Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida Encourage Students to Participate in 2025 Black History Month Contests

Student essay contest winners will receive a 2-Year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation

Florida Black History Month Contests Offer Students Scholarships & Awards

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Today, the Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida encourage students to participate in the Black History Month student art and essay contests with the theme “Honoring African American Contributions to Florida’s Success.” Black History Month is recognized and celebrated in the United States each year in the month of February.

“Florida is committed to teaching students about African American history and the role African Americans have played in Florida’s success,”said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr.“I encourage all students to participate in the Black History Month art and essay contests and immerse themselves in Florida’s history.”

“Florida goes the extra mile to recognize the immense and historical contributions of African Americans in our great state, said Volunteer Florida CEO Josie Tamayo. “We are proud to offer this opportunity each year to recognize outstanding students and educators in Florida for their unique efforts and talents.”

All Florida students are invited to participate in academic and creative contests based on this year’s theme. Students in grades K-3 are invited to participate in an art contest, while students in grades 4-12 are invited to participate in an essay contest. Additionally, students, parents, teachers and principals are invited to nominate full-time educators of all student grades for the Black History Month Excellence in Education Award.

About the Student Art Contest 
The Black History Month art contest is open to all kindergarten through third-grade students in Florida. Each student will submit original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme. Four statewide winners will be selected, and each winner will receive a $100 gift card for school supplies and a 1-year pass to Florida State Parks.

About the Student Essay Contest
The Black History Month essay contest is open to all students attending any Florida school in grades 4-12. Six winners will be selected: two elementary school students (grades 4-5), two middle school students (grades 6-8), and two high school students (grades 9-12). Each winner will receive a 2-year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $100 gift card for school supplies.

Contestants must be Florida residents, attend school in Florida in grades 4-12 (including public, charter, private, home or virtual) and able to provide a Social Security Number. Each student may enter only one essay, written in English, no longer than 500 words.

There are many examples throughout our state’s history of African Americans and their contributions to Florida’s success. Using your own words, write about an African American who has had an impactful effect whose story should be shared. The subject of the essay should be a Floridian.

Some examples are:

• Lottery Secretary John Davis
• Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune 
• Ray Charles 
• Representative Kiyan Michael

About the Excellence in Education Award 
Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Black History Month Excellence in Education Award Contest is open to all full-time educators in an elementary, middle, or high school in Florida. Four winners will be selected, and nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent/guardian, or student. Excellence in Education award winners will receive $2,500 from Volunteer Florida.

Contest Entries and Nominating Forms and Guidelines 
Student contest forms and educator nomination forms must be mailed to Volunteer Florida or submitted online at www.floridablackhistory.com.

Volunteer Florida 
Black History Month Committee
1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 250
Tallahassee, Florida 32308

All entries must be received by 5 p.m. (ET) on Monday, February 3, 2025. 

For more information about the contests, please visit www.floridablackhistory.com.

GCSC Visual & Performing Arts Presents “Burn the Midnight Oil” Exhibit

Panama City, FL –  The Visual & Performing Arts Division of Gulf Coast State College presents “Burn the Midnight Oil” by Stacey Holloway.

 This sculptural exhibit uses a combination of animal forms with found objects as a metaphor for the human experience. In particular, it focuses on the experience of living with, supporting and assisting individuals with severe mental health issues. The title of the show refers to the hard work and dedication that is required in living situations like these. The sculpture­­­s represent the heartbreak, the isolation, the encouragement, the motivation, the knowledge, and the physical/mental struggle that takes place within such a household.

Stacey Holloway is an associate professor of sculpture at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In addition to teaching, Holloway is an active national mixed media artist, sculptor, and fabricator that works within a variety of media, including drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, and interactivity. Through the exploration of storytelling and ethology, she creates work that communicates a universal societal connectivity.

• The exhibit will be on display in the Amelia Center Main Gallery (Room 112), from Friday, January 24 to Friday, February 21, 2025
• Opening reception is on January 24, 5:00p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Gallery hours are Monday – Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Admission to the reception and the gallery is free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact Pavel Amromin at pamromin@gulfcoast.edu, 850-872-3886.

