PANAMA CITY LOCAL & STATE | B1 SWEET DREAMS Sleep Center donates $25K of mattresses to Anchorage Children’s Home Tuesday, June 26, 2018 www.newsherald.com @The_News_Herald facebook.com/panamacitynewsherald 75¢ LOCAL & STATE | B1 THE BLOTTER Christian retreat FIRE DEVASTATES no protection from thieves; Good description heads off getaway; Catch of the day gets away; Marriage throws wrench in EASTPOINT HOMES relationship Should the DIB exist? Board member asks By Katie Landeck 522-5114 | @PCNHKatieL [email protected] PANAMA CITY — At first, the Downtown Improvement Board meeting started the way it always does. It opened with a review of the financials and the usual concerns about the organization’s small coffers. Then there was the update on the new website Director Daric Freeman said is almost ready to launch, which many pointed out was the same update as last month. A refrigerator, stove and two yard chairs are just about all that is left of this Ridge Road home in Eastpoint. [DAVID ADLERSTEIN PHOTOS/THE TIMES] Next up, a discussion about whether they should continue host- ing monthly events that Dozens lose ‘everything have been plagued with they’ve ever worked for’ See DIB, A7 By David Adlerstein More coverage inside 653-8894 | [email protected] After a wildfi re tore through EASTPOINT — A fast- Eastpoint on Sunday night US OKs moving fire that whirled like destroying 40 homes, Bay a tornado Sunday evening County residents are showing pot-based through an almost thousand- up to help. Page A5 acre stretch of mobile homes that border the state forest drug for destroyed at least three dozen The loss of property is esti- of them, Franklin County mated to be at least $800,000, seizures officials said. according to Property That doesn’t include the Appraiser Rhonda Skipper. By Matthew Perrone many fishing boats and Among those who lost The Associated Press pickup trucks that once pop- everything was Matt Polous, ulated almost every front whose property at 605 Ridge WASHINGTON — yard, now reduced to a pun- Road was among the first to be U.S. health regulators gent carcass of charred metal consumed after the fire quickly on Monday approved the or fiberglass. curled south from Bear Creek first prescription drug Pam Brownell, the coun- Road. Polous ran to awake his made from marijuana, ty’s emergency management neighbor, Sean Boatwright, a milestone that could director, said the fire took and when his wife Paula pulled spur more research into the structure and contents up, returning from her job on a drug that remains ille- of least 36 homes, with four St. George Island, he yelled for gal under federal law, more burned to some degree. her to leave. She never entered despite growing legal- Because of its wind-driven the home; he left without even ization for recreational gyrations, the fire missed sev- his billfold. and medical use. eral properties along its path, Workers for Progress Energy work on restoring power to Ridge leaving them unscathed. See FIRE, A5 Road, as a scorched car lies in a ditch off the side of the road. See MARIJUANA, A7 Panama City News Herald Business ........................ A9 Obituaries ......................B3 TODAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Want to subscribe? Diversions ......................B6 Sports........................ C1-4 Partly sunny Stray t-storm T-shower Call 850-747-5050 Local & State ............... B1-5 Viewpoints .................... A8 89° / 78° 88° / 80° 89° / 79° * ** A2 Tuesday, June 26, 2018 | The News Herald READER FEEDBACK CELEBRATE COMMUNITY TODAY IN HISTORY Brad Martin Bramblett, 59, was The Associated Press ejected from his 17-foot Aqua- PICTURE PERFECT sport in a single-vessel boating Today is Tuesday, June 26, the accident, according to FWC. We want your photos: Post your photos to the News Herald Facebook page with your name, city of 177th day of 2018. There are The boat continued to circle residence and information about the photo. You can email photos to [email protected]. 188 days left in the year. and struck Bramblett while he Today’s Highlight in History: was in the water. On June 26, 1948, the Berlin Air- lift began in earnest after the Rhonda Zinicola Arroyo: “Pray- Soviet Union cut off land and ing for Brad and his family. water routes to the isolated Such a scary accident. The western sector of Berlin. coast guard did a great job get- On this date: ting the boat under control so In 1483, Richard III began his others didn’t get injured!” reign as King of England (he was crowned the following You can now explore the month at Westminster Abbey). St. Andrews neighborhood In 1541, Francisco Pizarro, by bike through rentals at Spanish conqueror of Peru, Sunjammers. was slain in Lima by rival conquistadors. Heather