment.

    Recently, I had a set of irons come in from a new-to-our-area golfer. He told us the the clubs were built in California. The shafts were not put in the correct heads, resulting in varying lengths that did not follow order correctly. We rebuilt them correctly, of course howeve,r the shame of it is that the customer had to spend time and money getting the clubs fixed when whoever built them could have easily just labeled the shafts before install and avoided the issue.  That also shows that the shop that improperly built them didn’t double check their work after the process was finished. That’s a shame.

    We aren’t perfect, unfortunately and sometimes mistakes happen. However due to our level of precision and attention we rarely have issues with club repair and club builds. And if we do make a mistake or have an issue we stand behind our work and fix it. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

    Fairways and Greens!

  • Archaeological Survey by GCSC Students Reveals Layers of Local History Along West Beach Drive

    Archaeological Survey by GCSC Students Reveals Layers of Local History Along West Beach Drive

    Gulf Coast

    Panama City, FL – The Spring 2025 Introduction to Archaeology class at Gulf Coast State College, led by Dr. Jason Wenzel, completed an archaeological survey of two historic properties in the Old Town neighborhood of St. Andrews. The sites, located on West Beach Drive, include the former homesites of two mariners—David R. Blood and Lambert M. Ware Jr.—and another property that was once part of the former Governor Clark lot and later became the residence of Mary H. Moore.

    The project operates in partnership with the Bay Anthropological Society, the Panama City Publishing Company Museum, and the Historical Society of Bay County. The properties surveyed are currently owned and inhabited by the Shoemo and Feldman families, who graciously allowed the team to conduct the archaeological work.

    Img 1078

    GCSC students, working alongside community volunteers, uncovered evidence of thousands of years of local history. Recovered artifacts include pre-Columbian Native American pottery sherds, stone tool flakes, and the remains of food items consumed by Indigenous peoples, such as animal bones and shellfish. Historic-period artifacts associated with the original town of St. Andrews include remnants of consumer goods and architectural materials such as ceramic dishes, glass bottles, clothing buttons, cut nails, bricks, and window glass fragments.

    The area surveyed this semester, located on West Beach Drive, is home to two standing historic structures: the former residence of Lambert Ware Jr., built around 1915, and the second home of Mary H. Moore, constructed in 1936. Historic records indicate that David R. Blood, a ship captain from Ireland, resided on what later became the Ware property from around 1841 until his departure for England in 1857. Significant finds associated with David Blood include 19th-century English export ceramics, lumps of shell tabby architectural material, and iron ore. Historic sources describe David Blood as having an “unusual home” and note that he was knowledgeable in various crafts, including blacksmithing.

    Img 1081

    Artifacts recovered from the Ware family residence and the former Moore home next door include typical household items of the time, such as fragments of soda bottles, decorative plates, and marbles. Throughout both sites, the team encountered numerous fire-exposed artifacts—melted glass, charred bone, and burned ceramics—which may have resulted from routine trash incineration, the 1863 destruction of the town during the American Civil War, or the burning of Moore’s original home in 1932.

    Img 1086

    In addition to the finds associated with the known former residents, the team recovered artifacts dating to the interim period in the late 1800s, inspiring future research to identify the occupants from that time.

    The project’s objectives were to provide GCSC students with hands-on experience in archaeological field and laboratory methods; to visualize past life along the shores of St. Andrews Bay from ancient times to the present; to locate sites and materials associated with the “lost” town of St. Andrews; to raise community awareness of local historical and archaeological resources; and to foster community building by bringing together college students, preservationists, neighbors, and civic leaders.

    Img 1065

    An exhibit is planned for the Panama City Publishing Company Museum in 2027, as part of the 200-year anniversary of the founding of St. Andrews.