Pier Park Drive Closure Planned for U.S. 98

CHIPLEY, FL – Pier Park Drive will be closed south of the U.S. 98 intersection Tuesday, Jan. 21 through Tuesday, Jan. 28. Construction crews will be installing drainage beneath the roadway. U.S. 98 drivers requiring access to Pier Park may detour using Powell Adams Road. The closure will not impact the U.S. 98 travel lanes, or Pier Park Drive traffic north of the U.S. 98 intersection.

All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.

For information on the project, like on Facebook at Myus98wfl or follow on Instagram @myus98.

Home Depot & ToolBank USA Partner for Hands-On Student Workshop

PANAMA CITY, FL – On Thursday, January 16, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., The Home Depot Foundation will team up with Panama City students and nonprofit partner ToolBank USA to build furniture for local community spaces.  

This project is part of a nationwide week of service from January 13-17 to honor and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, will partner with ToolBank USA and students at St. Anders STEM Academy to build 20 tables and benches, which will enhance their local community and provide a valuable hands-on learning opportunity for these students pursuing careers in the skilled trades. Participating students will have a chance to see firsthand how applying their skills can make a positive impact in their local community. Once complete, some of the furniture will remain at St. Anders for students to enjoy, and the rest will be donated to veterans’ organizations throughout Panama City.  

Volunteer project will include: 

• Building 20 tables and benches that will be donated to St. Anders STEM Academy and the local veteran community 

WHO: Spokespeople available for interviews include:  

• Chris Holland, Store Manager, The Home Depot [On-Site Contact: 229-429-9906] 

• Bill Hess, Director, Disaster Services, ToolBank USA 

WHERE: 292 US-98, Panama City, FL 32401 (ToolBank USA Warehouse)  

• For media use only – not to be shared publicly 

WHEN: Thursday, January 16, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. 

CONTACT: For more information, please contact Sebastian Cortez at Sebastian.Cortez@mslgroup.com or 845-372-3952.

About The Home Depot Foundation  

The Home Depot Foundation, a nonprofit supported by The Home Depot (NYSE: HD), works to improve the homes and lives of U.S. veterans, support communities impacted by natural disasters and train skilled tradespeople to fill the labor gap. Since 2011, the Foundation has invested more than $550 million in veteran causes and improved more than 65,000 veteran homes and facilities. The Foundation has pledged to invest $750 million in veteran causes by 2030 and $50 million in training the next generation of skilled tradespeople through the Path to Pro program by 2028. To learn more about The Home Depot Foundation visit HomeDepotFoundation.org and follow on X @HomeDepotFound and on Facebook and Instagram @HomeDepotFoundation.  

About ToolBank USA 

ToolBank USA is a national nonprofit organization charged with the replication and advancement of ToolBanks across the country. Our ToolBank affiliate network serves community-based organizations by providing tools, equipment, and expertise to empower their most ambitious goals. ToolBank USA facilitates a significant portion of the ‘back room’ administration for its affiliates, to allow local ToolBank staff to focus on customer service and program excellence. ToolBank USA uses the power of the strong and growing national ToolBank brand to leverage resources for its affiliates, and is the official knowledge base of the ToolBank, collecting and sharing best practices from around the ToolBank network. For more information, visit: www.toolbank.org.   

AAA: FLORIDA GAS PRICES BREAK EVEN ON THE WEEK 

TAMPA, FL — Florida gas prices continued yoyo up and down. The state average went from $3.11 per gallon down to $3.06 mid-week, only to bounce right back up to $3.11/g by Sunday. 

“Fuel prices have cycled within the same range for the past couple months, but a recent oil price hike threatens to bring upward pressure on prices at the pump,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Oil prices rose to multi-month highs on winter weather woes and U.S. sanctions on Russian petroleum. This could place upward pressure on prices at the pump.”

The U.S. price for crude increased $3 per barrel (4%) last week. Friday’s closing price of $76.57 per barrel is the highest daily settlement since early October. The U.S. placed sanctions on Russian oil producers and 183 ships which reportedly carry that oil to China and India. The sanctions are reportedly an attempt to cut off funding for Moscow’s war against Ukraine. This will reportedly leave China and India to seek more supply from the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. 

As the oil market debates how these sanctions will affect global supplies, there are concerns about a prolonged stretch of below-average temperatures. OPIS reports that rare winter storms in Texas and the South should sharply boost demand for distillate/heating oil. 

