BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Franklin County officials have cut the ribbon on their new Lanark EMS station. The 2,600 square foot building provides a central location for ambulances to reach the east side of Franklin County. Cutting back on the drive time has already saved lives. “I just had two strokes and a heart […] Read More

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has located the body of missing 26-year-old Daniel Wenger. Wenger was reported missing in Bay County this past weekend. On Monday, a Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy ran a tag on a car at Leonard’s Landing, which came back in Winger’s name. The car was empty, […] Read More

From Scout to Leader: One Project, One Park, One Powerful Impact Staff Reports January 9, 2026 4:11 pm Fort Walton Beach In Brief: Who: Andrew Dali, Scouting America Troop 529 What: Earned Eagle Scout rank by building permanent chess tables When: Project completed in late 2025; announced Jan. 8, 2026 Where: Ferry Park, City of Fort Walton Beach Why: To create a lasting, inclusive recreational space for the community FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — A Fort Walton Beach teenager has earned Scouting’s highest honor while leaving a lasting mark on a beloved city park. Andrew Dali, 17, of Scouting America Troop 529, has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout after leading the construction of two permanent concrete chess tables and benches at Ferry Park, creating a new gathering space for chess players and park visitors alike. The project, completed as part of the rigorous Eagle Scout requirements, provides a unique recreational opportunity focused on strategy, learning, and community interaction. Designed to withstand the elements, the tables are intended to serve residents and visitors for generations. Andrew’s project brought fellow Scouts together to plan, design, and execute the build, demonstrating leadership, organization, and perseverance — hallmarks of the Eagle Scout rank. “Andrew has grown into an incredible young leader over the years, and we are very proud of his accomplishment,” said Troop 529 Scoutmaster Chris Cutler. The new chess area complements Ferry Park’s existing amenities by offering a reflective, mentally engaging activity that welcomes both experienced players and newcomers to the... Read More

PANAMA CITY, Fla (WMBB) – The Lynn Haven Mayoral recall election will go forward. Lynn Haven Mayor Jesse Nelson has dismissed his lawsuit attempting to stop the recall election from going forward. Mayor Nelson had previously sued business owner James Finch, the chairman of the Lynn Haven Recall Committee, and the Supervisor of Elections office […] Read More

Thirty Years Strong, One Night of Impact: Café Thirty-A Breaks Fundraising Record Staff Reports January 9, 2026 3:35 pm 30a, Charities and Nonprofits, South Walton, Walton County In Brief: Who: Café Thirty-A, Caring and Sharing of South Walton, 250+ guests, local sponsors, and donors What: Annual Christmas Charity Ball, raising a record $90,905 When: Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 Where: Café Thirty-A, Seagrove Beach, along Scenic Highway 30A Why: To support local families with food, financial assistance, and crisis relief services SEAGROVE BEACH, Fla. — Café Thirty-A’s Annual Christmas Charity Ball raised a record-breaking $90,905 for Caring and Sharing of South Walton, marking the most successful fundraising total in the event’s history and coinciding with the restaurant’s 30th anniversary. The sold-out celebration, held Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, welcomed more than 250 guests into the festively transformed Seagrove Beach restaurant, where community members gathered to celebrate both the holiday season and three decades of Café Thirty-A’s presence along Scenic Highway 30A. Presented by honorary sponsors Coastal Luxury Real Estate, Earl Bacon Agency, Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A., and the Ellis Family, the evening blended fine dining, entertainment, and philanthropy. Guests were greeted with complimentary valet parking provided by All Access Coach and Leasing and champagne courtesy of Clear Title and Escrow, before enjoying heavy hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet dinner buffet, and desserts supplied by Haney Holloway, LLC. Sponsors and VIP attendees received exclusive access to a pre-party event hosted by The Watson Group, while the main event featured an expansive silent auction offering... Read More

  A very Happy New Years to all and may this year be blessed with an abundance of big fish. January, although typically cool, is a great month to fish the shallow flats and backwaters surrounding Panama City Beach. The weather can change quick this time of the year and can go from warm and cloudy to   Read More

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – The second Friday of the new year and the Chamber of Commerce met for its First Friday meeting of the year, welcoming its new chairman, Allen Armstrong. St. Joe Foundation announced Friday its expansion to Watersound and its efforts to increase tourism to the area by increasing advertising at Laguardia […] Read More

FLORIDA – High-school sports coaches would be able to spend their own money, up to $15,000 annually per team, to help players in need of food, transportation or recovery services, under a bill filed Thursday for the upcoming legislative session. The bill (HB 1253), filed by Rep. Chip LaMarca, R-Lighthouse Point, would direct the Florida […] Read More

Niceville’s Campbell Wins Taylor Haugen Award! Christopher Saul January 9, 2026 12:14 pm Niceville, Sports Niceville’s Football, Cheer, and Dance teams gathered in the Niceville High School Multipurpose facility on January 9th to surprise Taylor Haugen Trophy winner Harper Campbell. Haugen Foundation Voters selected Campbell, a senior a Niceville High School who will play football at Samford University in the fall, over 12 other candidates with impressive resumes.    Harper was called to the multipurpose room with Principal Charlie Marello for the surprise. Marello told him he was to sit down with Mid Bay News for an interview.    Instead, about 100 classmates joined him to cheer his accomplishment, along with his family, Coach Richard Morgan, and youth pastors from Crosspoint Church.    He remembers thinking “Well, I hope this is what I think this is.”  After years of workouts in the gym, late nights studying for advanced classes and summers of giving back to the community – the Taylor Haugen Foundation welcomed him with a celebration.    “I was honored to even be in the running,” Campbell said, “to be the Niceville nominee is super crazy because we have about 500 people in my class and a lot of them are athletes. Just to be  the one nominee from Niceville is super special. I’m shocked, I’m still shocked.”   His principal, Charlie Marello, is less surprised.    “If you had to make a mold to say, ‘Hey, Eagles, let’s be like this,’ we’d make one of Harper Campbell,” Principal... Read More

Elvis Presley’s ‘The Classic Christmas Album’ Rose To The Top For Holiday Season Next year will mark 50 Christmases without Elvis Presley, who died in 1977, but his mark on music and the public’s affinity for him remains strong. Already this year, fans of the “King of Rock and Roll” can anticipate Baz Luhrmann’s new […] More Country Music Nation  Read More