🌱 FSU To Open Charter School + New BEACHeS Program + Warrior Retreat

Hey, everybody! It's me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Patch newsletter. Come along for the most important things going on in town these days.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Not as warm with a t-storm. High: 75 Low: 56.
• Sunday: Cloudy, a shower; breezy. High: 68 Low: 54.

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Here are the top three stories today in Panama City:

1. Florida State University's Board of Trustees has approved the opening of a new charter school called the FSU Collegiate School at its Panama City campus. The school will start with a freshman class in the fall and will add a grade each year. It will be associated with the College of Education at Florida State and will serve as a research laboratory. (WMBB - mypanhandle.com)
2. Bay County and Panama City Beach have introduced a new program, the BEACHeS, to assist in finding lost kids on the sandy beaches. The program uses the AlertBay emergency alert system, allowing emergency officials to send messages to people's cell phones, ranging from those registered for AlertBay to every phone on the sandy beaches. A message can be delivered in 30 seconds, shortening the time it takes to reunite a missing child with their parents. (WMBB - mypanhandle.com)
3. Warrior Beach Retreat, a nonprofit organization, is holding its annual week-long retreat for combat-wounded soldiers and their spouses/caregivers in Panama City Beach from Apr. 11-17. As part of the retreat, a Parade Escort will be held on Apr. 13 at 4 p.m., and the public is welcome to support the wounded warriors and their spouses by lining the streets of the parade route. More information about the retreat can be found on the Warrior Beach Retreat website. (WJHG)

From our sponsor:

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Today and tomorrow in Panama City:

Saturday, April 8

• Easter Eggstravaganza At Destiny Worship Center (3:00 PM)
• Chambos At Patches Pub & Grill (6:00 PM)

Sunday, April 9

• Stevie Monce At Runaway Island (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Florida State University PC Early Childhood Autism Program held its 11th annual Auction for Autism Awareness yesterday, Apr. 7. The event took place at the Holley Academic Center Lecture Hall and offered food, prizes, and a silent auction, with proceeds going to the ECAP Butchikas Scholarship fund. The scholarship fund provides financial assistance to Bay County families who need help paying for therapy. (WJHG)
• Are you looking to fill your weekend with Easter-themed events and activities? Visit the link for events going on in the Panama City area for the holiday. (WMBB - mypanhandle.com)
• The Panama City nonprofit animal rescue Heartland Rescue Ranch is facing $25,000 in vet bills and is asking the community for help. The rescue is currently running a shoe drive in which they hope to collect 62,500 pairs of shoes, and staff will be accepting drop-offs at several upcoming fundraising events, including an Easter event, an Earth Day celebration, and an adoption event. (WMBB - mypanhandle.com)

You're all caught up for today! See you soon for your next update.

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.