McKinney Wooten: In 1870, the fi rst section of “I think this is a fantastic Atlantic City, New Jersey’s thing. As a homeowner in Boardwalk was opened to the historic St. Andrews, we love public. riding our bikes downtown. In 1917, the fi rst troops of the I love that you are providing American Expeditionary Force people the opportunity to do deployed to France during World this if they wish, without the War I landed in St. Nazaire. hassle of hauling bikes down In 1925, Charles Chaplin’s clas- to St. Andrews. Way to go, sic comedy “The Gold Rush” Sunjammers!” premiered at Grauman’s Egyp- tian Theatre in Hollywood. Beach safety officials generally In 1936, President Franklin urge beachgoers to stay out of D. Roosevelt was nominated the water entirely during red for a second term of offi ce flag days, as the force of water by delegates to the Demo- moving back out into the Gulf, cratic national convention in combined with high surf, can Philadelphia. easily knock a swimmer down In 1959, President Dwight D. and drag them out away from Eisenhower joined Britain’s shore even in relatively shallow Becky Ann Woessner Litke, of Panama City Beach, shared this photo of lovebirds (Cardinals) Queen Elizabeth II in ceremo- waters. at her backyard feeder. [CONTRIBUTED PHOTO] nies offi cially opening the St. Lawrence Seaway. Swedish Sandy New: “Witnessed that boxer Ingemar Johansson this past week. 3 drownings knocked out Floyd Patterson in that could’ve been prevented the third round of their match if people would just realize at New York’s Yankee Stadium the danger of the surf. It was GO AND DO to win the heavyweight title. so strong I could barely stand In 1963, President John F. Ken- even in knee deep water” HIV TESTING: 10 a.m. to Longo. Details: www. Bay County Fair Grounds, nedy visited West Berlin, where 1 2 p.m. Tuesday at Life thelightroompc.com or corner of 15th St. and Sher- he delivered his famous speech Five Florida teens will not be Management Center, 525 850-818-0475 man Ave. in the American expressing solidarity with the prosecuted after videotap- W. 15th St., Panama City. Legion Building with Gospel city’s residents, declaring: “Ich ing a disabled man while he Rapid testing offered by SPRING FLORAL SHOW and Old Country Music bin ein Berliner” (I am a Berliner). drowned. the Florida Department of 3 EXHIBIT: Noon to 4 featuring Grand Junction In 1968, President Lyndon B. Health. Details: Heather, p.m. Tuesday at The Artist and Cedar Creek. Details: Johnson announced his choice Lisa Hayslip Reynolds: “Our 850-252-9670 Cover studio gallery, 36 596-1271. of Abe Fortas to succeed the system is so fl awed, the West Beach Dr., Panama retiring Earl Warren as chief victims it seems like have no ’GAZING THROUGH City. Free admission. Open SUMMER SUNSET justice of the United States rights anymore.” 2 WINDOWS, STARING Tuesday through Satur- 5 SERIES: 6:30-8 p.m. (however, Fortas later with- AT CLOSED DOORS’: Exhibit day until July 1. Details: Tuesday at the St. Andrews drew in the face of stiff Senate Mishia Downs Woodruff Yeap: on display through Aug. 11. 850-215-2080 or TheArtist- Marina. Enjoy live music by opposition). “so correct Lisa Hayslip Reyn- The Light Room, 306 Har- CoveStudio.com Chuck Foster, food trucks In 1977, 42 people were olds I bet their parents are rison Avenue, Downtown and family fun. Free admis- killed when a fi re sent toxic proud. I know we cant control Panama City. Photogra- FREE CONCERT: 6 sion. Bring coolers and lawn smoke pouring through the what our kids do or dont do phy exhibit by Teressa 4 p.m. Tuesday at the chairs to watch the sun sink. Maury County Jail in Colum- when they aren’t around us..... bia, Tennessee. Elvis Presley but you better bet it would be performed his last concert a LONG and I do mean LONG at Market Square Arena in time before I would trust these Indianapolis. individuals around any of my family and that includes my CATCH OF THE DAY pets.” We want to see your catch of the day: Post your photos to the News Herald Facebook page with your name, city of residence and information about the photo. Email photos to [email protected]. YOUNG ARTIST HAPPY BIRTHDAY Rock singer Chris Isaak is 62. Rock singer Patty Smyth is 61. Singer Terri Nunn (Berlin) is 59. U.S. Rock musician Colin Greenwood (Radio- head) is 49. Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson is 48. Yoseli. Kindergarten. Tyndall Actor Sean Hayes is 48. Actor Elementary School. Matt Letscher is 48. Actor Chris O'Donnell is 48. Actor Nick Offerman is 48. Actress Erin Brack Rebecca Budig is 45. Retired emailed MLB All-Star Derek Jeter is this Catch FLORIDA LOTTERY 44. Contemporary Christian of the Day musician Jeff Frankenstein photo to us These Florida lotteries were (Newsboys) is 44.