    For more information, please contact Dr. Jason Wenzel at jwenzel@gulfcoast.edu

  • Farrah’s Wellness Journey

    Farrah’s Wellness Journey

    By Marta Rose-Thorpe

    Farrah McIntosh is a vibrant 43-year-old woman with a full life. She is a mother, wife, friend, and health coach to many. She is a certified nutrition coach, a fitness trainer, and is currently training for a bikini bodybuilding competition in June. To look at Farrah, one sees a radiant, healthy, social butterfly with a friendly smile. But six years ago, Farrah led a very different life, and since then, she has undergone a massive “size 20 to size 0” health and wellness transformation. “When I talk to people about it, I tell them it’s not when I started my diet, it’s when I changed my lifestyle,” she says. “I don’t ever say ‘I started a diet years ago’ because my whole life has changed. And this new lifestyle is never-ending… It’s going to be my lifestyle forever.”

    Image3

    Prior to moving to Panama City six years ago, Farrah and her family lived in Kentucky. “My son had just turned two years old, and I was just living my life and running my business,” she shares. Her business is a Kentucky-based case management company she’s run since 2012, providing services for adults with developmental disabilities. “At 5’2”, I weighed 263 pounds. My son was really active, and I just couldn’t keep up with him.” Her family has a history of hypertension and diabetes, she shares, and in the back of her mind, she worried that if she kept the weight on, she would be going down the same path. “But it was never enough to make me change, I guess.”

    So, what was the catalyst? What sparked the lifestyle change? “I’ll never forget September of 2019,” she remembers. “For my little boy’s second birthday, we took him to Disney World. Wherever we went, I could not keep up. I would walk 20 minutes and have to sit down for 10 because my feet and back hurt so much, and I was miserable. He was like, ‘Come on, mommy, let’s go, let’s ride!’ Some of the rides I couldn’t even get on because I was so heavy. My husband would have to ride with him because mommy couldn’t. It was breaking my heart. That night we went back to our room, and I cried myself to sleep. I thought, I have to get healthy for my son. I don’t want him to remember his mom this way. The very next day I started my lifestyle change.”

    Image2

    What does this lifestyle change entail? “I wanted to lose weight, and the only thing I knew at the time was to watch what I ate – and not eat as much,” she shares. “My entire diet had been junk. I wasn’t (and still am not!) a salad lover. I have become a fresh fruit eater. I’ve never been a drinker of coffee or alcohol, but I loved sugary sodas. I have since switched to zero calorie soda. I wouldn’t allow myself to snack. I would hit plateaus, but I just kept with it. I don’t need immediate gratification; if you need immediate gratification, you’re not going to lose 150 pounds.” Farrah’s first goal was to get under 200 pounds. “I wanted to see the 100s, and once I got down to 199, it felt miraculous. A lot of people on their weight loss journeys will celebrate achieving their goals with food. I would celebrate with new outfits. I did keep one pair of size 20 pants… my whole body can fit in one leg now!” Her husband Gene, was a big support through the whole process, and went on the weight loss journey with Farrah; today, he does all her meal prep.

    Farrah’s best friend got her interested in running, and in 2023 she ran two marathons. In the springtime, she ran one in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and that November, she ran the New York City Marathon. “I had already lost my first 100 pounds when I started to run,” she shares. “After running, the other 50 came off. I lost my weight naturally… no gastric bypass, no gastric sleeve, no weight loss shots. After the 150-pound loss, I did undergo skin removal surgery. I was happy I’d lost the weight, but I started to notice that I was not toned. In the beginning, my first goal had been to just be smaller, but after that second marathon, I started getting interested in the world of bodybuilding, and I underwent a mind shift: that I wanted to be fit and strong. If I could go back to the start of my journey, with what I know now, I would have integrated strength training from the very beginning. Combining strength training with cardio burns fat faster.”

    Image1

    In the summer of 2023, she hired a bodybuilding trainer to help her tone as well as teach her about nutrition. Last year she entered three bikini fitness competitions, and she is currently training for the OCB Emerald Coast Classic in Pensacola this June. Farrah’s go-to snacks are fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, watermelon), non-fat Greek yogurt, and protein-packed snacks like boiled eggs, cottage cheese (alongside fresh fruit), and almond butter. She enjoys protein pancakes with fresh blueberries every morning. She stays away from processed food. “When you can eat more natural foods and do your own meal prepping, it’s much healthier.”

