Blog Archives

White Construction Company (WCC) has been in business for half a century!

“We are very thankful to the community of clients, partners, subcontractors, employees, and our families who have helped us thrive for 50 years. They made our success possible.” Neel White, Chairman

The company was founded in 1971 by Charles N. White, Sr. in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and has since expanded into four strategic markets in Austin and Houston, Texas, Ridgeland, Mississippi, and most recently, Panama City Beach, Florida.

Clients like Dell, Whole Foods Market, Brandywine Realty Trust, and the Texas Facilities Commission have allowed WCC to build a reputation as a quality commercial general contractor focused on meeting clients’ construction needs with an unwavering commitment to quality and integrity. The company has constructed a wide variety of corporate, public, education, faith-based, and community projects and has recently expanded its focus on corporate interiors. Notable projects include the Dell Headquarters Campuses, National Instruments Headquarters, over fifty projects for Whole Foods Market, U.S. Courthouses in Austin and Las Cruces, New Mexico, the Texas Facilities Commission’s Barbara Jordan Building, and Underground Parking Garage and Pedestrian Mall.

WCC is focused on future growth. The firm’s Core Ideology has been refined to articulate attributes that have led to its success and cement principles for growth: Safety, Leadership, Teamwork, Trust, and Relationships. Coupled with a transformative strategic planning effort and refreshed brand, White Construction Company is ushering in a new strategic focus on “Building Success Together.”

A new 50th-anniversary logo establishes a foundation for a refreshed brand anticipated to mark the company’s success and growth during the next half-century.

Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic (TOC) is bringing industry leading orthopedic care to Panama City with their first new clinic opening September 12th. TOC’s entry into Panama City marks the start of a broader expansion to improve access to care in Bay County and adjacent areas that include Walton and Gulf counties. A second location is planned for Panama City Beach and is scheduled to be open by the fall of 2024. TOC Panama City will ultimately offer the complete range of comprehensive orthopedic with the aim on better access, better quality and lower cost.
Eric A. Branch, MD, a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with special training in sports medicine and arthroscopy, will serve as the lead orthopedic provider for TOC Panama City. Dr. Branch is a native of Florida and completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Andrews Institute for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Gulf Breeze, FL. His experience reflects providing care for a wide variety of patients, including professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes, including the University of West Florida Athletics. Dr. Branch, along with Ryan Price, MD, specializing in pediatric orthopedics, and Andrew Borom, MD, specializing in foot and ankle surgery, will be fulfilling the practice’s commitment to keeping people healthy, active, and strong through prevention, preservation, and wellness. TOC Panama City will have the only pediatric orthopedic surgeon in the North Florida region, along with “TOC Now” providing the region’s only orthopedic urgent care walk-in clinic. Additional orthopedic specialties will be recruited soon.
TOC CEO Mike Boblitz said, “TOC is thrilled to extend our high quality orthopedic care to the Panama City region. TOC already cares for several thousand patients that reside in the Bay, Walton, and Gulf Counties, and our new Panama City location will save those patients’ hours of travel time. The Panama City, Panama City Beach, and the broader surrounding region is growing by leaps and bounds, and we are excited to improve access to those communities.”
Dr. Branch, along with the entire TOC Panama City physician team, are now accepting new patients at a temporary Panama City facility located at 425 West 19th Street, Panama City, FL 32405 which opens on September 12th. TOC’s permanent Panama City office is scheduled to open on October 31st at 2011 Harrison Avenue, Panama City, FL 32405. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (850) 691- 4188 or schedule online at www.TeamTOC.com.

