Latest news with #KimberlyShoaf
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Mexico Beach shoreline nearly restored after Hurricane Michael damage
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Besides homes and businesses, Hurricane Michael displaced more than 400 million cubic yards of Mexico Beach's shoreline. This year city officials began a re-nourishment project to put the sand back on the beach. Weeks Marine Company contractors are now putting the final touches on the project. 'We are doing the last minute part of it, which is the beach planting process where we're planting dune vegetation as well as finishing up some of the areas with the dunes and everything. We've been working on it for a little over eight years. Hurricane Michael did speed up the need to put our sand back essentially and strengthen our shoreline,' Community Development Council President Kimberly Shoaf said. Highway 90 closed in Mossy Head due to active incident at Dollar General The crew are worked in 1500-foot sections, moving westward down the beach. The three-month project added 3 miles of 14-foot dunes, starting from El Governor resort to the Mexico Beach canal. Contractors laid out their equipment to extract one million cubic yards of sand from a borrowed sand site that has the same quality of sand as Mexico Beach. They then used a dredge to excavate that sand up and bring it onto the beach to be spread out. 'So it's real high quality sand and just putting all that sand out there to help protect, you know, the homes and structures in the future. Because during Hurricane Michael, with 17, 20 foot waves and these dunes will help break those down and try to help those structures in the future,' Commissioner Robert Carroll said. Within two weeks the vegetation of the dunes will be complete. The project will be finalized in-time for the beginning of turtle season in May. The beach is currently open, but authorities are reminding people that walking on the dunes is illegal and carries a fine. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stir up some fun this weekend in Mexico Beach
MEXICO BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – Dozens of people are preparing to throw on their aprons and compete for bragging rights as the 25th annual Mexico Beach Gumbo Cook-Off returns to town. This year's cook-off will be held on Saturday, February 15th starting at 10 a.m. at the Mexico Beach Boat Ramp Park. Tickets will only be sold at the gate and are required if you would like to enjoy all the different recipes. The cook-off also raises money for the city's 4th of July celebration and is held annually due to its popularity among residents and visitors alike. Calhoun County attraction set to host a wide variety of events 'The gumbo cook-off has just been a beloved classic event here in Mexico Beach for years and years,' said Special Events for Mexico Beach Volunteer Kimberly Shoaf. 'It just continues to bring out those who not only want to compete year after year after year, but also those who come and support the event because they know the great cause that this event helps fulfill.' If you aren't a big fan of gumbo, there are other meal options, including hot dogs, sausage dogs, and desserts. There are also a few spots open if you would like to enter the cook-off. To sign up and reserve your spot, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'A long time coming'; Mexico Beach starts beach nourishment project
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Several agencies celebrated the start of the long-awaited beach nourishment project. Residents of Mexico Beach may be used to the calm, clean shorelines. However, right now, some of their beach has construction going on and it's all due to the first-ever beach nourishment project. Mexico Beach was ground zero for Hurricane Michael in 2018. The category 5 storm destroyed homes, businesses, and the shoreline, displacing more than 400 million cubic yards of sand. Celebrate Black History Month with 'Art from the Heart' exhibit Since then, city officials have been working to restore the shoreline and bring back more week, that vision became reality. 'The goal of this project is to harden the current existing sand dune that we have, as well as push additional sand outward to lengthen Mexico Beach to allow for a barrier of protection for any type of future storms. So therefore, not only the habitat for shorebirds and sea turtles but also our upland structures and our businesses, and our residents' homes, they are protected because we have this additional beach that will protect them throughout any impacts,' Mexico Beach Tourist Development President Kimberly Shoaf said. The three-month project will add 3 miles of 14-foot dunes, starting from El Governor Resort to the Mexico Beach canal. While sand is getting moved around, it won't feel different than what visitors are used to. The crew uses a special machine that separates any large materials in the sand before it's placed back. 'We have the 3300 extractor at the end of our discharge it has a set of screens inside that shake and it extracts all of the shell that's larger than three-quarters of an inch out of the sand. And then the rest of the material goes out of a trough and goes out into the beach. You'll just have a more uniform product in the long run. You know, you're not going to have any large fragments of shell that could be sharp like that,' Weeks Marine Project Manager Aaron Hoffler said. Ascension Sacred Heart Bay held luncheon for Heart Health Awareness The project started on Friday. It should be completed by the end of April. Crews will work 24 hours a day to make that deadline. The crew will work in 1500-foot sections, moving west down the shoreline. Those sections will be closed during the work, while the rest of the beach will be open to the public. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
