🌱 'Summer Youth Explosion' Event Success + Viral Video Causes Concern

Hi all. It's me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Panama City Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Some sun with showers around. High: 83 Low: 72.
• Wednesday: A t-storm around in the p.m.. High: 86 Low: 73.

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Here are the top three stories today in Panama City:

1. Trevor Bryon, owner of Awoken Kicks, a local small business in Panama City, celebrated the store's one-year anniversary with a commitment to giving back to the community. His store offers sneakers, vintage clothing, and unique items, and even allows kids to trade in their used sneakers for new ones. Bryon, who grew up in Panama City, wanted to support his hometown after Hurricane Michael and has been grateful for the local support over the past year. He is also accepting interns at his store on Harrison Avenue. (WJHG)
2. The Panama City Quality of Life Department and Bay County's NAACP Youth Council joined forces to host the 2nd annual "Summer Youth Explosion" event on Saturday, which attracted over 100 attendees at Daffin Park. The event featured live music, food, outdoor games, face painting, sports activities, and prizes, aiming to connect with and support the community in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. The Bay County NAACP Youth Council president highlighted the organization's efforts to rebuild and give back to the community, emphasizing the importance of such events. (WMBB - mypanhandle.com)
3. A visitor to Panama City Beach captured and shared videos on Facebook showing sharks being pulled onto the beach by a group of young men in front of a beachfront business. In the first video, a smaller shark is brought to shore and eventually released back into the water. The second video shows a larger shark being pulled in and causing some commotion before it is also released. The incident sparked a range of reactions from amusement to concerns about the welfare of the sharks and the safety of beachgoers. (AL.com)

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Today and tomorrow in Panama City:

Tuesday, June 6

• Bay Business Connections 2 At Golden Corral (8:00 AM)

Wednesday, June 7

• Out Of School Bash Bowling Night At Rock'It Lanes (4:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Kartona Electric Speedway in Bay County hosted its monthly "Karts and Cars" event, featuring a raffle where one lucky car enthusiast won up to 25 gallons of free gas provided by Fuel Mule Fillup FL, a mobile fuel truck. Around 50-60 cars participated in the event, allowing the community to come together and showcase the projects and vehicles they are proud of. "Karts and Cars" takes place on the first Saturday of every month and welcomes everyone to join. (WJHG)
• New homes have been listed for sale in the Panama City area! Get all the property details at the link. (Panama City Patch)
• Sea turtle nesting season has started positively this year, despite a slight decrease in the number of nests compared to last year. Kennard Watson, director of Panama City Beach Turtle Watch, reported that four nests have been tagged so far, indicating a potentially good year for the local sea turtle population. While it is still early to determine the overall season's outcome, Watson remains optimistic and reminds beachgoers to take measures to protect sea turtles by removing trash, filling holes, and minimizing the use of lights on the beach at night. (The News Herald)

That's it for today. See you all soon for another 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.