Tickets are now on sale for Holly Fair, the Junior League of Panama City’s (JLPC) largest annual fundraiser, November 10-13, 2022, at Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort in Panama City Beach, FL. Tickets are available for purchase at: www.JLPanamaCity.org/HollyFairTickets
Holly Fair is one of League’s biggest annual fundraisers, bringing in about $75,000 to be used to support the Junior League’s various programs. From committing 5,000 volunteer hours to providing $15,000 in scholarships to local teachers, the service organization has remained a constant positive force in Bay County for the past seven decades — raising over $3 million.
“Holly Fair is the holiday event of the season and we are looking forward to seeing the community come out to shop and enjoy all the festivities. Kick off the holiday season with us in November.” Lauren Presser & Monica Cramer, Holly Fair Chairs 2022.
Along with the holiday shopping all weekend, we are excited to announce we will be bringing back our live fashion show at the ticketed event, Champagne Brunch, on Friday morning. Guests can also enjoy the iconic Preview Party Thursday night featuring a live & silent auction, live entertainment on Saturday, and “Crafting with the Clauses” on Sunday, which includes a festive craft for the kids and photo with Santa. Kick off the holiday session with JLPC and experience a wide variety of entertainment, great food, music, auctions, and more!
General admission tickets to Holly Fair are $10 and include access to nearly 60 vendors ranging from Christmas decor to boutique clothing, kitchen gadgets and designer jewelry. Special events throughout the weekend such as Preview Party, Champagne Brunch, and Crafting with the Clauses do require separate tickets. Visit www.JLPanamaCity.org/HollyFairTickets to purchase your tickets today. All net proceeds from Holly Fair will support the programs and mission of JLPC.
For more information about Holly Fair, visit www.jlpanamacity.org/HollyFair.

Make-A-Wish® Central & Northern Florida is establishing a presence in the Northwest Region of Florida to grant more wishes to children with critical illnesses. Make-A-Wish Central & Northern Florida is working to establish a presence across 18 counites in the NW Region of Florida. With individuals, businesses and communities involved supporting Make-A-Wish, we can grant more wishes! Extraordinary things happen to very sick children when they are given permission to dream about something beyond their grasp. A wish experience can help give back what the illness takes away. It can help a child forget about being sick, remember how to be a kid again, and inspire
them to keep making plans for their future.

A wish transforms a child’s life, like Charlotte and her wish to meet a unicorn. Click on the link to see the magical moment Caroline meets her unicorn https://youtu.be/9p-pkC7h5oI. To learn how you can join the movement in granting wishes by contacting Kathleen Hampton, Director of Development, NW Region, Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida, 407-622-
4673, ext. 201, [email protected], www.wish.org/cnfl.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of Gulf Coast State College and its service to Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties. To celebrate this milestone and share gratitude for the community’s continuous support over the years, the College is hosting a community celebration on Saturday, September 17, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. CST at the Charles Hilton Center.

Everyone is invited to join Gulf Coast for a fun-filled morning with free food, giveaways, games, and live music. Food will be catered by the Arc of the Bay’s Empowerment Café, and music will be provided by GCSC’s student radio station, The AlterNation HD3. There will be bounce houses, face painting, and hands-on activities for the entire family to enjoy. Faculty, staff, and students will showcase the innovative and exciting programs that the College has to offer, including interactive displays from our Health Sciences and Nursing programs, Unmanned Vehicle Systems demonstrations (ground and air vehicles) and static displays of GCSC Public Safety vehicles (ambulance and police car), just to name a few.

The Gulf Coast State College Foundation will also be hosting a 5K and FUNd Run the morning of September 17 with proceeds benefitting the Gulf Coast Guarantee scholarship program. To learn more, please visit bit.ly/5k_2022.

This event is free with help from our sponsors, including CareerSource Gulf Coast, iHeart Media, PanCare Health, and The Arc of the Bay, and open to the community. For additional information, please contact Brittany Weisensale at [email protected] or (850) 872-3822.

Panama City Beach, a top destination for sports tourism and recreation, is pleased to share a preview of sporting events taking place throughout the destination from July to September.

Grand Slam World Series: Sessions 3 & 4 (July 5-9), (July 25-30)
Join over 150 teams for the Grand Slam World Series of Baseball as the event continues in July. Catch the third session on July 5-9, and the second session on June 25-July 30, with games taking place at both Frank Brown Park and the Publix Sports Complex. For details, visit: https://bit.ly/3OpQcfJ

UCA PCB Cheer Camp (July 11-14), (July 25-28)
UCA Cheer Camp attendees can expect plenty of sunshine and spirit on the shores of Panama City Beach. Held at the full-service Edgewater Beach Resort, teams from different states travel to Panama City Beach to enjoy beachside cheer class, team bonding, and an exciting poolside luau. For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/3nG7IAQ

