The Florida Public Service Commission approved the 448/850 area code overlay in November 2019.
According to a press release from the PSC, all calls, including local calls will use the new 10 digit dialing beginning May 22. Existing and new phone numbers served by the 448/850 area codes will be affected.
The 850/448 area code region consists of 18 counties in the Florida Panhandle, including the cities of Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City and Tallahassee.
The 10-digit dialing was originally set to begin in February, however, the PSC delayed the implementation for three months so that business customers had ample time to reprogram alarm systems and elevator operations, the release stated.
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The News Herald
PANAMA CITY A Bay County jury on Wednesday found Richard Daniel Tipton guilty of trafficking in amphetamines, trafficking in illegal drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According a State Attorney s Office press release, a Bay County Sheriff s Office investigator attempted to stop Tipton after seeing him riding a bicycle at night without lights or reflectors and failing to yield to the pedestrian signals while crossing Thomas Drive.
Tipton failed to stop when directed by the deputy and instead rode his bike into a park where he was seen throwing items toward a pond, the release said.
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The News Herald
PANAMA CITY BEACH Authorities are searching for a suspect in an early-morning armed robbery at a Panama City Beach motel on Tuesday.
According to a press release from the Panama City Beach Police Department, officers responded at 4:17 a.m. to the Beach Tower By The Sea Motel, 12001 Front Beach Road, after an armed robbery.
The clerk told officers that a white male wearing a dark hoodie, face covering and jeans came into the lobby and told the clerk that he was armed.
The suspect, however, did not show a firearm but took an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing on foot eastbound along Front Beach Road, the release stated.
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The News Herald
PANAMA CITY Panama City police say they have found the vehicle used in a hit-and-run fatality on April 8, but charges haven’t been filed.
Connie Py, 61, was struck and killed while pushing a bicycle across U.S. 98 at 17th Street and a nearby surveillance camera recorded the potential vehicle involved. The vehicle, a semi-truck, was found on Saturday following an extensive search, a Panama City Police Department press release states.
The driver has been questioned. No charges have been filed, but the investigation is ongoing.
The Florida Department of Transportation is assisting with evidence collection from the semi-truck.
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The News Herald
PANAMA CITY A former head of the nonprofit arm of Gulf Coast State College has been arrested for allegedly stealing nearly $45,000 from the organization.
The Panama City Police Department charged former executive director Margaret “Margie” Mazur with grand theft after she turned herself in on Wednesday, a police department press release states.
Mazur had been placed on administrative leave in November 2020 and had resigned on Nov. 14 from her job overseeing the foundation, which provides scholarships to students.
The press release states that Gulf Coast State College’s attorney notified the police department in March that a reported misuse of college funds had occurred, dating back to 2018.