    It’s almost time to go, and I thank Farrah for telling me about her journey and for sharing all her healthy tips and tricks. Her eyes get the slightest bit teary for a moment as she responds. “My little boy saved my life… initially, this was all for him. If I can help just one person change their life and become healthier, it will be worth all the blood, sweat and tears I put in over the years. My number one goal is to help people realize that it is possible to change their lifestyle. Grit, perseverance, and sheer determination made it possible for me.”

    Feel free to visit Farrah on her Instagram page, fit_by_farrah.

  • GCSC Foundation Opens 2nd Chance Scholarship Application Cycle

    GCSC Foundation Opens 2nd Chance Scholarship Application Cycle

    Gcsc Foundation

    The Gulf Coast State College Foundation is excited to announce that they are offering “2nd Chance Scholarships,” an additional application period for GCSC students to apply for a Foundation scholarship.

    This opportunity will give students who missed the first general application period a chance to earn a scholarship for the 2025-2026 school year. Any student who has been accepted to Gulf Coast State College for the Fall or Spring semesters is eligible to apply. Preference will be given to applicants who missed the general application cycle, or who were not offered or awarded a general scholarship during the first cycle. GCSC Foundation scholarships award students with up to $1,200 per year to be used to help offset the cost of tuition, books, or other related fees.

    Scholarship applications can be submitted online by visiting www.gcscfoundation.org/scholarships. The deadline to apply is July 15, 2025.

    For additional information or questions, please contact Dunkin McLane at 872.3810 or dmclane@gulfcoast.edu.

  • Panhandle Wildlife Rescue Opens New Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital

    Panhandle Wildlife Rescue Opens New Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital

     

    Facility Aims to Protect Florida’s Native Species with Critical Rescue and Rehab Services 

    Panhandle Wildlife Rescue OwlPanhandle Wildlife Rescue (PWR) is proud to announce the grand opening of its new, full-scale wildlife rehabilitation center and hospital in Freeport, FL. PWR is a vital part of the Florida Panhandle, providing life-saving care and rehabilitation to native wildlife species across 11 counties including Walton and Bay.

    The new facility will allow PWR to expand its mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing sick,  injured, and orphaned wildlife, admitting between 1,000 and 2,000 patients annually. With a focus on medical care, orphan rearing, and intensive rehabilitation, PWR gives Florida’s wild animals a second chance at survival in one of the fastest-developing and ecologically rich regions in the country.

    Panhandle Wildlife Rescue wolf“The opening of this facility, thanks to a transformative donation from Ryan Jumonville and Family, marks a major step forward in our commitment to the wildlife of the Emerald Coast,” said Shelby Robinson,  founder and executive director of Panhandle Wildlife Rescue.

    The Florida Panhandle is home to the most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystem in the contiguous United  States. From the upland pine forests to the pelagic depths of the Gulf, PWR treats hundreds of species every year, striving to mitigate the growing impact of human development on native wildlife.

    Panhandle Wildlife Chief Medical Officer Phil Blumer Dmv With Lucky The EagleOne of their current patients is a handsome bald eagle rescued from the side of a highway in Bay County, likely clipped by a car while feeding. Wildlife Harbor (WH), who help with many calls in Bay County, rescued him late one night. He was stabilized at WH overnight, then transferred to PWR the following morning for a thorough medical examination that revealed he had multiple metacarpal fractures on his left wing. These types of fractures are often difficult to stabilize because of birds’ hollow bones, and are also often injured during recovery due to their distal location. After PWR staff ran radiographs and bloodwork to check for the possibility of lead poisoning, PWR veterinarian, Dr. Phil Blumer, opted to surgically place a pin in the largest affected bone, a procedure that took just under an hour. Since the surgery, the eagle has been having daily physical therapy, laser treatment, and has been kept in an enclosure that prevents excessive movement. During his last doctor’s visit, he has shown great signs of progress but still exhibits a limited range of motion and will require weeks more of physical therapy before he can be placed in a flight cage for conditioning. Wildlife rehabilitation takes teamwork, from the public to specialists with advanced equipment, to other organizations, and volunteers. PWR is currently fundraising to finish their 100-foot flight cage, not only for this patient, but also for the hundreds of other raptors that come through their doors each year.