Visit GasPrices.AAA.com to view state and local average gas prices

Gas Price Survey Methodology
AAA updates fuel price averages daily at www.GasPrices.AAA.com. Every day up to 130,000 stations are surveyed based on credit card swipes and direct feeds in cooperation with the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) and Wright Express for unmatched statistical reliability. All average retail prices in this report are for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline.

About AAA – The Auto Club Group

The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America with more than 13 million members across 14 U.S. states and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel offerings and more. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 64 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA’s mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety. For more information, get the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com, and follow on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

USPS is Hosting a Virtual Job Fair on January 24 for Immediate Openings

Job Security, Generous Pay and Benefits, and Career Advancement Included

NORTHERN FLORIDA— The United States Postal Service is seeking committed and motivated individuals to join us in our mission of service in communities throughout Florida. We currently have immediate hiring opportunities and are hosting a VIRTUAL JOB FAIR to share information with potential USPS team members about a position that may be perfect for them.

With a starting salary of $35.94per hour, the available position is an Electronic Technician (ET).

To join the Virtual Job Fair, click on the link below.

FLORIDA 1 DISTRICT

Date: Friday, January 24, 2025

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Location: VIRTUAL

Join ZoomGov Meeting

https://usps.zoomgov.com/j/1604324641?pwd=3rjhnRayRY8I3h2qbJ0eYzyXocaA5M.1

Dial by your location: +1 503 336 1236 US or +1 952-229-5070

Meeting ID: 160 432 4641
Passcode: 189319

Those unable to attend the job fair may apply at www.usps.com/careers or click on the QR code below.

Electronic Technician (ET) An ET will apply advanced knowledge to perform a full range of diagnostic preventative maintenance, alignment and calibration and overhaul tasks on both hardware and software for a variety of mail processing, customer service and building equipment and systems.  If you are looking to apply your previous technical knowledge to the mail operating system, this job could be right for you. Starting salary: $35.94 per hour

Career employees can earn premium long-term benefits that complement good pay. Some of the benefits include multiple health and life insurance choices, pension benefits and a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) like a 401(k), and vacation time and sick leave.

The U.S. Postal Service is an organization that promotes largely from within, offering career development to help prepare employees achieve their professional goals. Training programs including entry-level functional job-related training, technical hands-on learning, new supervisor training, and management-to-executive level development.

Those unable to attend the job fair may apply at www.usps.com/careers or click on the QR code below.

The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable, and secure delivery of mail and packages to more than 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to fund its operations.

The Evolving Tobacco Landscape & Implications for Policy & Practice

Building on 30 years of continuing education courses, the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center is partnering with Truth Initiative to host the 2025 national conference highlighting the intersection between tobacco control policy and practice. Amidst an evolving tobacco product landscape and scientific evidence, the course will educate attendees about the latest science, treatment best practices, and policy considerations. Attendees will explore a range of challenges and opportunities to deliver tobacco dependence treatment to reduce prevalence and improve the nation’s health.

This conference is designed for anyone working with tobacco dependent patients, and those who are interested in the intersection of policy and practice. Physicians, tobacco treatment specialists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, chemical dependency counselors, respiratory therapists, nurses, dental hygienists, wellness coaches, social workers and other allied health professionals may find the conference beneficial.

When: March 27 to March 29, 2025
Where: Phoenix, AZ, and Livestream

REGISTER HERE ►

GCSC’s President’s and Dean’s Honor Lists Announced for Fall 2024 Semester

Panama City, FL– Gulf Coast State College has announced the students named to the President’s and Dean’s Honor Lists for the Fall 2024 semester. The President’s List is awarded to all full-time students (enrolled for 12 or more college credit hours) who earned a grade point average of 3.90 to 4.00. The Dean’s List is awarded to students enrolled in 12 or more college credit hours who earned a grade point average of 3.70 to 3.89.

