🌱 Patch AM: Want to see Bay County deputies in action again?

Coffee in hand, Panama City? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Want to see Bay County deputies in action again?
• How a thriving Black bayfront town vanished to build Tyndall
• What Florida’s proposed vaccine rollback could mean for local schoolkids

Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Partly sunny and nice, with a high of 73 and low of 55 degrees.
• Sunday: Cooler with partial sunshine, temps: high: 63, low: 33.
• Monday: Plenty of sunshine, but cool, with a high of 55 and low of 32 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. BCSO to relaunch 'Busted in the Panhandle' series on Monday (newsherald.com) — Panama City residents will soon see more of their deputies at work as the Bay County Sheriff’s Office relaunches its “Busted in the Panhandle” video series on Dec. 15. Episodes, shared on BCSO’s social media and YouTube, will feature real investigations and bodycam footage, aiming both to inform the community and deter would-be criminals visiting Bay County.
   

2. Bay County's Redfish Point was built on freedom, but lost to wartime (newsherald.com) — A richly detailed feature traces how free Black entrepreneur Jose Massalina and his son Hawk built the Redfish Point community across the bay from Panama City, only to see it erased by World War II expansion of Tyndall Air Force Base. It follows displaced families into East Panama City neighborhoods like Glenwood, recounts lost cemeteries and churches, and revisits decades of unsuccessful efforts to reclaim their land.
   

3. Florida plows ahead with push to roll back certain vaccine mandates for schoolchildren (wcjb.com) — State health officials brought a contentious hearing to Panama City Beach, where parents, doctors and advocates debated a proposal to drop several vaccine requirements for Florida schoolchildren. Local pediatricians, including one from Panama City, warned about deadly Hib infections, while opponents framed the change as a victory for parental rights and medical freedom amid rising vaccine skepticism.
   

4. Florida moves forward to roll back certain vaccine mandates for schoolchildren (nypost.com) — Florida is advancing a proposal to drop several vaccine requirements for schoolchildren, and local doctors from Panama City are warning it could bring back dangerous childhood diseases. At a packed hearing in nearby Panama City Beach, physicians described recent Hib cases, including a local infant’s death, while supporters framed the change as protecting parental rights and medical freedom.
   

📸 Around Panama City

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Panama City

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 13

• whitedoghowl: WDH Live @ No Name Lounge Downton PC
  No Name Lounge, 111 W Beach Dr, Panama City
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Monday December 15

• MLK Jr. Recreation Center Soft Opening
  Panama City, FL Calendar , 705 E. 14TH CT , Panama City
  2:00 pm
• Cancelled - City Commission Virtual Workshop
  Panama City, FL Calendar Panama City, FL 32402
  4:30 pm
• Zumba
  Panama City, FL Calendar , 1900 W 11th St , Panama City
  5:30 pm

Tuesday December 16

• Bay County Board of County Commissioners Meeting
  Government Center , 840 W. 11th St , Panama City
  9:00 am
• Knifty Crafters
  Glenwood Community Center , 722 E 9th Ct. , Panama City
  1:00 pm
• City Commission Meeting
  Panama City, FL Calendar , 840 W. 11th St , Panama City
  4:30 pm
• Parker Chorus Christmas Concert - 4N8GEA5KRNJE
  Rutherford High School Panama City, FL 32401
  5:00 pm

📣 Panama City Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday December 13

• DINNER BANQUET - UJ5MQFF6QT4F
  Rutherford High School Panama City, FL 32401
  8:00 am
• Wolf Den Connection
  Capstone House - a Spiritual and Metaphysical Center , 1713 Beck Ave , Panama City
  11:00 am
• Crafternoon (Adults & Teens 16+)
  Parker Public Library , 4710 E 2nd St , Panama City
  11:00 am
• Christmas at H.G.Harders Park
  Bay County, FL Calendar , 8110 John Pitts Road , Panama City
  4:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Lailo Lema previews her upcoming debut novel, Sick Punt —Lailo Lema Read on Patch

• Need some recommendations please!!
  I'm elderly and disabled. And looking for someone reasonable to change out my well pump. No water in my house today. It has been pumping irregular… (Nextdoor Shadow Ridge)
• I just closed on a home in Panama City!
  I hope to move here in mid-January. Happy Holidays to my neighbors. #holidays (Nextdoor Sander's)

• IICRC posted a job opening for Account Manager/Customer Service in Panama City. Apply here.
• Dunkin' posted a job opening for Cake Decorator 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 demand a jury of my piers.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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