    Sometimes, injured adult patients are not the most difficult intakes, like the eagle above. Although injuries come with intense treatment plans, surgical procedures, and long timelines for recovery, orphaned raptors often require longer care plans that come with life lessons and an enormous appetite. PWR currently has five owl and six hawk fledglings in care. In these cases they always try to encourage re-nesting if it’s a safe option but sometimes mom or the baby is injured, the nests are over a body of water, predators are stalking the young on the ground, they are sick or injured so mom kicked them out of the nest, or finders just don’t want them renested back on their property. Although PWR successfully re-nests around 70% of downed raptor nestlings and fledglings, it still leaves their clinic full with the remaining 30%. Raptor moms are very attentive and protective, and when mom is present, nearly 100% of renestings are successful, even if they aren’t returned to the native nest. These cases are often difficult to navigate, as they must take into consideration many variables to determine when these patients truly need human intervention. Several of their patients had siblings who were predated upon, fell into artificial bodies of water and nearly drowned, were left in the middle of a highway with no nest in sight, or their mom had no interest in caring for them once returned.  If these patients are unable to be renested, they are often in PWR’s care for 4-6 months, where they are taught how to self-feed, how to fly, how to hunt live prey, and everything in between (while ensuring they retain a healthy fear of humans). PWR’s techniques vary among species, so each patient will have the greatest success of sustaining itself when eventually released back into the wild. They get bloodwork done to track health throughout their stay, and weekly medical checkups to monitor progress.  PWR encourages the public to take a photo and pin the location of a young raptor so they can send staff to canvass the area. It’s so important to return them to the family unit if at all possible. Then, even when they can successfully fly and hunt prey, and it’s time to let them return to freedom, there are external factors no one can control, such as secondary rodenticide poisoning. Each time a hand-raised raptor is released, the team worries they’ll come back through their doors after eating a poisoned rodent. Secondary rodenticide toxicity comprises about 25% of admitted adult raptor species, and it’s preventable! Most don’t think of the effects up the food chain when poisoning rats and mice in their home, but it causes death and suffering in the local raptor population, and in many instances, the effects can’t be reversed. So, before you think about using rodenticides, please consider a friendlier option for native wildlife. PWR is also trying to fundraise for additional raptor mews for patients like these, since their caseload is so high this year. If you’d like to donate or sponsor an enclosure, please reach out to PWR.

    Some things to know about Panhandle Wildlife Rescue:

    PWR works very closely with Wildlife Harbour in Panama City Beach. Combined, PWR consists of three humans serving the same region and quantity of patients that was once serviced by eight employees, so compassion and kindness go a long way, especially during baby season when they receive 100 or more calls per day. Wildlife Harbour founder, Cindy Levine, has been working with PWR staff for over three years and her dedication to Florida’s wildlife is incredible. Cindy’s willingness to go on rescues in Bay County while concurrently running her own rehabilitation center allows for patients to get into care quicker than waiting for PWR staff to respond on some occasions.

    PWR needs volunteers! They can use help with rescue, nursery, release, medical, etc. IF anyone is looking for an opportunity to work hands-on with wildlife, please reach out to jim@panhandlewildliferescue.org

    Meet our staff:

    Shelby Robinson is CEO, with 15 years of experience in wildlife rehabilitation around the country. Shelby started working with wildlife during graduate school in Seattle and hasn’t stopped since. She has directed two larger facilities previously, then founded PWR with co-founders Jim Johnson and Raven Smith in March of 2024. Jim Johnson (co-founder) has been working with Shelby for five years and has mastered being the best raptor dad, hand-raising hundreds of orphaned raptors during his tenure. Jim is the lead rescue technician and has driven thousands of miles to offer rescue services to wildlife in need, spanning 14 different counties. Raven Smith is a nursery specialist, giving unmatched care and love to orphaned native wildlife. Her compassion and care are second to none, and it is thanks to her that PWR exists today.

