BAY SCHOOLS JOIN STATEWIDE ‘WALK-IN’ LOCAL | A3 PANAMA CITY LOCAL & STATE | A3 BAY RESIDENTS SHOW ANGER TO RUBIO REP Thursday, April 18, 2019 www.newsherald.com @The_News_Herald facebook.com/panamacitynewsherald 75¢ Three Better Bay forums on tap Next week’s events to the future of the community and 25 — The News Herald p.m. They will be held at the Get involved tackle post-Michael remains in flux. will be hosting a series of Bay County Government military, housing, Many residents, and offi- forums on major issues in our Center, and streamed live on All three forums will mental health questions cials, still have questions community. Similar to our A The News Herald’s Facebook start at 6 p.m. and end about what lies ahead, par- Better Bay forum in Decem- page. The events are free, at 7:30 p.m. They will be News Herald staff report ticularly as we head into the ber, all questions will be but we ask those who wish held at the Bay County next hurricane season. And submitted in advance through to attend to obtain a ticket in Government Center, and PANAMA CITY — Six as the local newspaper, we our Bay Asked, We Answered advance. streamed live on The months after Hurricane believe it’s our job to get you series. On April 22, we will hold an News Herald’s Facebook Michael, Bay County still answers. All events will start at 6 page. is facing serious issues and Next week — April 22, 23 p.m. and will end at 7:30 See FORUMS, A4 Michael’s Angels Husfelt: ‘We’ve got to get help take fi ght to Tally for our people’ By Eryn Dion comes to a close May 3 and [email protected] the two chambers enter @PCNHErynDion into conference to hash out the budget, Bay County PANAMA CITY — The Superintendent Bill Husfelt clock is winding down on put the odds at “50/50” if the state’s legislative ses- the county would see the sion, and on the hope that money. disaster relief money will be “Our challenges are coming to help Bay District real,” Husfelt said. “I know Schools plug a Hurricane that some people in Talla- Michael-sized hole in their hassee don’t understand operating budget and stave that. I know some people off massive layoffs and in Washington, D.C., don’t closed schools. understand that. But we’ve Down thousands of got to get help for our students as families people in this community.” were forced to flee their Husfelt has been ringing destroyed homes, apart- the alarm on the district’s ments and lives, the district budget shortfall for is facing a huge shortfall, months, since November, as school funding is tied to when Secretary of Educa- student population. The tion Betsy DeVos toured hole for this year could go classrooms in the district as high as $12.4 million, and spoke with students Bay High School students sing the school song on Wednesday on the steps of the Florida Historic Capitol and come next year, that about their post-hurri- Museum. [PATTI BLAKE/THE NEWS HERALD] amount likely doubles, cane needs. The request coming up as much as $24.8 has been clear from the million short. Six months aft er As the legislative session See HUSFELT, A4 hurricane, dozens from Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties rally in Tallahassee for SPORTS | B1 recovery funding 5-RUN 7TH By Katie Landeck @PCNHKatieL LIFTS NWF [email protected] STATE PAST TALLAHASSEE — Stand- ing on the steps of the state GULF COAST Capitol, Holly Allaine found herself on the brink of losing everything to Hurricane Michael as she waved her “Save the Schools” signs at passing traffic. She lost her home to the Bay County residents advocated for hurricane relief funding in Residents get fi nal hurricane. She has had to Tallahassee with Michael’s Angels on Wednesday. [PATTI BLAKE/THE move twice in the past six NEWS HERALD] months to keep a roof over look at recovery plan her head. Now, she is wor- 100 people from Bay, Gulf Ready for battle ried her job as a teacher will be and Franklin counties loaded the storm’s next casualty, as on buses and organized car- Tired of feeling forgotten By Ed Offley from Hurricane Michael. school district officials warn pools before the break of — feeling like the politi- [email protected] The county’s Long- they are looking at elimi- dawn Wednesday to rally cians across the state Term Recovery Task Force nating 600 positions if the the troops in Tallahassee. don’t care that they all PANAMA CITY — A hosted the public gather- state doesn’t allocate relief Tired of feeling forgotten — lost their homes or about small but enthusiastic ing at the Holley Center, funding. feeling like the politicians the massive cleanup bills group of Bay County resi- where its six working