Panama City, Florida News
Articles 1 - 10 of most recent articles
Woman lured to beach, beaten and robbed
PANAMA CITY BEACHIn the third such incident in two months, strangers lured a tourist to the beach at night, then beat and robbed her.Panama City Beach investigators said three female teenagers befriended Laura A. Tice, 21, of Moody, Ala., and led her to the beach between the Holiday Inn SunSpree and the Ocean Towers condo. Once there, they shoved her face in the sand, kicked and struck her and stole $50 from her left rear pants pocket, investigators said in a news release.Tice had injuries to her face and stomach but did not require medical attention, according to the release.The three girls left the area in a black Ford Mustang, which officers stopped several hours later on Front Beach Road. Information from the stop led officers to Cooks Motel, where they arrested the suspects, according to the release.Courtney Danielle Winkles, 16, of Cedartown, Ga.; Amber Nicole McDougal, 16, of Villa Rica, Ga.; and Kylie Leigh Lambert, 18, of Villa Rica, Ga., each was charged with robbery, investigators said.Women luring another woman to the beach is a new twist on an old crime.In April, two women promised sexual favors to a man and led him to the beach, where he was beaten and robbed by four men. All six of the suspects were arrested by Beach Police Department investigators.Earlier this month, a woman lured a tourist to the beach, where the tourist was beaten with a tire iron, according to an incident report from the Bay County Sheriff's Office.Maj. David Humphreys of the Panama City Beach Police Department said Beach officials have seen these types of crimes before."We used to get a lot more of it years ago before people started lighting the beach areas," Humphreys said.The criminal activity subsided when the lights went up, he said.Humphreys urged tourists and others to be aware of their surroundings and "don't go off alone with people you don't know." That's good advice for local residents, too, he said.
NewsHerald.com – 1 minute ago ¦ comment?
PANAMA CITY BEACHIn the third such incident in two months, strangers lured a tourist to the beach at night, then beat and robbed her.Panama City Beach investigators said three female teenagers befriended Laura A. Tice, 21, of Moody, Ala., and led her to the beach between the Holiday Inn SunSpree and the Ocean Towers condo. Once there, they shoved her face in the sand, kicked and struck her and stole $50 from her left rear pants pocket, investigators said in a news release.Tice had injuries to her face and stomach but did not require medical attention, according to the release.The three girls left the area in a black Ford Mustang, which officers stopped several hours later on Front Beach Road. Information from the stop led officers to Cooks Motel, where they arrested the suspects, according to the release.Courtney Danielle Winkles, 16, of Cedartown, Ga.; Amber Nicole McDougal, 16, of Villa Rica, Ga.; and Kylie Leigh Lambert, 18, of Villa Rica, Ga., each was charged with robbery, investigators said.Women luring another woman to the beach is a new twist on an old crime.In April, two women promised sexual favors to a man and led him to the beach, where he was beaten and robbed by four men. All six of the suspects were arrested by Beach Police Department investigators.Earlier this month, a woman lured a tourist to the beach, where the tourist was beaten with a tire iron, according to an incident report from the Bay County Sheriff's Office.Maj. David Humphreys of the Panama City Beach Police Department said Beach officials have seen these types of crimes before."We used to get a lot more of it years ago before people started lighting the beach areas," Humphreys said.The criminal activity subsided when the lights went up, he said.Humphreys urged tourists and others to be aware of their surroundings and "don't go off alone with people you don't know." That's good advice for local residents, too, he said.
NewsHerald.com – 1 minute ago ¦ comment?
Gas Tips: Helping You Save Some Money
With gas prices skyrocketing and no relief in sight, wouldn't you like to save a few bucks at the pump? There are a few ways you can beat those high gas prices and save a few bucks.
WJHG.com – 1 minute ago ¦ comment?
With gas prices skyrocketing and no relief in sight, wouldn't you like to save a few bucks at the pump? There are a few ways you can beat those high gas prices and save a few bucks.
WJHG.com – 1 minute ago ¦ comment?
Bay County Commissioners Turn To Sheriff's Office for Jail Operation
Since the Corrections Corporation of America announced earlier this week it will be terminating its contract to operate the Bay County Jail later this year, county commissioners have been searching for a new operator. It now appears they're looking toward the Bay County Sheriff's Office to fill the void.
WJHG.com – 1 minute ago ¦ comment?
Since the Corrections Corporation of America announced earlier this week it will be terminating its contract to operate the Bay County Jail later this year, county commissioners have been searching for a new operator. It now appears they're looking toward the Bay County Sheriff's Office to fill the void.
WJHG.com – 1 minute ago ¦ comment?
TAFB Robots
Some area middle and high school students got the chance to see some new technology firsthand this week at Tyndall Air Force Base.
WJHG.com – 1 minute ago ¦ comment?
Some area middle and high school students got the chance to see some new technology firsthand this week at Tyndall Air Force Base.
WJHG.com – 1 minute ago ¦ comment?
County Looks to Sheriff for Jail Help
Commissioners formally ask McKeithen to begin looking at jail numbers
WMBB.com – 1 hour, 58 minutes ago ¦ comment?
Commissioners formally ask McKeithen to begin looking at jail numbers
WMBB.com – 1 hour, 58 minutes ago ¦ comment?
Student Gets Perfect Score on FCAT
Lynn Haven Elementary 4th grader is the only one in the District to receive a 6
WMBB.com – 2 hours, 18 minutes ago ¦ comment?
