By Paul Bonnette Panama City Beach may be quiet now, but soon the sounds of thunder begin rolling in; locals and visitors alike know it is once again time for the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally. This five day event returns to Panama City Beach May 3-7 and they’re celebrating their 25th anniversary by pulling out all the stops. Known throughout the Southeast as the “most biker friendly free rally in the United States,” Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally pulls crowds from all over for numerous arts and crafts vendors, bike shows and contests, and of course, legendary rock concerts. For their anniversary, Thunder Beach is going all out with some of the biggest names in rock including Rob Zombie, Buckcherry, Jasmine Cain, Pantera, Candlebox, Big Engine, Drowning Pool, Jackyl, Lynyrd Skynyrd and more. Chase Michael took over as owner of Thunder Beach Productions last year with the desire to make Thunder Beach into an even bigger event by adding more headliner concerts. For Michael, as Thunder Beach was already a household name in the Southeast, it was an easy transition. “Thunder Beach is a well-known name that has been around a long time,” he explains. “That is kind of what drives the ability for us to bring in these concerts and really dictate where the event is going. Honestly that’s what appealed most to me to get involved in Thunder Beach is it had the crowd there already, so it just needed to elevate it and bring it to the... Read More

  By Denise Boineau Maybe you have and didn’t know what to do for it? This was the case for so many along NW FL’s 30A. But today because of a small army of volunteers, our community along 30A and Highway 98 in Walton County has more support. The first trapping and the idea of starting 30ACats was born with one cat, the NextDoor app, and a shopping center. The experience was difficult to say the least. Due to the Florida heat – no one wants a cat to get stuck in a trap when it’s too hot – and the northern trapping techniques, the volunteers recognized the need for a coastal trapping strategy. Each of the volunteers came from various backgrounds. They’ve discovered that rescue isn’t all “pets and purrs” as one volunteer so aptly put it. It’s hard work – “mentally, physically and financially and emotionally.” Bridget Kornder started 30A Cats as a nonprofit in April 2021. She was living in the area and noticed the ever increasing population of stray and feral cats in Walton County. Unfortunately, Walton County doesn’t offer a low cost spay/neuter alternative. A lifelong animal lover, Bridget started the501(c) (3) so that the dollars raised would go directly to the nonprofit. Her volunteers at that time were only a small group that trapped and then drove the cats an hour to Bay County for the spay/ neuter services. Did you know that one female cat can produce offspring of over 5,000 within 7... Read More

  By Marta Rose-Thorpe What a brilliant and delicious meal we had the night we visited Jaa’s Kitchen. I took my family of four – with husband and two teenage sons – to this authentic Jamaican American eatery, nestled in a shopping plaza on the beach, and we were in for a treat. Bright Jamaican tunes filled the air, we settled in with Red Stripe beers, and the evening began! Our server, Cedia, was the perfect hostess for four very different American palettes – all unfamiliar with Jamaican cuisine. She patiently went through the whole menu, explaining the favorites, the specialties, and some of the more unique offerings (like goat and oxtail). Chef Jaa (pronounced “Jay”) came out to greet us and checked back with us several times throughout the meal. We learned a lot about the culinary offerings of this Caribbean island. Cassava is a yam-like vegetable in the tuber family. Breadfruit grows on trees, and Festivals are small torpedoes of crispy sweet dough, fried golden brown with a warm, soft center. Chef Jaa started us out with a taste of the Nine Night* Curried Goat, a favorite Jamaican dish. Curry is an intricate part of the Jamaica culture, history, and cuisine, and this savory, thick stew with veggies packed some heat! For appetizers we ordered Jaa’s Tostones and Roasted Jerk Corn. The latter was a sweet treat, more dessert-like than an appetizer, I thought… sweet golden corn on the cob drizzled in house made jerk mayo and topped... Read More

  From Mayor Mark Sheldon The City Council prioritizes policies and projects to make this community the best it can be. The daily work of implementing policies and projects falls on our almost 400 employees who work tirelessly to make sure that you have all you need to enjoy every aspect of our paradise. In 2020 the City adopted its first strategic plan, with an aim of creating and maintaining a safe, family-friendly, vibrant community with an outstanding quality of life. Priorities for 2021-26 were identified and I’d like to both review and update you on our accomplishments. Priority One is Financial Health: This City Council is committed to fiscal responsibility, accountability, and transparency. Our capital plans for the next several years are ambitious, but aren’t dependent on property taxes, as the city has no personal property tax. Our City budget, the largest yet, plans for growth but relies heavily on grants and other restricted revenue streams. In 2021-22, the City received 13 grants for stormwater outfall and drainage projects, septic-to-sewer conversions, streetlighting repairs, and more. Some grant projects are under construction, such as CRA lighting repairs and a fire training tower, and others are in the design stage. We have federal and state lobbyists to ensure our community gets its fair share of public dollars. Last year these efforts began to pay off; we meet regularly with key lawmakers and departments in Washington D.C. and Tallahassee. In 2022, we kicked off a multi-year process to implement a City-wide software... Read More