View This Issue - Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce
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AROUND TOWN<br />
Updates on Community, Education, Workforce, Governmental Affairs & Military<br />
Strategic Planning Shapes<br />
the Future for Gulf Coast<br />
Community College<br />
Dr. Jim Kerley, GCCC President<br />
Gulf Coast Community College has a rich<br />
history and a solid foundation, and we are now<br />
focused on the future <strong>of</strong> our beloved institution<br />
as we move forward with renewed energy and<br />
involvement. Our region is in the process <strong>of</strong><br />
dynamic change, and we must be responsive by<br />
<br />
serve our workforce while continuing<br />
to prepare students to enter our<br />
universities.<br />
As a new president, I know the<br />
importance <strong>of</strong> moving the college<br />
forward, and I know it doesn’t just<br />
happen. It takes vision, discipline,<br />
and action to bring systemic change<br />
through strategic planning.<br />
In January and February we will<br />
interview the community through<br />
focus groups, community forums,<br />
and Web-based surveys. Hundreds<br />
<strong>of</strong> people will be asked to share their<br />
ideas and desires for this institution,<br />
focusing on the future.<br />
<br />
strategic plan will be the college’s<br />
<br />
which is to be recognized statewide, nationally,<br />
and internationally as a top-tier institution.<br />
A well-designed strategic plan pushes us forward,<br />
positioning us for the major changes ahead <strong>of</strong> us<br />
in this region. We will continue to make dreams<br />
come true, one life at a time.<br />
Local Government Update<br />
Bay Solutions<br />
Bay County<br />
lic<br />
hearing for December 18 at 9:00 a.m. to consider<br />
establishing a Vessel Exclusion Zone at the<br />
public boat ramp located at Lake Powell Park.<br />
<strong>Panama</strong> <strong>City</strong> – Bay County Airport<br />
<br />
funding package that will generate the short-term<br />
<br />
million and $105 million).<br />
<br />
4,037-acre site that will house the new regional<br />
airport.<br />
<br />
design changes to the terminal building that<br />
will trim construction costs by roughly $7 million.<br />
Key changes to the terminal included reducing<br />
the amount <strong>of</strong> glass in the terminal by<br />
nearly 50%, simplifying design <strong>of</strong> the terminal<br />
<br />
<br />
deplanement areas to eliminate bottlenecks. Additionally,<br />
HTNB Architecture, Inc. proposed the<br />
construction <strong>of</strong> a 7,400-square foot annex to the<br />
terminal building to house the baggage loading<br />
and sorting system.<br />
<br />
appeals court judge in New York issued a temporary<br />
stay suspending the Federal Aviation<br />
Administration’s approval <strong>of</strong> the new airport<br />
has been rescheduled for January 8, 2008. On<br />
Monday, the <strong>Panama</strong> <strong>City</strong> – Bay County Airport<br />
<br />
court to vacate the stay, and schedule arguments<br />
as soon as possible. There is no word yet when<br />
the court will rule on these motions.<br />
velopment<br />
deposited $56.5 million into an escrow<br />
account for the purchase <strong>of</strong> the existing<br />
airport site.<br />
Navy News<br />
Capt. Hal Harbeson, Commanding Officer<br />
Naval Support Activity <strong>Panama</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />
The Navy commissioned its newest warship, the<br />
USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) on Dec. 15. <strong>This</strong> is<br />
the third ship <strong>of</strong> a new class <strong>of</strong> amphibious dock<br />
ships. The commissioning team was led locally<br />
by Ted Spangenberg and Capt. Fred Shutt, USN<br />
<br />
Naval Surface Warfare Center here. Literally<br />
hundreds <strong>of</strong> volunteers, service organizations<br />
and local businesses, as well as many<br />
personnel at the Naval Support Activity<br />
<strong>Panama</strong> <strong>City</strong> and its tenants, helped<br />
make this event a huge success.<br />
Mesa Verde is named for the National<br />
Park and World Heritage Center in<br />
Colorado. Former Colorado Senator<br />
Ben Nighthorse Campbell delivered<br />
the ceremony’s principal address. His<br />
wife, Linda Campbell, served as the<br />
ship’s sponsor. The ceremony was<br />
highlighted by the time-honored Navy<br />
tradition when Mrs. Campbell gave<br />
<br />
bring her to life.”<br />
Cmdr. Shawn W. Lobree <strong>of</strong> Miami<br />
<br />
and enlisted Sailors, and the ship<br />
can carry up to 800 Marines, two<br />
hovercraft, helicopters, amphibious<br />
assault vehicles and other equipment to project<br />
Naval presence to the far reaches <strong>of</strong> the globe.<br />
Naval Support Activity <strong>Panama</strong> <strong>City</strong> was proud<br />
to coordinate with the crew <strong>of</strong> Mesa Verde to<br />
commemorate the 66th anniversary <strong>of</strong> the attack<br />
on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7. In what has become<br />
a tradition for our base, we were honored by the<br />
presence <strong>of</strong> two survivors, Ronnie Everett and<br />
Newton Brooks, two surviving widows, and<br />
their families for a special ceremony aboard the<br />
ship on the day it arrived in <strong>Panama</strong> <strong>City</strong>.<br />
On Sunday Dec. 9, as many <strong>of</strong> us were cheering<br />
for the Jacksonville Jaguars, you may have<br />
noticed the Navy team presenting colors at the<br />
beginning <strong>of</strong> the nationally-televised game were<br />
from NSA <strong>Panama</strong> <strong>City</strong>. We’re proud <strong>of</strong> our<br />
<br />
Nesbit, Kelay Jones, Adam Dickson and Jerica<br />
Continued on Page 24<br />
The Circuit January/February 2008 23