Students named to the President’s List are:

(Bay County) Skylarr Adair, David Albares, Jessica Allego, Leslie Allen, Haven Ard, Austin Arnold, Madyson Atwater, Davis Avera, Samuel Bailey, Gary Baldwin, Alyssa Barker, Kierstin Barnett, Kolby Bear, Rebecca Beasley, Robin Bennett, Makenna Beote, Hunter Bergman, Alana Bernal, Misha Blancaneaux, Sydney Boyer, Merisha Brock, Allie Brooks, Ansley Brown, Hannah Brown, Curtis Bruce, Camdyn Bruzek, Kaitlyn Bullion, Jennifer Burns, Carlyle Kirvy Burpee, Reilly Byers, Eliizabeth Calo, Cheyenne Cecchini, Liberty Chisman, Kaitlyn Clark, Zhane Clinch, Ava Coleman, Audrey Collins, Steyr Conrad, Titus Conrad, Olivia Coupe, Noah Cox, Alondra Crouse, Adriana Cruz Betancourth, Jeffrey Cummings, Kristof  Darvai, Marissa Davis, Aiden Day, Luis De La Fuente, Arianny De Oliveira, Isaiah Devlin, Lavonne Dickens, Kaylee Dupuis, Morgan Duvall, Emily Eck,

Shadi El Bendari, Caitlyn Ellis, Rubing Fang, Chelsea Farrar, Amanda Fiser, Samuel Fitzimons, Slade Flint, Camryn Flottmann, Haley Flowers, Keely Fossum, Braunsyn Furry, Sean Gallagher, Jacob Gendreau, Jack Gilliam, Christian Gonzales, Kaitlyn Griffin, Olivia Griffin, Mandi Grontas, Tyler Gustman, Michael Guynn, Moya Harper, Armando Harris, Peyton Hendley, Dakota Hensel, Cody Hill, Kendal Hill, Caden Holley, Jessica Howell, Titus Howell, Rayna Huber, Gaines Huneycutt, Geoff Hurley, Alexsia Jacobs, Katelynne James, Kaitlyn Jensen, Logan Jensen, Holly Johnston, Hannah Jones, Rylan Joseph, Lauren Justice, Madison Kanazawa, Joshua Keller, Erin Kelly, Ty Kennon, Hiba Khan, Trent Kirkland, Jalynn Koonce, Sabrina Kosloske, Clara Koulibaly, Thomas Lanier, Jaden Lawson, Alessandro Le Vexier, Jessica Lea, Jessica Lester, Coleen Lewis, Shallan Lochtefeld, Jason Lodge,

Jessica Lord, Lisa Lyons, Jessica Marco, Chad Marcum, Jordan Martinez, Usaid Masood, Melissa Mayor, Shawn McClain, Ryleigh McFaul, Jackson Mckenzie, Tiffany McKenzie, Erica McLane, Amanda Mcdaniel, Victoria Medianero Pachamoro, Brian Messer, Angel Migues, Edward Mike, Becky Miller, Malachi Miller, Kailey Montalbano, Heather Moses, Sara Munoz, Owen Nagy, Christen Nelson, Amani Nethersole, Kenneth Ngo, Chloe Odom, Madeline Ogden, Nathan Otwell, James Ovalle, Christian Owens, Kelly Owens, Savannah Owens, Makayla Pabalan, Lemoar Padua, Sterling Painter, Riya Patel, Vraj Nitinkumar Patel, Bobbi Patterson, Vivian Patterson, Colin Pauly, Frank Paz, Yuriana Perez, Duc Pham, Kylie Rose Pinkus, Jitka Popela, Olivia Potter, Jason Powers, Carter Priemer, Melissa Prieto, Hailey Pritchard, Bradlee Putz, Nicole Queens Fernandez, Presley Raffield, Jamilee Randolph, Mulaika Raqeeb, Richard Rash, Adriana Raymundo, Grant Reed, Anna Renchka, Ethan Riley, Nicole Rivas, Jeffrey Robb, Mahayla Rogers, Isabella Rowe, Nehemiah Rowe, Preston Rowe, Emalee Rozanksi, Erik Rozanksi, Nace Russell, Elyssa Santiago, Jeremy Sapp, Madison Schwartz, Liberty Scott, Skyler  Scott, Rodolfo Serna, Katrina Shepherd, James Sherrod, Mackenzie Shields, Ayana Sieben Murrah, Joshua Sims, Tara Smallwood, Connor Smith, Samantha Snyder, Amoy Solomon, Chase Sornson, Ana Sotomayor, Stephanie Starke, Tobiah Starke, Liudmila Strelets, Evan Strickland, Shawna Strickland, Jordan Summers, Sydney Surdukowski, Timothy Swindell, Avery Taylor, Graham Taylor, Krystal Taylor, Destiny Thomas, Michelle Thomas, Riley Thore, Vy Ton, Eriberto Torres, Brayden Touchstone, Jessie Trawick, Avery Troutman, Alexander Turley, Jordan Turner Javier, Victoria Tuzinkiewicz, Melody Vazquez, Cynthia Villatoro, Evan Vucicevic, Adam Wade, Ava Wadel, Keesley Walker, Keirsten Walker, Ava Walkington, Jessica  Warburton, Brian Washington, Claire Weathersby, Emily Weathersby, Cooper Whited, Emmaleigh Williams, Eden Winckler, Alexandra Wittkopf, Shelby Wolf, Hunter Woodruff, Cecilia Worsham, Autumn Yerington, Lauren Young, Habiba Zeidan