    Although nearly 80% of forwarded calls come from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, PWR is completely funded by supporter donations and currently receives no state, local, or federal funding. The workload is tremendous, and they are on call 24/7/365. With the addition of the new facility and 10 acres, it gives us them opportunity to assist more patients in need, but also increase their resources, making it possible to provide the best care possible. They are fundraising to build more enclosures so they can increase their intakes and buy formulas, food, medical supplies, and support their rescue team’s efforts. To date, PWR has assisted over 200 different species of patients, ranging from huge alligator snapping turtles to red-tailed hawks, to tiny pinky squirrels and all rabies vector species. We accept all native Florida wildlife and work to help the public find resources for exotic pets and fowl.  They  also (WH, too) respond to any requested services for containing rabies vector species.

    Big shout out to Emergency Veterinary Clinic in Niceville and Destin as they assist with patient intakes and allow the PWR team the use of their digital radiograph machine while they work to obtain funding for their own medical clinic, so if anyone is interested in donating towards those efforts, it would be so greatly appreciated.

    Finally, PWR’s “Respect the Locals” campaign highlights the increasing frequency of human/wildlife interactions in the region. Through education and citizen science initiatives, the campaign empowers residents and visitors to coexist more peacefully with native Florida species. “Nothing feeds the soul more than watching a once-broken creature return to the wild,” says Raven Smith, head of PWR development.

    Their 24-hour hotline is (850) 889-1104, and the address for the actual facility is 5951 Highway 20 in Freeport, but they also have an alternate facility for intakes, which is 256 Miley Road in Freeport.

    As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Panhandle Wildlife Rescue receives no federal, state, or local funding. All operations, including rescues, surgeries, critical care, and a 24/7 wildlife rescue hotline, are funded entirely by community donations. For more information, to donate, or to get involved, visit  www.panhandlewildliferescue.com.

  • Turning PCB into a Mecca for Surfers

    Turning PCB into a Mecca for Surfers

    By Ed Offley

    A major tourist attraction planned for the expanded Pier Park could turn Panama City Beach into a major destination for surfers.

    The Shell Point Beach & Surf Club is the brainchild of veteran surfer and Beach resident Warren Smith. Shell Point will feature a 500-foot wide, three-acre “surf pool” where an underground pumping station can generate continuous waves ranging in height from 1 to 7 feet. An artist’s rendition shows an expanding wave that flows outward in two directions from the center, providing two separate directions for surfers to take for a 200-300-foot ride to either end.

    Smith’s company, the Emerald Light Group, is developing in the $80-90-million project.

    Img 7914

    Shell Point will be located on a 10-acre tract in the new Pier Park East district immediately east of the soon-to-open TopGolf driving range on Powell Adams Road. Other features will include a full-service restaurant and bar, retail facility, family splash pad and swimming pool.

    When open, the park will have 80 employees, mostly in the restaurant and retail operations. The wave pool staff will be minimal.

    Under preliminary development since 2020, Shell Point cleared the second of five major hurdles on May 8, when City Council voted 4-0, with Councilman Ethan Register abstaining, to approve a Large Conditional Use Permit (LDC) for the project; Register abstained because he is an employee of St. Joe, developer of Pier Park East). This ratified a unanimous 5-0 vote by the city Planning Board on April 9 recommending Council approval.

    Img 7912

    While lauded by tourist industry leaders and local surfers, Shell Point has not been without controversy. Its eastern perimeter fronts on Hills Road directly across from the Summerwood subdivision. The LDC application requested shrinking a 1,000-foot setback from residential areas – required under the city code – down to a 100-foot setback.

