Updated: 8:27 PM Panama City - Today is the final day of the extended red snapper season, at midnight the season comes to an end. It's the first time the season has ever been extended, in response to rough weather brought on by Tropical Storm Debby which forced boats to stay docked. Red snapper season is a huge draw for Northwest Florida, bringing thousands of tourists and millions of dollars to the local economy. NewsChannel 7's Meredith TerHaar spent a day offshore to find out why.

Updated: 2:36 PM Panama City - Sports camps are a favorite summer activity for thousands of kids across Northwest Florida, now drama camps are gaining popularity locally. Two dozen elementary and middle school students are busy putting the finishing touches on their presentation of "The Little Mermaid Jr."

Updated: 10:10 AM Panama City - It's certainly the opportunity of a lifetime! Sixteen-year-old Bailey Reese, of Niceville, carried the Olympic torch through Bisham Abbey in England Tuesday morning.

Updated: 10:09 AM Panama City - School doesn't start for another several weeks, but a Panama City Rescue Mission program that helps students in need get ready for the new year is already busy getting families signed up. New this year, "Klothes for Kids" is doing on-site registration at places like Girls Inc. and the Boys and Girls Club. That makes it even easier for families to get the help they need.

Updated: 1:31 PM Panama City - Alzheimers. By age 85, 30% to 50% of adults show signs of the disease. For family caregivers, dealing with Alzheimer's effects on their loved one can be heartbreaking and stressful. That's why a local in-home senior care provider is spreading the word about a new, and free resource for families. The online training module is called "CARE: Changing Aging Through Research and Education." It helps families better understand the disease and how to cope with it, as well as offer tips on how to care for the 60% to 70% of Alzheimer's patients still living at home.

Updated: 8:04 PM Panama City - Tyndall Air Force Base is one of only four Air Force installations in the country accredited as "Storm Ready" by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. So what have they done to earn that designation? NewsChannel found out how the base prepares for hurricane season.

Updated: 8:44 AM Panama City - An estimated 30 million young Americans are participating in organized sports. While that's great news in the fight against childhood obesity, it also means more athletic injuries. The US Centers for Disease Control say more than 3.5 million kids under 14 were treated for a sports injury last year. So what can you do to help protect your child from an athletic injury? Turns out, quite a bit. According to the CDC, more than half of all children's athletic injuries are preventable.

Updated: 3:40 PM A lot of northwest Florida visitors cut their vacation short because of Tropical Storm Debby. Not only has that affected the hotel industry, it’s affected the fishing industry as well.

Posted: 9:13 AM Santa Rosa - When a child has cancer, the entire family is affected. All the treatments and doctor's appointments can create a lot of stress for the patient, parents, and siblings. That's why Lighthouse Family Retreat gives families dealing with childhood cancer a weeklong getaway to help restore their relationships, and their hope. The Atlanta-based organization works with communities along 30A to host 12 retreats every year. Many of them take place at Gulf Place in Santa Rosa Beach.

Updated: 10:45 AM A team of Bay County grandmothers is taking to the sky to participate in the 2012 Air Race Classic.

Updated: 8:38 AM Lately privatizing school services has been in the headlines as districts try to find ways to cut costs.

Updated: 8:07 PM John Certo of Andy's Flour Power was a guest in our studio Friday and showed us how to make great frittatas for Father's Day.

Updated: 10:41 AM The Bay County Christian Youth Choir is on tour, performing in several different cities on their way up to Mackinac Island, Michigan. The group is a non-denominational choir for Bay County students, 8th grade through high school.

Updated: 11:23 AM Over the last 4 years, the number of Bay County students who rely on free and reduced lunches has nearly doubled. For many, the meals they eat at school are the only consistent food they have access to.

Updated: 7:04 PM Panama City Beach - A hit and run suspect from Tennessee is in custody after hitting a bicyclist overnight. It happened on Richard Jackson Boulevard just south of Middle Beach Road on Panama City Beach just after 2AM.

Updated: 8:24 AM Panama City - Three local female pilots are making final preparations for what could be one of the greatest adventures of their lives. They are participating in a cross country air race that Amelia Earhart made famous decades ago. But it's not just a sense of accomplishment they're after, the trio is trying to encourage other women, young and old, to pursue the pilot's seat.

Updated: 7:30 AM Beryl is the second named storm of the 2012 Hurricane Season -- both of which formed before the start of the actual season

Updated: 10:08 AM After 39 years in the classroom, this week's Golden Apple award winner is retiring. Mr. Lathinghouse taught middle school language arts in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. He spent the last 6 years at Freeport Middle School.

Updated: 11:59 AM This week's Golden Apple award winner teaches English to 9th and 10th graders at Rutherford High School, but not for much longer. Joy Simonson is retiring in June after touching the lives of thousands of students over 44 years.

Updated: 10:47 AM International adoption can be a joyful journey, but also a challenging one. That's why some local women are forming a support group for families who have adopted internationally.

Updated: 10:01 AM Tyndall Air Force Base - Algae, it grows fast and it grows just about anywhere. That's just one of the reasons the Air Force is trying to figure out how to use it as a fuel source. Researchers at Tyndall Air Force Base began exploring the possibilities of algae-based biofuel three years ago, and it looks promising.

Updated: 10:11 AM Panama City - With gas prices still high and the economy still struggling, many families are trying to trim spending wherever they can. How would you like to save 50 to 90 percent on your grocery bill every month? One local woman is doing just that, and it's not just her family who benefits.

Updated: 8:16 AM This week's Golden Apple award winner is Joy Sammons, she teaches middle school math at Bay Haven Charter Academy in Lynn Haven. Those who know her say her influence reaches outside the classroom as well.

Posted: 7:22 AM When different branches of the military come together to host an event, usually it’s for something big. For three Army deep sea divers, Friday’s ceremony was years in the making.

Updated: 8:25 AM Panama City Beach - This week's Golden Apple award winner is a reading specialist at Arnold High School in Panama City Beach. Nine times out of ten Golden Apple winners are nominated by students or parents...but this week is unique. Alexis Underwood was nominated by a fellow teacher who says her passion inspires students and colleagues alike.