Community

Law enforcement is optimizing crime-fighting capabilities in Bay County by using the latest technology and a new approach to addressing criminal activity. This new county-wide project is called the Bay Real Time Operation Center, or BayROC. BayROC went operational in November of 2021 and is a collaborative effort between the...

By David Wesley You can break a bad habit, you can take a break, or you can break a board to help others! What? That last option is what the American Martial Arts students and staff did in a big way. Richard Higgins, the owner and Senior Chief Instructor at...

The Professional Golf Association of America (PGA) is one of the largest and most prestigious sports organizations in the world. The process of becoming a PGA member is no small feat in the golf community. Though the PGA allows up to nine years and most golf professionals average four...

By Laura Laspee If you are new to the area or just looking for a place to meet new people and feel like you are a part of something bigger than yourself, look no further than the First Assembly of God in Panama City Beach. Located at 17829 PCB Parkway,...

By Peter Fischetti It looks like a record year for Panama City Beach tourism. If you read somewhere that a survey of visitors who were asked why they come here every year insist it’s because the city allows flossing in public, would you believe that? Or if I told you...

By Matt Pitts, Surfside Principal Ogres in a swamp? Jazz in the air? Yes, all of this and more can be found in the waves at Surfside Middle School. Surfside hosts the most holistic fine arts programs in Bay county of all the middle schools and most of the high...

By Bill Husfelt, Superintendent, Bay District Schools By the time you read this, we will have finished our celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-6) BUT it’s NEVER too late to appreciate our amazing educators. The end-of-the-school-year time period is always filled with so many activities, recognitions, celebrations and graduations...

By Ed Offley Panama City Beach City Council this month will have a new face following a stunning election upset in the April 19 municipal election. Retired urban planner Mary Coburn, 70, handily defeated incumbent Councilman Geoff McConnell in the city’s Ward 3 by 1,294 votes to 900, a 58-percent majority....

By Peter Fischetti No doubt you’re familiar with the 1992 rock song “Uke of Earl” by Gene Chandler. And these days we read about the impending World War III battle between two ukelear powers. So yes, the ukulele has played a significant role in our nation’s history. While there’s no reason...

By Clint Whitfield, Principal, Breakfast Point Academy It is hard to believe that there are only nine weeks of school left in the 2021-2022 school year! In August, we were so happy that our students were returning to school, but we were also anxious about what the year would entail....