    Civil engineer Robert Carroll, the project applicant, testified at the City Council meeting that noise and light pollution from Shell Point will be mitigated through a number of design steps imposed by the Planning Board. The park will be bound by an eight-foot-high masonry wall itself concealed behind a band of vegetation along the Hills Road right-of-way. Exterior lights will be shielded and directed so as to avoid shining in the direction of nearby houses. Outdoor speakers will be placed at ground level to minimize noise impacts. And during early operating hours from 6-10 a.m., the park operation will be limited to the pool, with the other amenities not opening until 10 a.m.

    “We’re trying to create a controlled environment,” Carroll said.

    Img 7908

    While several speakers identifying themselves as surfers praised the concept, most of the Summerwood residents at the Council hearing were unimpressed with the mitigating steps imposed by the Planning Board. Summerwood resident Stanley Stefancic challenged Carroll’s comments as “unsubstantiated,” and later demanded “some high-quality decision information” such as the sound levels generated at existing surf pools in other areas.

    Mayor Stuart Tettemer assured the Summerwood residents that as the project progresses, the city will carefully monitor the design and site construction to ensure that the mitigating steps work as planned.

    “They’re going to design it and we’re going to hold them to it,” said Vice Mayor Michael Jarman.

    Councilman Paul Casto said he would like to see a detailed noise study of other surf parks in operation across the country, and his colleagues informally agreed.

    In addition, Tettemer asked staff to explore a possible fast-tracking of the Community Redevelopment Agency plan to widen Hills Road to four lanes. Currently, that segment is not scheduled to occur in the next five years.

    Prior to ground-breaking, the developer must apply for and receive a Development Order detailing the “horizontal improvement” to the site, which will also face planning staff review. After that, the city will work with the developer to complete a Construction Management Plan ensuring minimal disruption to the local area. The fifth and last step will be for Emerald Light Group to apply for a building permit.

    “Once the project clears its final application milestone, construction will take about two years,” Carroll said.

  • GCSC Offers New Hospitality Scholarships to Boost Careers and Open Doors

    GCSC Offers New Hospitality Scholarships to Boost Careers and Open Doors

    Gulf CoastGulf Coast State College is making it easier for students to enter one of the world’s most exciting and people-centered industries by launching two new scholarships through its Hilton Hospitality Management and Tourism Program.

    The Hospitality Rockstars and Hospitality Heroes scholarships offer $500 per semester to help students cover tuition costs, whether they’re just starting out or already working in the field. These scholarships are made possible through a generous gift from Ms. Julie Hilton and the Hilton family, longtime supporters of hospitality education in our region.

    “These scholarships are about opening doors for our students,” said Paul Bonnette, Katherine Griffin Boatwright Endowed Chair for Hospitality Management & Tourism at GCSC. “Hospitality is a huge industry with local and global potential. We want to help more students see it as a real career option—and give them the support to get started.”

    Students have two ways to qualify:

    • The Hospitality Rockstars Scholarship is for high school graduates who want to pursue a degree in hospitality.
    • The Hospitality Heroes Scholarship is for current hospitality workers or GCSC students who want to build on their experience and promote within the industry.

    Both scholarships require only 6 credit hours per semester to be eligible, making it beneficial for working students or those easing into college. These awards can be used alongside other financial aid, including the Gulf Coast Guarantee and additional scholarships.

    “We’re incredibly grateful to the Hilton family for making these scholarships possible,” said Bonnette. “Their generosity will help students right here in our community get the education they need to thrive in a growing and meaningful career field.”

    For more information about the Hilton Hospitality Management and Tourism Program and how to apply, visit gulfcoast.edu/hospitality.

  • GCSC’s President’s and Dean’s Honor Lists Announced for Spring 2025 Semester

    GCSC’s President’s and Dean’s Honor Lists Announced for Spring 2025 Semester

    Gulf Coast

    Gulf Coast State College has announced the students named to the President’s and Dean’s Honor Lists for the Spring 2025 semester. The President’s List includes all full-time students (enrolled for 12 or more college credit hours) who earned a grade point average of 3.90 to 4.00. The Dean’s List is awarded to students enrolled in 12 or more college credit hours who earned a grade point average of 3.70 to 3.89.

