🌱 PCB Council Approves $5.3M Road Project + Aquatics Center Remodel

Hey, everybody. It's Tuesday in Panama City and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on the most important things happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 77 Low: 54.
• Wednesday: Cloudy. High: 82 Low: 60.

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Here are the top three stories today in Panama City:

1. The Panama City Beach area will undergo a construction project that aims to minimize flooding by raising the road elevation and improving the drainage system along Alf Coleman Road. The project will be funded by grants from the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Transportation, and the construction is expected to begin next month and be completed within a year. The Panama City Beach City Council awarded the contract worth more than $5.3 million to Gulf Coast Utility Contractors, and the project is part of the city's Front Beach Road Community Redevelopment Area Plan. (Subscription: The News Herald)
2. Panama City Beach Aquatics Center introduced its remodeled splash pool during a special "spring fling" event held over the weekend, which attracted an impressive turnout of kids and families. The redesigned kids' splash pool features all-new amenities and was completed after two and a half years of effort and contributions from the Women's Civic Club of Panama City Beach, St. Joe Foundation, and the City of Panama City Beach. The facility will open again on May 27 for the summer season, operating daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a $6 admission fee. (WMBB - mypanhandle.com)
3. The 14th annual fundraising dinner for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida at Panama City Beach was a night of cajun cuisine and jazzy tunes. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing role models for children and helping them achieve their short- and long-term goals. Senior match specialist Leanne Gaudet highlighted the profound impact that the organization has had on forging relationships that have helped children grow and thrive. (WMBB - mypanhandle.com)

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Today and tomorrow in Panama City:

Tuesday, April 18

• Planning Commission Meeting At Bay County Government Center (1:30 PM)
• Service Industry Night At Dat Cajun Place (4:00 PM)

Wednesday, April 19

• Springtime Uke Party At Alice's On Bayview (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• New homes have been listed for sale in the Panama City area. Available properties range from a 934-square-foot, one-bed, two-bath home for $480,000 to a $3.6 million home with five beds, five baths, and 5,738 square feet. Get all the property details at the link. (Panama City Patch)
• Christopher "Dalton" Mask, a Bay County veteran diagnosed with a rare terminal brain cancer, received a new privacy fence over the weekend. The fence was designed and built by Mr. Fence of Florida, a member of the Florida Chapter of The American Fence Association, which carries out a community service project each year. Mask was selected as this year's recipient out of 25 candidates and said the fence will bring him relief, as it will allow his dogs to roam around freely without causing any trouble. (WJHG)
• To show appreciation for local law enforcement, Fellowship Baptist Church is renovating an old storage room into a new space for officers to rest, eat, and catch up on reports. The quiet room will be accessible by a code only given to officers and will save them time as it is conveniently located. (WJHG)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! See you all 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.