Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: See what’s inside Panama City’s new $21 million MLK rec center

Coming up: Panama City A Cappella Chorus on the Panama City Patch calendar

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Tuesday December 16th Patch AM
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Morning Panama City! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • See what’s inside Panama City’s new $21 million MLK rec center
  • Which forgotten Bay County ghost town once stood near your neighborhood?
  • Why the Navy is testing new minehunting tech off Panama City

Also on today's calendar: Panama City A Cappella Chorus and 6 more events.

Find out what's happening in Panama Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Panama City? Post it to Panama City photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Panama Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Mainly cloudy, with a high of 63 and low of 45 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Considerable cloudiness, temps: high: 69, low: 53.
  • Thursday: Cloudy, with a high of 70 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Panama City's new Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center nears completion (wjhg.com) — Panama City’s new $21 million Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center is nearly finished and set for a grand opening on January 16, offering full public access. The 30,000-square-foot facility features a gym, study room, culinary kitchen, and future STEM and recording spaces, and is designed to serve residents from across Bay County with programs that go far beyond sports.
   

2. News Herald maps over 20 Bay County 'ghost towns.' Is one near you? (newsherald.com) — Panama City readers can now explore more than 20 Bay County “ghost towns” through an interactive map created by the News Herald. The feature pulls together reporting on vanished communities displaced by Tyndall Air Force Base, Econfina Creek settlements, and other lost towns whose residents often moved to Panama City and nearby Millville for work.
   

3. Northrop Grumman tests minehunting system on uncrewed vessel (defence-blog.com) — Cutting-edge Navy minehunting technology was recently tested off Panama City, where Northrop Grumman integrated its AN/AQS-24 sonar with an uncrewed surface vessel in local waters. The rapid 45-day turnaround from contract to open-water trials shows how the area’s naval facilities are helping prove new systems that keep sailors farther from explosive hazards. These tests reinforce Panama City’s role in national defense innovation.
   

4. Red tide's a Grinch as Christmas nears (gulfcounty.news) — Red tide is lingering in the bay and is now reported to be spreading toward the Panama City area, leaving many usual inshore fishing spots quiet. Anglers are instead finding trout in canals and creeks and some trout and reds near Cape San Blas rocks. The report also highlights a productive offshore trip and the festive small-town holiday spirit in nearby Port St. Joe.
   

5. Will consolidation continue in metal fabrication? (thefabricator.com) — A recent metal industry analysis briefly spotlights a custom-built pirate ship created for a themed dinner show venue in Panama City illustrating how niche fabrication work thrives despite big-company consolidation. The piece mainly explores how large metal service centers are merging and what that means for smaller fabricators nationwide, but Panama City appears as a vivid example of specialized, creative fabrication demand.
   

📸 Around Panama City

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Panama City

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📣 Panama City Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Free kitten.
    Found this sweet girl wandering on my street. I was just going to feed her until I saw that her eye and nose were crusted shut. I took her to the vet… (Nextdoor Greentree Heights)
  • MISSING CAT
    Name: Moon Colors: Grey and white (with green eyes) Last seen: 12 December 2025 She is bonded with her sibling and requires daily medicine for her… (Nextdoor Upper Grand Lagoon)
  • Government Jobs posted a job opening for Recreation Worker (Part-time) - MLK Rec Center in Panama City. Apply here.
  • SAS Retail Services posted a job opening for Store Sales Merchandiser in Panama City. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Panama City here.

Ok Panama City! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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