    Students named to the President’s List are:

    (Bay County) Danna Aguilera, Noah Ahmad, Cindy Alsleben, Stephen Alsleben, Autumn Applewhite, Austin Arnold, Madyson Atwater, Davis Avera, Kayla Babyak, Jeremy Bates, Rebecca Beasley, Makenna Beote, Alana Bernal, Hania Bilal, Zaire Blue, Genesis Bolado, Laura Brantley, Miera Braxton, Colleen Brown, Hannah Brown, Okeeno Brown, Sade Brown, Camdyn Bruzek, Tristan Buckhout, Cole Burkhead, Carlyle Kirvy Burpee, Sophia Camarda, Madison Campbell, Erica Carlile, Adriana Carroll Rogers, Abbey Causey, Cheyenne Cecchini, Angelica Cerecer, Alexander Chatterjea, Jordan Childree, Mikayla Childs, Kaitlyn Clark, Emma Collins, Isabella Condrey, Titus Conrad, Trinity Cooke, Laycie Cruse, Adriana Cruz Betancourth, Elena Culpepper, John Christofher Dabu, Thomas Darnell, Marissa Davis, Damien Decker, Luis De La Fuente, Claire DeLonjay, Kristina Dick, Rendell Dolan, Dylan Dyell, Lacey Easterwood, Emily Eck, Caitlyn Ellis, Devin Fitzgerald, Slade Flint, Camryn Flottmann, Keely Fossum, James Fuentes, Kaden Fulton, Piersyn Furry, Zabdiel Garcia Hernandez, Ranecya Gathers, Jacob Gendreau, Shelby Gianotti, Skylar Giese, Lauren Goff, Maria Goldsboro, Christian Gonzales, Jervorney Gordon, Bethany Green, Hunter Griffin, Katlyn Griffin, Tyler Gustman, Esmeralda Gutierrez, Matthew Hagler, Tajiah Halton, Armando Harris, Allie Harshbarger, Stone Hatton, Erica Hawkins, Laci Head, Sanquez Heard, Colin Hebb, Richard Hightower, Cody Hill, Rachel Hinson, Kim Holley Dao, Rayna Huber, Tanya Huneycutt, Jennifer Hunter, Jordan Iferd, Cheyenne Jacks, Alexsia Jacobs, Landon Jacobs, Annabelle Janke, Logan Jensen, Andrew Johnson, William Jordan, Luke Keen, Trent Kirkland, Rylie Kish, Kaden Knutson,Timothy Kolmetz, Amaya Kotarba, Alescia Kumari Duryea, Laura Lasater, Jaden Lawson, Ella Laymon, Jessica Lea, Sophie Leifheit, Jessica Lester, Dale Lewis, Shallan Lochtefeld, Jason Lodge, Jessica Lord, Tina Lundgren, Lisa Lyons, Nathen Marlow, Bailey Martinek, Olivia Matthews, Naia Maynard, Alex McCranie, Jackson McKenzie, Mackenzie McQueen, Syneria Melnyk, John Mengel, Jacob Merriam, Brian Messer, Malachi Miller, Lacedes Mincy, Amy Minkewicz, Jennifer Morera, Brianna Morgan, Madison Morris, Ashley Mun, Melissa Mundle Demps, Morgan Nance, Christen Nelson, Neely Nelson, Madeline Ogden, Stiletto Olascuaga, Phebean Olujobi, Magnus Ostrowski, James Ovalle, Christian Owens, Savannah Owens, Isabel Ozipek, Makayla Pabalan, Chloe Pagdin, Sterling Painter, Riya Patel, Vraj Nitinkumar Patel, Colin Pauly, Erick Perez, Tiffany Pfuntner, Brittani Piesch, Logan Pledger, Morgan Pliscofsky, Lauren Ponds, Tiffany Pontiff, Jitka Popela, Olivia Potter, Carter Priemer, Lani Pyles, Veronica Qualls, Nicolle Queens Fernandez, Katelyn Rose Ramirez, Aurora Ransom, Richard Rash, Rumaisa Rashid, Grant Reed, Braden Roark, Jeffrey Robb, Macy Robinette, Tashara Roche, Isabella Rowe, Nehemiah Rowe, Ahmed Saad, Elyssa Santiago, Jessica Santos, Thomas Scott, Nataliia Shanina, Mackenzie Shields, Lisa Siegel, Caleb Sims, Connor Smith, Danielle Smith, Kori Smith, Amoy Solomon, Jordan Solomon, Tiara Standifer, Stephanie Starke, Olivia Stevens, Liudmila Strelets, Shawna Strickland, Jordan Summers, Isabella Talkington, Avery Taylor, Casey Taylor, Gabriella Teck, Destiny Thomas, Riley Thore, Sola Thurman, Vy Ton, Brayden Touchstone, Andrew Traylor, Jordan Turner Javier, Victoria Tuzinkiewicz, Jade Ullman, Evan Vucicevic, Ava Wadel, Rebecca Wages, Keirsten Walker, Mark Walker, Merrick Wallace, Maya Walls, Mckenna Wave, Claire Weathersby, James Weber, Alaina Whatley, Cooper Whited, Shelby Wolf, Alivia York, Ava Zediker, Habiba Zeidan, Mysteena Zeno, Allie Zingarelli

