Panama City In The News

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – Just days after the WestRock Paper Mill closed down and put hundreds of people out of a job, a pair of local businesses are giving back. History Class Brewing Company and House of Henry Irish Pub have partnered up to give a brew and in some cases even a meal to those who have served their community for decades. This is something both businesses said, serves as a small sign of appreciation for the workers.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – June is Pride Month and the LGBTQ Center of Bay County hosted its Third Annual Bay Pride Fest at McKenzie Park in Panama City. The festival ran from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. It included live music, food, and multiple vendors. The LGBTQ Center of Bay County is a nonprofit organization that offers support services, housing assistance, and more. Some residents who came to the event said they are proud of who they are.

PANAMA CITY — A nonprofit is continuing its almost four-year mission to feed the Panama City community ahead of the worst part of hurricane season. OneGenAway’s mobile food pantry is returning to the St. Dominic Catholic Church parking lot, 3308 E. 15th St., on Saturday.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) — A local woman known for her work in the community for feeding the homeless is starting a new tradition that will provide more than just a warm meal. For the last three years, Machell Akins has been feeding the homeless through her organization Project Feeding the Homeless and Hungry.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) — Get ready for a perfect game: iconic bowling alley Bowl-A-Rama is coming back to Panama City. Hurricane Michael destroyed the building back in 2018. The grand reopening has been a long time coming for local avid bowlers.

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)– June is Pride Month and it is a time to celebrate and accept members of the LGBTQ+ communities locally. The LGBTQ Center of Bay County is hosting a Bay Pride event at McKenzie Park, June 11 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event’s main goal is to promote love and acceptance of diverse communities in our area. The event began in 2019, and attracted over 2,000 people making it the largest pride event within a 100-mile radius. The event is back in full-force this year after having some setbacks due to the pandemic.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -Gulf Coast State College has opened its pool for those looking to learn how to swim. “We’re doing swim lessons. It’s been two years, it’s nice to be back,” Carl Kleinschmidt, coordinator of aquatics, said. Learning how to swim is important especially since we are in a beach town

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) — A local business celebrated its birthday in a big way. History Class Brewing Company hosted its second-annual carnival-themed birthday party Sunday afternoon. “Every year, our birthday party is kind of like a carnival, so we like to have lots of games,” event organizer Fontella Thompson said. “Right now we have baseball. We have the famous dunk tank, where professional boxers and coaches from Downtown Boxing Club are getting dunked.”

PANAMA CITY — What started as a single-day celebration has grown to a month filled with activities and events special to the Juneteenth holiday in Panama City.  Minority PC’s third annual Juneteenth Celebration includes parties, movies, ceremonies and a festival for a weeks-long schedule of events. Organizers arranged a longer celebration to allow the community several opportunities to take part in Juneteenth festivities. This year’s theme is “The Ties that Bind,” a focus on the values that unite the community.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB-TV) – June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month and News 13 is going purple in support of the 580,000 Floridians living with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia – a group of disorders that impairs mental functioning. Some early signs of the disease include memory loss that disrupts daily life, confusion with time or place, new problems with speaking or writing, change in mood or personality and decreased or poor judgement.

PANAMA CITY— Hurricane Michael delivered a devastating blow to the Martin Theatre in downtown Panama City in 2018, but the historic entertainment venue is being primed for a spectacular comeback. City officials, engineers and community members met last week to present an updated plan for the theater and discuss the interior renovation. Plans call for adding the Tennessee House restaurant and The Ritz speakeasy bar and lounge, and transforming the movie theater into a theater for the arts.

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – With summer right around the corner, an annual fishing competition has found its way back to the area.”This challenge has been going on since 2014 – so it’s something FWC did to get rid of the evasive species,” Kim Christian, Diver’s Den Store Manager said. This makes the seventh year, the Lionfish Challenge has returned to the area and the goal is still the same: remove as many lionfish as possible in just three and a half months. With events like the Lionfish Challenge, shops like the Panama City Dive Center, say they are able to play just a small part in helping their community.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – People swarmed to McKenzie Park in downtown Panama City to take part in the “Red, White, and BBQ” Memorial Day Weekend event. The event is hosted by the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center and the city of Panama City. The proceeds from this event will go towards putting an end to child abuse by helping fund the free services the advocacy center provides.

PANAMA CITY, FLA. — Some downtown businesses are hosting a fundraiser and raffle this Saturday, May 28th, to benefit The United Way. The Prominent Goat and Relief Skate Supply have teamed up for a day of art, skateboarding, tattoos, and community support. They’re raising money for several United Way Food Drives in Bay County.

Judd Manuel is reopening Mosey’s in downtown Panama City this week.