(Gulf and Franklin counties) Leah Bowser, William Burris, Desirae Causey, Samantha Childers, Wendy Davis, Tristen Foley, Mikaleh Graham, Mya Huckeba, Cyrina Hysmith, Eric Lau, Savana Mayhann, Kaitlyn McGuffin, Alexcia McNair Martin, Jordan Pippin, Jessica Weeks

Students named to the Dean’s List are:

(Bay County) Heather Adams, Brittney Albritton, Alex Askinazi, Timothy Augustine, Elsia Bakongo, Gracie Bell, Ana Berry, Angelique Bishop, Brandi Bishop, Alisha Blake, Jolee Boatright, Seth Boop, Jacob Bousa, Addison Bradley, Kaly Brannon, Atiun Brown, Sade Brown, Jacob Brunson, Tristan Buckhout, Cade Dominic, Madison Campbell, Kamyrn Carlley, Adriana Carroll Rogers, Kerry Carty, Grace Castellani, Olivia Charles, Lamarr Chippy, Nicky Collazo, Shelby Copas, Daisy Corbin, Steven Corson, Jenna Coryell, Fiona Croom, Annabelle Crosby, Caleb Crowe, Shelbie  Cummings, Lauren Daniels, Sundos Danun, Ella Daube, Devyn Davis, Ana Diaz, Kristina Dick, Bryan Dilmore, Jaysie Edwards, Christopher Emilsen, David Jericho Estanislao, Dustin Finch, Katy Fisher, Hannah Fleming, Justin Fleming, Riley Fulton, Sarah Gagnon, Giordano Gala Hernandez, Chloe Gentile, Jackson Giemont, Esmeralda Gutierrez, Claudette Gutierrez Scandelt, Kiara Guzman, William Hagan, Matthew Hagler, Holly Hand, Kelsey Harlan, Alyssa Harris, Stone Hatton, Ailyn Hernandez, Carter Hess, Justin Hitchner, Addison Hoffman, Hannah Hofmeister, Martina Holley, Makayla Hollis, Sean Holmes, Kaolu Holt, JordanIferd, Hanna Johnsen, Andrew Johnson, Caralyn Jones, Haleigh Jones, Madeline Jones, Alliyah Jordan, Kaitlyn Kelley, Marie Kelly, Jedidiah Kuj, Laura Lasater, Ilyssa Leverette, Kahmari Little, Erika Lopez, Tina Lundgren, Nathen Marlow, Andrew Mayers, Baylor McCluney, Shane McEliece, Heather Mcclendon, John Mengel, Gabrielle Milwicz, Erika Morgan, Madelyn Moyers, Alexa Nexans Sherwood, Ashlynn Nordan, Adreon Oblivion, Stiletto Olascuaga, Phebean Olujobi, Jacob Pascoe, Serenity Perez, Bayron Perez Plute, Brooklyn Pettibone, David Piercy, Sean Pietrowski, Jason Poage, Riley Powell, Sofia Quintero, Sophia Ramie, Gracie Ray, Hailey Reagan, Courtney Redmon, Lesly Rivera, Angie Roberts, Amor Roche, Brandon Rogers, Ethan Rosa, Mckenzie Sale, Gage Salter, Joshua Schwieterman, Taylor Scott, Antonio Servidio, Carley Smith, Danielle Smith, Makai Smith, Linda Sorrells, Tiara Standifer, Olivia Stevens, LeMay Sullivan, Amiya Summerwall, Chappell Syfrett, Sola Thurman, Brennen Tims, Andrew Traylor, Andrew Turner,  Nicole Turner, Ruby Sadie Walbridge, Jacob Walker, Tyler Walker, Ashlynn Weaver, Julia Wells, Hannah West, Faith Wetmore, Maya White, Isaac Winckler, Isabella Wise, Sara Wojciechiwski, Loriann Woodford, Hope Wright, Alivia York, Jafar Yousef, Mysteena Zeno, Abel Zimerman

