Latest news with #KatieBashore
Daily Mail
28-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Gulf World Marine Park shutters as owners file for bankruptcy
Gulf World Marine Park has closed and is now up for sale after years of money troubles and mounting animal welfare concerns . The Panama City, Florida , attraction — a fixture since 1970 — had drawn 150,000 visitors a year but came under fire after five dolphins died between October 2024 and May while performing shows. Police raided the property earlier this year as part of an ongoing probe. 'These are not isolated incidents — they are signs of failure, and they demand immediate action,' Senator Jay Trumbull said in a Facebook post. Parent company The Dolphin Company has since filed for bankruptcy protection, seeking $8 million to restructure. It is looking to sell Gulf World. Miami Seaquarium, home to 500 animals, and Marineland in St Augustine, FL, with 17 dolphins, are also on the market. Gulf World Marine Park was home to various aquatic species and wildlife, including sea lions, turtles and tropical birds. Local residents accused the park of crumbling infrastructure and poor care for its animals. 'The park is just quite literally falling apart, the animals, all but I would say a couple of them, in my eyes, were suffering,' Panama City Beach resident Katie Bashore revealed in May to WJHG. She also claimed the shows took place in structures with algae floating in the water, and insisted it also posed a danger to humans. Broker Matthew Bordwin, who is overseeing the sale, expects Gulf World to be sold between 45 and 90 days. 'It will be sold for redevelopment, and so we're working on that sale,' Bordwin told WJHG last week , adding the firm is 'accepting offers immediately.' With the investigation and parks up for sale, Bordwin expects The Dolphin Company 'will not exist any further' now that its selling assets and animals. Gulf World Marine Park was not the only park to receive the axe this year. Playland amusement park closed its gates in California on March 30 after 70 years following longtime business difficulties. The park had shuttered most of its rides in 2000 over safety hazards, and temporarily shut it down more than once. Six Flags in Maryland is set to close on November 2, the final day of its annual fright fest. Home to the world's third-oldest roller coaster , the park had been battling money problems , and was considered not to be beneficial in the company's plan to enhance guest experiences. Six Flags is also planning to close its Six Flags California's Great America park after concluding it was 'very low on the ranking margins.'
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A tale as old as time: West Jessamine Middle School is ready for the performance of a lifetime
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) — One of the most beloved fairytales comes to life as a central Kentucky middle school performs Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr., and you shouldn't wait to buy tickets. With more than 50 talented students working on stage and behind the scenes, West Jessamine Middle School's theater program is ready to take on the performance of a lifetime. One you won't see at any other Kentucky school anytime soon due to licensing issues. 'I've always wanted to kind of do Beauty and the Beast, and so it's really exciting to finally get to do it and especially be Gaston in my eighth-grade year,' said student Wyatt Brockman, who is playing Gaston. However, due to licensing for Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr., it now has temporary restrictions in North America affecting organizations like community theaters, after-school programs, high schools, and more. For Katie Bashore, that only meant one thing: the show must go on. Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news 'They announced it last year when I was searching for musicals because I always like to think about the next year as we're wrapping up a current show. So, as I was searching for musicals for this year, they announced that they were closing it after this year and I said, 'Well, obviously I have to do it now because I love Beauty and the Beast. I've always wanted to do Beauty and the Beast,'' said choir and theater director Katie Bashore. The good thing is all performances of this musical must be performed by March 31, giving students at West Jessamine Middle School plenty of time to display their talents. 'I definitely feel that it's a privilege and definitely a little bit more pressure. But I think that we can rise to the occasion and show that we are probably one of the best schools to do Beauty and the Beast,' said Mimi Brooks, who is playing Mrs. Potts. It has been quite the journey for the cast; they auditioned in September. A tale as old as time: West Jessamine Middle School is ready for the performance of a lifetime 80-year-long Elizabethtown UK fan shares birthday wish for big win Lexington man in hospital after being hurt in shooting, police say 'It's been so cool watching it all come together, and I'm really excited to be able to show that off,' said Audra Brumfield, who is playing Belle. If you want to check out Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr. at West Jessamine Middle School. The show dates are March 27-29. For a link for tickets, click here. All rights to Beauty and the Beast Jr. belong to Walt Disney and are distributed by Music Theatre International. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
