The Mexico Beach Beachcomber Weekly Newspaper

The Mexico Beach Beachcomber Weekly Newspaper Mexico Beach, Florida
Local Newspaper
Reporting on city politics - fishing -
Community activity an of Memphis, U.S. Olympic Training Center, U.S. Univ.

BEACHCOMBER publisher/editor Lisa Logan's writing experience, over more than 35 years, includes:
18 years freelance writing for magazines, businesses and public relations
18 years PR consulting, clients included Univ. Olympic Committee, 1996 Centennial Olympic Torch Relay (Memphis, Tenn.), World Police & Fire Games (Memphis), Fortin and Sanders Illustrations, Memphis In May International Festival,

Union Planters Bank (Memphis)
10 years writing instructor for adult Continuing Education at Univ. of Memphis
2 years staff writer in Publications and Media Relations Offices (Univ. of Memphis)
9 years Public Relations Specialist, Music Dept. of Memphis
5 years PR Consultant, University Gallery/Art Museum, Univ. of Memphis
Foreign Coordinator, Memphis In May International Festival 1980-81
Assistant to VP, International and Air Cargo Divisions, Flight Research Corp., Marietta, GA
Writer/Photographer/PR Specialist, Miller High Life News Bureau, U.S. Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, Colo (6 month graduate internship 1987-88)

06/13/2026

TO THE COMMUNITY, BOTH RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS:
2 CAUTIONARY BITS OF NEWS:

1) THE HEAT INDEX FOR OUR IMMEDIATE AND SURROUNDING AREA IS OFFICIALLY IN THE “DANGER” ZONE. LOCAL METEOROLOGISTS HAVE BEEN WARNING PEOPLE THAT THE HEAT INDEX FOR TODAY (FRIDAY) THROUGH TUESDAY, WILL BE IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS.

FRIDAY’S HEAT INDEX (TODAY) WAS 105
TOMORROW’S (SATURDAY) WILL BE 107
SUNDAY’S 103
MONDAY’S 102
TUESDAY’S 101.

EVERYONE: I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY INSIDE IN AIR CONDITIONING, OR, IF OUTSIDE, IN THE SHADE. DRINK COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF WATER. NOTE: DRINKING ALCOHOL IN THESE CONDITIONS WILL ONLY DEHYDRATE YOU.

KEEP ALL PETS INSIDE IN THE AC. DO NOT TAKE DOGS TO THE BEACH – THE SAND REFLECTS HEAT ONTO THE DOGS, THEY CANNOT SWEAT NORMALLY THROUGH THEIR PAWS ON HOT SAND.

DO NOT WALK YOUR DOGS ON CONCRETE OR ASPHALT AT ALL!!! TEMPERATURES OF BOTH THESE SURFACES WILL BE AT 130 DEGREES OR HIGHER, AND WILL GIVE YOUR DOGS, AND ANY BAREFOOT PEOPLE, SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS.

2) BEWARE OF ALL THE BEARS WANDERING AROUND MEXICO BEACH. THOSE OF US LIVING HERE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE NUMEROUS BEARS THAT SHOW UP ON RING DOORBELLS ALMOST EVERY NIGHT. BUT LAST NIGHT, MY VISITING NEIGHBORS WERE ACTUALLY CHASED BY A BEAR WHILE THE FOUR ADULT NEIGHBORS WERE RIDING THEIR BICYCLES LATE AT NIGHT. THE BEAR ACTUALLY CHASED THEM FOR A DISTANCE, AND CAME ALMOST UP TO ONE NEIGHBOR BUT SUDDENLY STOPPED ABOUT 4 FEET AWAY, THEN TURNED AROUND AND WALKED (DIDN’T RUN) OFF. THE BEAR WAS ABOUT CHEST HIGH ON A TALL INDIVIDUAL, SO NOT A JUVENILE. THIS WAS IN THE MARYLAND/5TH STREET/GEORGIA AREA.

JUST REMEMBER: THERE ARE LOTS OF BEARS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, AND THEY ARE ACTIVE ALL NIGHT LONG. THERE ARE ALSO CUBS/JUVENILES MIXED IN, WHICH MAKES THE MOMMA BEARS VERY PROTECTIVE. IT MIGHT BE BEST TO CURTAIL WALKS AND BIKE RIDES LATE AT NIGHT UNTIL WINTERTIME.

STAY SAFE, STAY COOL, HAVE FUN, AND BE CAREFUL.
# # #

05/19/2026

TO THE COMMUNITY / REGARDING PARKING FOR TODAY’S CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR AL CATHEY

From the City of Mexico Beach yesterday:
City of Mexico Beach Government
Monday, May 18, 2026 at 5:38 pm

Golf cart shuttle rides will be available from the Mexico Beach Boat Ramp to 37th Street, where Mayor Cathey’s Celebration of Life Service will take place.
# # #

05/16/2026

COMMUNITY NOTICE: From the City – Celebration of Life for AL CATHEY

City of Mexico Beach Government (Friday, May 15, 2026 at 4:21 p.m.)

Celebration of Life service for former Mayor Al Cathey will be Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Visitation at 4:00 p.m. (CST)

Service at 5:00 p.m. (CST)

Location: South 37th Street (Pier Road) Mexico Beach, Florida.
# # #

05/15/2026

TO THE COMMUNITY: Al Cathey's passing

For those who haven’t heard, lifelong resident and former mayor Al Cathey passed away late Wednesday night. He was 78 years old.

Mr. Cathey moved to Mexico Beach at age five, and was a nephew of Mexico Beach founder Charlie Parker. He was instrumental in much of the development and direction of Mexico Beach in the last 25 years, serving as mayor from 2006 to 2015, then again from 2017 to 2023. He also was very well known for the family’s ACE hardware store, started by his father, in the city shopping center.