(Gulf and Franklin counties) Jenna Barfield, Ashlyn Creekmore, Judson Griffies, Danica Kelly, Cole Kilgore, Rebecca Leyendecker, Jeffrey McGlon, Elizabeth McGuffin, Chandlee Morgan, Haleigh Smith, Dexton Teat, Hope Thompson

GCSC Visual and Performing Arts Offering a Free Solo & Ensemble Workshop

Panama City, FL –  GCSC Visual & Performing Arts will be holding a free Solo & Ensemble workshop for Bay County middle and high school musicians on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm in the Amelia G. Tapper Center for the Arts.

The Solo & Ensemble Workshop is open to Bay County musicians in grades 6 – 12 who are planning to participate in the Bay County Solo and Ensemble this year. The workshop provides the students with an opportunity to enhance their performance skills through one-on-one feedback from experienced college professors, and aims to refine students’ musical technique, interpretation, and stage presence in preparation for solo and ensemble performances throughout Bay County. Accompaniment provided if needed. Students will have the opp­­ortunity to put the feedback into practice with the option of performing in a recital on the mainstage at 3:00 p.m., which will be free and open to the public.

The workshop registration deadline is Friday, January 17, 2025. For more information or to register for this event, please visit the GCSC Visual & Performing Arts Facebook page or our website at www.gulfcoast.edu/arts.

FDOT Traffic Advisory for Bay County

CHIPLEY, FL – Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Bay County as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.

Bay County:

• U.S. 98 Widening from east of Nautilus Street to east of Richard Jackson Boulevard– U.S. 98 drivers will encounter a traffic shift between Clara Avenue and Alf Coleman Road, Wednesday, Jan. 15 through Thursday, Jan. 16 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Crews will be shifting traffic to continue widening efforts along U.S. 98.
• State Road (S.R.) 390 Bridge Replacement over Mill Bayou – S.R. 390 drivers may experience brief travel delays near the Mill Bayou Bridge Sunday, Jan. 12 through Saturday, Jan. 18. Crews will be delivering materials needed for the reconstruction of the bridge.
• Gulf Coast Parkway Construction from U.S. 98 (Tyndall Parkway) to Star Avenue – U.S. 98 (Tyndall Parkway) drivers may encounter intermittent daytime and nighttime lane closures on U.S. 98 (Tyndall Parkway) from 11th Street to Tram Road, and on Star Avenue from north of S.R. 22 to Tram Road, beginning Sunday, Jan. 12 through Sunday, Jan. 19. The lane closure is necessary for crews to perform drainage structure, sidewalk, and curb and gutter installation and to allow oversized equipment to access the S.R. 370 (Gulf Coast Parkway) construction site. Advanced warning signs and traffic control devices will assist in directing motorists through the work area.
• Hutchison Boulevard Resurfacing from U.S. 98A (Front Beach Road) to U.S. 98A (Front Beach Road) – Drivers will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures Monday, Jan. 13 through Friday, Jan. 17 as crews perform sidewalk, drainage, and resurfacing activities throughout the project area. Advanced warning signs and traffic control devices will assist in directing motorists through the work area.
• U.S. 98 Construction west of Tyndall Drive-Airey Avenue to east of Louisiana Avenue – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures between Tyndall Drive-Airey Avenue and Louisiana Avenue through April.

All planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to pay attention to the reduced speed limit when traveling through the construction area, to watch for construction equipment entering and leaving the roadway, and to use caution when driving through the work zone. Speeding fines double when workers are present.

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