Hathaway reopening created gridlock // PHOTO GALLERY
PANAMA CITY — Commuters who found themselves stuck in gridlocked traffic as they tried to cross the Hathaway Bridge Thursday took to the Internet to voice their opinions about the lane closures. With...
View ArticleGOP attacks Crist on economy, seeking Senate seat
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Republican Party of Florida is spending at least $100,000 on a Web ad blaming former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist for the state’s economic downturn — and criticizing him...
View ArticleHarris, Commodores have successful baseball season debuts
PANAMA CITY — Dondrayas Harris realized he hit his first career home run halfway through his trot on Friday. He picked up his pace around third base. His teammates did the same rounding the last...
View ArticleNew maps will show potential storm surge flooding
MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane forecasters hope color-coded maps will help coastal residents understand how dangerous storm surge can be. The National Hurricane Center began talking about the maps last year...
View ArticleAuction to help youth team // PHOTO GALLERY
A Michael Jordan collector’s piece is one of 25 unique collectibles that is part of the silent auction going on at Harley-Davidson of Panama City Beach through Feb. 9. PHOTO GALLERY Among the items up...
View ArticleKeystone oil pipeline clears hurdle
WASHINGTON (AP) — The long-delayed Keystone XL oil pipeline cleared a major hurdle toward approval Friday, a serious blow to environmentalists’ hopes that President Barack Obama will block the...
View ArticleSouthbound lanes closed on State 71
MARIANNA -- State 71 traffic between Malloy Plaza Road and the TA Truck Stop in Jackson County shifted to the northbound lanes around 3 p.m. Friday, the Florida Department of Transportation said. The...
View ArticleChipley man to be sentenced to life after child rape conviction
CHIPLEY -- A 54-year-old Chipley man faces a mandatory life sentence after he was convicted Thursday of raping a child, according to the State Attorney’s Office. Robert Eugene Rafuse was convicted of...
View ArticleDeer Point reservoir drawdown complete
SOUTHPORT -- The Deer Point reservoir drawdown has finished and water levels will now begin to rise. Generally every year Bay County drops the reservoir level to a depth of 2-3 feet, allowing the cold...
View ArticleNew coach Messer looks to build on Bucks’ football foundation
SAND HILLS — Lyle Messer isn’t trying to fill anyone’s shoes. He’s ready to walk in his own. The 1997 Holmes County graduate was officially named Bozeman’s football coach on Friday. He succeeds Loren...
View ArticleFDOT posts fog warnings
PANAMA CITY -- Based on the weekend weather forecast calling for dense fog, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has placed more than 40 lighted message boards along several state routes...
View ArticleFDLE believes agency chemist stole drug evidence
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced Saturday it is investigating 2,600 cases handled by a Pensacola-based agency chemist after discovering dozens of drug cases...
View ArticleSoutherland wants shorter delay of flood insurance relief
PANAMA CITY — Flood insurance increases could be delayed for up to four years if legislation on Capitol Hill keeps moving, but Bay County’s voice in the House of Representatives says that’s too long....
View ArticleGovernment Calendar
The following public meeting are scheduled Feb. 3 though Feb. 7: Monday, Feb. 3 What: Springfield Commission meeting When: 5:30 p.m. Where: Springfield City hall, 3529 E. Third St. ——— What:...
View ArticleScouts do good deed for food banks
PANAMA CITY — Area Boy Scouts worked together Saturday to help their communities with an annual project going back 25 years. Scouting for Food, started in 1988, is a national food drive conducted by...
View Article'Diving dinosaurs' // PHOTO GALLERY
PANAMA CITY BEACH — In the early days of deep sea diving, a line would pump a mixture of helium and oxygen into a bulky Mark V helmet so divers could reach depths of hundreds of feet, and if anything...
View ArticleCounty may delay contractor decision
PANAMA CITY — The long-delayed county courthouse annex project won’t advance at the commission’s Tuesday meeting, despite an arbitrary deadline set last month. County Manager Ed Smith had said it...
View ArticleOne person dead in crash on bridge
FREEPORT - At least one person was killed Saturday night in a head-on collision on the Clyde B. Wells Bridge over Choctawhatchee Bay, according to the Walton County Sheriff's Office. Traffic was...
View ArticleFlorida State celebrates third national title
TALLAHASSEE (AP) — An estimated 30,000 people descended on the Florida State campus to celebrate the program's third national championship in school history. Fans were welcomed onto the field after...
View ArticleBaulkman's record 48, gamewinner lead GC men past NWF State
PANAMA CITY — Devon Baulkman already had set his team’s all-time single-game scoring record. All that remained for the Gulf Coast sophomore was putting a final stamp on his record-breaking...
View Article