USFA Fastpitch World Series: Series 1 & 2 (July 11-16), (July 18-23)
Mark your calendars for two weeks of ultimate fastpitch fun in Panama City Beach. Held at Frank Brown Park and Publix Sports Complex, the USFA Fastpitch World Series will take place from July 11-16 and July 18-23. For registration and more info, visit: https://bit.ly/3xTUvc1

Baseball Youth All-American Games (August 3-7)
One of the most prestigious events for individual players, the Baseball Youth All-American Games welcomes hundreds of athletes from around the nation and several countries. The pool play youth tournament will be held from August 3-7 at the state-of-the-art Publix Sports Complex. For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/3tZvYRE

International Beach Games (August 13)
The International Beach Games is Florida’s Olympic-style sports festival held on Florida’s finest beaches. Competitions over the years have included beach volleyball, tennis, soccer and more. Come out to Russell-Fields City Pier this August to check out the exciting event. For details, visit: https://bit.ly/3RdKJKC

WSL Military World Series (August 12-14)
Panama City Beach is thrilled to welcome between 40-50 military teams back to the destination for ball games and beautiful beaches. The games kick off on Friday, August 12 with men’s 40 and over, men’s 50 and over and co-ed divisions, and a civilian tournament is set for Sunday, August 14. There is no gate fee for fans, so come cheer on these men’s and women’s military teams at Publix Sports Park and Frank Brown Park. Find more information here: https://bit.ly/3brMm73

GSL World Tournament (August 19-21)
The 2022 GSL World Championship Series will be held at Publix Sports Park and Frank Brown Park from August 19-21. The exciting tournament will feature men’s and women’s ball games as players compete for the number one spot. See here for additional details: https://bit.ly/3NpeZz3

Endless Summer Soccer Tournament (August 27-28)
Snap Soccer is partnering with Bay United Soccer Club in bringing the Endless Summer Soccer Tournament back to Panama City Beach. This extraordinary youth soccer tournament will be held on August 27-28 at Publix Sports Park. Registration is open to all competitive youth soccer teams ranging from U8 to U19 for both boys and girls. Find more information here: https://bit.ly/3nduO1g

WSL North American Championships (September 9-11), (September 16-18), (September 24-25)
The WSL North American Championships will be held over three weekends in September at Publix Sports Park and Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach. This year marks the 20th year of WSL l, and 450 adult teams are expected to participate. For details, visit: https://bit.ly/3nBP114

Panama City Beach Cup Gymnastics (September 23-25)
Formerly known as Fall into Edgewater, the annual gymnastics competition has been renamed to the Panama City Beach Cup. The 18th annual competition will be held at the beautiful Edgewater Beach Resort on September 23-25. For additional info, visit: https://bit.ly/3A3gKz5

PCB Fishing Rodeo (September 23-October 1)
The first week of the second annual PCB Fishing Rodeo kicks off on September 23, with daily weigh ins from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Family-friendly festivities will also be taking place during the event every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Capt. Anderson’s Marina. For details, visit: https://bit.ly/3nLL49T

For general images of Panama City Beach, visit: https://bit.ly/2SJ7Pj6. For images of the Publix Sports Park, visit: https://bit.ly/3xTvvBf.

The Visual & Performing Arts Division of Gulf Coast State College presents An Evening with Henry Cho on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 7:30 pm.

Henry Cho is a clean standup comedian who has made multiple appearances on NBC’s The Tonight Show and CBS’s The Late, Late Show. His work can be heard daily on Sirius XM, Blue Collar Radio, and Pandora Radio. He is also a regular performer at the Grand Ole Opry, appearing over 100 times.

The performance will take place in the GCSC Amelia G. Tapper Center for the Arts, located on the Panama City Campus, the evening of the GCSC 65th Anniversary Community Celebration. Tickets for the show are $25 each with the proceeds benefitting the Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship Fund. Comedians Jason Hedden and Rahn Hortman will also be performing.

Tickets can be purchased online at gulfcoast.edu/arts.

For more information, please contact Jason Hedden at (850) 890-4560 or [email protected]

During Thursday’s PCB City Council meeting, SeeLife 2 for the 2022-23 year was approved along with a SeeLife program manual. Phase 2 of the project, which began in 2021, is being funded through a generous donation from the Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).