    Students named to the Dean’s List are:

    (Bay County) Chloe Adair, Heather Adams, Alondra Aguilar, David Albares, Eduardo Anastacio, Heather Anderson, Ethan Bader, Samuel Bailey, Misha Blancaneaux, Seth Boop, Delia Bowlen, Jadyn Brow, Curtis Bruce, Logan Bus, Ariana Carroll Rogers, Kerry Carty, Abigale Casey, Nailea Castillo, Tanner Cherry, Truman Claytor, Benjamin Clenney, Khalee Cole, Presley Coleman, Audrey Collins, Steyr Conrad, Claudia Coston, Toby Crabtree, Alondra Crouse, Devyn Davis, Gabriel Diaz Leon, Bryan Dilmore, Jamelia Dobbs, Liam Dykes, Jaysie Edwards, Rubing Fang, Devin Farmer, Hannah Fleming, Felicia Freche, Braunsyn Furry, Jackson Giemont, Moya Harper, Alyssa Harris, Alexis Helms, Dakota Hensel, Austin Herrold, Isaac Herrold, Justin Hitchner, Zane Hummel, Kelsey Jones, Madeline Jones, Jared Kavouras, Christian Key, Hiba Khan, Shanae Kisi, Jennifer Kolmetz, Brandon Lacey, Jovontae Lajae, Alessandro Le Vexier, Nathaniel Linck, Angela Logue, Erika Lopez, Alondra Luna, Elizaveta Markovetc, Jordan Martinez, Kaitlin Mcclendis, Ryleigh McFaul, Erica McLane, David Melcete, Edward Mike, Olivia Milana, Becky Miller, Karaline Mormile, Brianna Morrison, Naomi Parish, Dalton Parson, Joseph Peach, Jason Poage, Sophia Ramie, Kenneth Ramirez, Hayleigh Rattin, Ethan Riley, Shelby Roberson, Preston Rowe, Cheryl Sanders, Jeremy Sapp, Sophia Schrader, Jacob Scott, Kamryn Sears, Antonio Servidio, Skylar Sharby, James Shuler, Jillian Smiley, Philip Straley, Lydia Taylor, Jason Thurmon, Jessie Trawick, Chloe Trent, Sandra Vega, Vincent Vu, Ashley Wagner, Ava Walkington, Ashlynn Weaver, Faith Wetmore, Hannah White, Janine White, Justice White, Mary Wise, Sara Wojciechowski, Jafar Yousef, Abel Zimmerman, Michelle Zollner.

Secret Link