Whether legislators in the across the state don’t care that threaten to bankrupt dents gathered at Florida group branches provided building behind her knew it that they all lost their homes their cities or about the State University-Panama information displays and or not, it felt like her future or about the massive cleanup tremendous loss Michael City on Wednesday eve- copies of the emerging was in their hands — a future bills that threaten to bank- caused — Michael’s ning to listen, discuss and plan’s 300-plus concepts that seemed on the verge of rupt their cities or about the Angels decided to make add their inputs to the and programs. The event slipping away. tremendous loss Michael themselves visible, and comprehensive recovery marked a final opportunity Six months after Hur- therefore that much plan that will chart the ricane Michael, more than See ANGELS, A6 harder to forget. community’s recovery See RECOVERY, A4 Panama City News Herald Business .........................A9 Obituaries ...................... A5 TODAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Want to subscribe? Diversions ......................B6 Sports......................... B1-4 Clouds, sun Rain Mostly sunny Call 850-747-5050 Local & State ...............A3-7 Viewpoints .....................A8 79° / 68° 70° / 51° 70° / 54° * ** A2 Thursday, April 18, 2019 | The News Herald CELEBRATE COMMUNITY TODAY IN GO &DO HISTORY Tuesday, April 16 PICTURE PERFECT The Associated Press BEACH KIDS - AIRPLANE We want your photos: Post your photos to the News Herald Facebook page with your name, city of Today is Thursday, April SCIENCE: 3:30 p.m. at the residence and information about the photo. You can email photos to [email protected]. 18, the 108th day of 2019. Panama City Beach Library. There are 257 days left in Geared for elementary Howard Houk, the year. students (5 years and older) of Panama City to work on a STE(A)M proj- Beach, emailed Today’s Highlight in ect. Registration required. this photo and History: Details at 850-233-5055 said, “Does not REMEMBERING PEGGY get any better On April 18, 1983, 63 LEE: 6:30 p.m. at Alice’s than this.” people, including 17 on Bayview, 1000 Bayview [CONTRIBUTED Americans, were killed at Ave., in Historic St. Andrews PHOTO] the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, neighborhood of Panama Lebanon, by a suicide City featuring Kathy Lyon bomber. and the Amanda Matthews Jazz Trio with Amanda Mat- On this date: thews on keyboard, Charles Pagano on drums and Steve In 1775, Paul Revere Gilmore on bass; presented began his famous ride by the Gulf Jazz Society. from Charlestown to Seating is limited. For reser- Lexington, Massachusetts, vations, call Amy or Larry at warning colonists that 850-784-2106. British Regular troops were approaching. Wednesday, April 17 In 1906, a devastating earthquake struck San CA$H FOR COMEDY FUND- Francisco, followed by RAISER: 7 p.m. at Emerald raging fi res; estimates of Coast Theatre Co., 560 Grand the fi nal death toll range Blvd., Sandestin, Miramar between 3,000 and 6,000. Beach. The Side-Splitters In 1923, the fi rst game improv comedy troupe from was played at the original Panama City will perform Yankee Stadium in New for the fi rst act, followed York; the Yankees defeated by stand-up comedy by the Boston Red Sox 4-1. Jason Hedden of Panama In 1934, the fi rst laun- City and Damon Sumner of dromat (called a Atlanta. All proceeds will go “washateria”) opened in the ECTC capital campaign. Fort Worth, Texas. Tickets: $95, available at In 1938, Superman, AKA EmeraldCoastTheatre.org or “The Man of Steel,” made call 850-684-0323 his debut as the fi rst issue TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS of Action Comics (bearing Thursday, April 18 a cover date of June) went Actress Hayley Mills is 73. Actor James Woods on sale for 10 cents a copy. LYNN HAVEN SPRING is 72. Actor Rick Moranis is 66. Ventriloquist- (In 2014, a nearly fl awless CONCERT SERIES: 6 p.m. comedian Jeff Dunham is 57. Talk show host original copy was sold on at Sharon Sheffi eld Park in Conan O’Brien is 56. Actor Eric McCormack eBay for $3.2 million.) Lynn Haven. Free admission. is 56. Actress Maria Bello is 52. Actress Mary In 1943, Adm. Isoroku SQUARE DANCE LESSONS: Birdsong is 51. Actor David Hewlett is 51. Rock Yamamoto, commander- 6:30-8 p.m. at Grand Square musician Greg Eklund (The Oolahs) is 49. TV in-chief of the Japanese Hall, 1105 Bob Little Road, chef Ludovic Lefebvre is 48. Actor Fedro Starr Combined Fleet, was shot Panama City. $5 per person. is 48. Actor David Tennant is 48. Rock musi- down and killed by U.S.