Mr. Cathey was the mayor during and after Hurricane Michael, and worked tirelessly, along with other city officials and employees, to rebuild the town after the hurricane’s devastation. Last August (2025), the city dedicated the soon-to-be-rebuilt new city pier to Mr. Cathey, naming it the Al Cathey Municipal Pier.

Please keep the entire Cathey family in your thoughts and prayers in this difficult time.
# # #

05/08/2026

COMMUNITY ALERT: WATCH OUT IN PCBEACH THIS WEEKEND

Apparently I’m running behind this weekend – the annual IRONMAN TRIATHLON is happening this weekend in Panama City Beach, with LOTS of extra people all over the place.

Roughly 1,800 athletes plus their families and support staff are in town for the race.

There is the Ironman Village at the Edgewater Conference Center set up as the hub, but all these people are at hotels and restaurants throughout PCBeach.

There is a 1.2 mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run on Saturday (tomorrow). Go to the website for a map of where it all will take place.

Just be careful if you are going to PCBeach, and plan your trip accordingly.

HEADS UP everywhere, stay safe and enjoy.
# # #

05/08/2026

COMMUNITY ALERT / PORT ST JOE TRAFFIC PATTERNS / MEXICO BEACH COUNCIL NEWS

Just a HEADS UP on traffic flow in Port St. Joe – work continues on Cecil Costin Blvd, the divided street that runs from Hwy 98 at the 2nd stop light north to just past the library. Only this time, they are working on the OTHER side of the divided street, the far side. Now many of the businesses along both sides of Costin Blvd are blocked from any entrance from Costin Blvd, and you have to wind around the world just to get into the parking lots. So, be extra careful when driving through this area, as many of the side roads are also blocked off and dug up, making it more like a scavenger hunt to find the entrance. Be especially careful driving to navigate all this at night. For instance, to get into the PeopleSouth Bank parking lot, I had to drive north on Costin to Garrison, then turn left and drive past the “ROAD CLOSED” sign to get into the bank’s parking lot, and exit the same way. Bank employees said the city told them the work would continue into August. So be careful.

In other news, related to Mexico Beach:
The Mexico Beach city council appointed Lisa Logan to fill the vacant Group 4 city council seat for the first year of that seat’s term. Logan will begin work as a council member at Tuesday’s regular meeting (May 12).

The Group 4 seat was up for election this April, but Jason Adams, who held the post the last 2 years, did not run for re-election, and the single candidate, Carrie Ruscoe, suddenly declined the post on election day (April 21). That left the seat vacant. The council had 30 days to appoint someone to fill the seat until the next regularly scheduled election, which will be next April. Then candidates can vie for the remaining one-year of the seat’s regular two-year term, then the seat will be up for its regularly scheduled election cycle in 2028.
# # #

04/30/2026

COMMUNITY ALERT / REMINDER: FREE TREE GIVEAWAY TOMORROW MORNING – FRIDAY, MAY 1 – 9:00 AM

From the City:
FREE TREES – 9:00 AM CDT – PARKER PARK – UNTIL WE RUN OUT

Available are live oak / red maple / highbush blueberry / crape myrtle / water oak / southern magnolia
# # #

04/29/2026

COMMUNITY ALERT / HEADS UP: SPRING THUNDER BEACH BIKE RALLY BEGINS TODAY

Just an FYI: It’s Bike Week again. The spring version of Thunder Beach Bike Rally began today and runs through Sunday. As always, headquartered in Panama City Beach, traffic will be significantly heavier, and motorcycles will be on the roads in large numbers. Adjust your travels accordingly.

Just a reminder to be extra careful on Hwy 98 from Mexico Beach through Apalachicola, as many of the bikers – weather permitting – will be traveling from PCBeach through our neck of the woods. For those not familiar with Bike Week activities, the Hwy 98 corridor from Mexico Beach eastward is a favorite route for the bikers, as they enjoy our slice of the coast.

They are always a very friendly bunch, so be sure to say hello if you meet any of them at local restaurants, etc. Everybody be extra careful on the roads, stay safe, and have a good time.
# # #

04/27/2026

COMMUNITY ALERT / REMINDER: CITY COUNCIL MEETING TOMORROW MORNING – TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2026 – 9:00 AM CDT

AGENDA:
1. Consent agenda: council meeting minutes April 14, 2026
2. Ordinance 883: Duke Energy franchise agreement, 2nd reading (city administrator Mell Smigielski) – public discussion / council discussion / motion to approve or deny
3. Follow-up request from Casuna (Smigielski) - public discussion / council discussion / motion to approve or deny
4. Citizens comments
5. Staff comments – city administrator / city attorney / department heads
6. Council comments

NOTE: Absent on the agenda is the issue of filling the now-vacant council seat, since new council member Carrie Ruscoe unexpectedly turned down the seat last week. Ruscoe was scheduled to take her place on the council at this April 28 meeting. She gained the seat by being the only person to file/qualify for the election earlier this year. Jason Adams, who held the seat for the past 2 years, did not seek re-election. It is speculated that the issue/procedure of filling the vacant seat will be mentioned in some capacity during the council comments section of the agenda.
# # #

COMMUNITY REMINDER: From the City:City of Mexico Beach Government Reminder: Canal Pkwy will be closed to thru traffic un...
04/22/2026

COMMUNITY REMINDER: From the City:

City of Mexico Beach Government
Reminder: Canal Pkwy will be closed to thru traffic until Thursday afternoon.

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Mexico Beach, FL
32456

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