We are now soliciting artists and locations for this next round of sculptures. We are inviting schools, community groups, churches, businesses and others to participate by painting a marine life sculpture. All you need to do is submit a proposal with a draft design of a seahorse or dolphin, along with an application. The Selection Committee, made up of representatives from the City and the Tourist Development Council, will review the drawings in September and forward recommendations to the City’s Public Art Committee for final review.

SeeLife 2 is comprised of five seahorses and five dolphins to be painted. Sculptures will arrive in October and we ask that “adopters” have their final works completed within 90 days. All sculptures will be located within the City limits of Panama City Beach and will be unveiled in February 2023.

All entrants will be selected based on this criteria:

Aesthetic value
Appropriateness to location
Diversity of style, scale, media and artistic expression
Authentic/celebration/whimsical expression theme
Excites the imagination
Recognizes community diversity
We ask that no text be used.

Rules for our artists:

Must submit attached application form with proposal/drawing.
Must furnish own supplies. City will furnish sculpture.
Must follow submitted proposal.
Group leader must be at least 18 years old. Participants may be younger.
Must agree to maintain and touch up paint on sculpture.
May submit more than one design. Recommend submitting one dolphin and one seahorse.
If you would like to participate by having a sculpture at your business or entity, please let us know. All inquiries should be addressed to Communications Director Debbie Ingram. Entries can be mailed to Debbie Ingram, City Hall, 17007 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach, Florida 32413. There is no fee to participate.

Click here for dolphin and seahorse drawings for submission.
Click here for artist’s application.
Click here for the 22-23 SeeLife Public Art Program Manual.

Registration for the Education Encore fall program opened this week.

Education Encore is a non-credit enrichment program offered to active senior adults. The learning environment is fun and stress-free while offering diversity, insight, and wisdom. Of the program, one of our participants commented, “I participated in my first Encore program 17 years ago and still eagerly anticipate what the next session will offer!”

Participants of Education Encore can choose from a variety of personal enrichment and development courses, including some of Encore’s tried-and-true favorites such as Ukulele for Beginners or Current Foreign Policy Topics, as well as some newly-added classes such as Exploring the Underwater Wrecks of Bay County and Poems to Ponder – there is something for everyone!

“I am excited to continue to expand the diverse selection of courses even further,” said Lara Herter, Education Encore Program Coordinator. “With each class costing less than $6, this is truly one of the best educational bargains in Bay County.”

Education Encore is offered by Gulf Coast State College’s Continuing Education department twice a year during the Fall and Spring semester. The courses are held for six consecutive Fridays, September 23 – October 28. The fee for the program is $125. Space is limited for in-person course offerings. For more information and to view our digital catalog, visit www.gulfcoast.edu/Encore or

South Walton & Bay County Market President Lane Redding announced today that the Santa Rosa Beach and Panama City offices have welcomed new leadership.
Shaun Foster has been named Branch Manager of the Santa Rosa Beach office. Foster graduated from Troy University with a degree in Business Administration. With a 15-year history of banking in Okaloosa and Walton Counties, he has extensive knowledge and experience in retail management, consumer loans, business products and mortgages. Shaun is also involved with the local Chambers, participating in many events throughout the year.
Christopher Bass has been named Assistant Branch Manager of the Panama City office. A native of Longview, Texas, he graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a degree in Instrumental Music Education/Percussion. Bass’ previous work experience includes several positions over his seven years in banking, including Personal Banker, Teller, Business Advocate and Branch Operations Manager. He is also the Minister of Music at Carlisle Baptist Church.
“As our offices in South Walton and Bay County continue to grow, we are thrilled about the addition of Shaun and Chris to our teams in Santa Rosa Beach and Panama City,” said Redding. “With their banking history and established relationships in our local community, I know they will serve our customers well.”
Progress Bank’s Santa Rosa Beach office can be found at 3063 US Highway 98.
The Panama City office is temporarily located at 107 W. 23rd Street, Suite W-4. The permanent office is currently under construction at 1805 West 23rd Street in Panama City and is expected to open in 2023.
Progress Bank also has nearby offices in Destin and Inlet Beach, Fla.