Lynn Haven Elementary 4th grader is the only one in the District to receive a 6
WMBB.com – 2 hours, 18 minutes ago ¦ comment?
The "N Word" Allegation
There's another new complaint against a Calhoun County Sheriff's Office employee, but this one has nothing to do with sex. It has to do with race.
WJHG.com – 3 hours ago ¦ comment?
There's another new complaint against a Calhoun County Sheriff's Office employee, but this one has nothing to do with sex. It has to do with race.
WJHG.com – 3 hours ago ¦ comment?
Walton Elementary Connect with Soldiers Abroad
A class project has fourth-graders connecting with soldiers in Iraq.
WMBB.com – 3 hours, 4 minutes ago ¦ comment?
A class project has fourth-graders connecting with soldiers in Iraq.
WMBB.com – 3 hours, 4 minutes ago ¦ comment?
Galleria adds entertainment multiplex
CALLAWAYThe Galleria at Callaway added its largest tenant to date today, with a South Carolina-based entertainment company bringing an eight-room movie theater, bowling alley, arcade and sports bar.Jim Gillette, a managing partner of The Galleria at Callaway LLC, announced today that his corporation had reached a deal for Starmax to lease the 62,000-square-foot, single-building complex. Gillette's corporation will start construction within 60 days and the facility should be open by April next year, he said.
NewsHerald.com – 4 hours ago ¦ comment?
CALLAWAYThe Galleria at Callaway added its largest tenant to date today, with a South Carolina-based entertainment company bringing an eight-room movie theater, bowling alley, arcade and sports bar.Jim Gillette, a managing partner of The Galleria at Callaway LLC, announced today that his corporation had reached a deal for Starmax to lease the 62,000-square-foot, single-building complex. Gillette's corporation will start construction within 60 days and the facility should be open by April next year, he said.
NewsHerald.com – 4 hours ago ¦ comment?
Grand Lagoon National fishing tournament grows larger
An already busy Bill Spann is even more so now.The Grand Lagoon National saltwater fishing tournament chairman announced the addition of two divisions to the event Aug. 20-24 in Panama City Beach. Charter boat and kayak join big game, offshore, inshore, flats, dive and party boat, with each encompassing several species of fish, including blue marlin, swordfish, wahoo, amberjack, trout, grouper and flounder.Spann also announced that red snapper has been removed as a tournament fish. New federal regulations prohibit red snapper fishing after the second week of August, he said. Spann said other eligible snapper would be included in those respective divisions."We regret that available science was unable to influence the management of the red snapper fishery," Spann said in a statement. "We look forward to helping governmental agencies develop long-term plans that hold forth the promise of enhancing the growth of the gulf's various fisheries."The tournament recognizes our responsibilities to the resources that we share and have adjusted our rules to a level beyond the requirements imposed by state or federal governments."The inclusion of two new divisions increases the entry availability for what Spann called one of the most inclusive events in the nation. His only concern, he joked, was having to learn all the rules for the eight categories in time for the tournament, which is hosted by Grand Lagoon's four principal marinas.Fishing in the charter boat division will be contested Aug 21-24, with an overall tournament champion and daily cash awards up for grabs. Anglers may compete one day or for the full five days.The boat fee is $500. The angler fee is $200 for the first day and $150 each day thereafter, and a one-time fee of $50 for junior anglers under the age of 15.Kayak, which is one of the fastest growing segments in the sport, Spann said, will be contested Aug. 23-24. The category is catch and release only, with winning fish determined by length as photographed according to tournament rules. The entry fee is $125 per angler, with optional cash awards available.
NewsHerald.com – 4 hours ago ¦ comment?
An already busy Bill Spann is even more so now.The Grand Lagoon National saltwater fishing tournament chairman announced the addition of two divisions to the event Aug. 20-24 in Panama City Beach. Charter boat and kayak join big game, offshore, inshore, flats, dive and party boat, with each encompassing several species of fish, including blue marlin, swordfish, wahoo, amberjack, trout, grouper and flounder.Spann also announced that red snapper has been removed as a tournament fish. New federal regulations prohibit red snapper fishing after the second week of August, he said. Spann said other eligible snapper would be included in those respective divisions."We regret that available science was unable to influence the management of the red snapper fishery," Spann said in a statement. "We look forward to helping governmental agencies develop long-term plans that hold forth the promise of enhancing the growth of the gulf's various fisheries."The tournament recognizes our responsibilities to the resources that we share and have adjusted our rules to a level beyond the requirements imposed by state or federal governments."The inclusion of two new divisions increases the entry availability for what Spann called one of the most inclusive events in the nation. His only concern, he joked, was having to learn all the rules for the eight categories in time for the tournament, which is hosted by Grand Lagoon's four principal marinas.Fishing in the charter boat division will be contested Aug 21-24, with an overall tournament champion and daily cash awards up for grabs. Anglers may compete one day or for the full five days.The boat fee is $500. The angler fee is $200 for the first day and $150 each day thereafter, and a one-time fee of $50 for junior anglers under the age of 15.Kayak, which is one of the fastest growing segments in the sport, Spann said, will be contested Aug. 23-24. The category is catch and release only, with winning fish determined by length as photographed according to tournament rules. The entry fee is $125 per angler, with optional cash awards available.
NewsHerald.com – 4 hours ago ¦ comment?
