Podcast Directory

Episodes

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 048_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

The holidays are a hectic time! Thanksgiving can be time consuming when it comes to cooking and preparations. Not everyone wants to cook every year and face the mountain of dishes that are inevitable. Many resorts and restaurants along the Emerald Coast have specials for Thanksgiving! The Hilton on the Sandestin Resort has a massive amount of food right by the beach. There are many restaurants that will prepare a dinner and the only work needed is a pick up!

The cold weather has arrived! There are lots of coffee shops to meet your needs on those cold mornings and keep you warm. Be sure to check out some of the local favorites! Maas Coffee Shop is a favorite in Fort Walton Beach. On 30-A PJ's Coffee of New Orleans was voted Best Coffee Shop! There are many others that offer create coffee and hot drinks.

The Destin Fishing Rodeo has a successful 60th Anniversary! With boat entries down, the fish count was up this year. More than 1,000 fish were brought into the rodeo. The great weather of October helped the fishing greatly!

Gulf Power bills will increase January 1st! Gulf Power customers may see a nine percent increase. The cost will raise for 1,000 kilowatt-hours for residential customers from $113.76 to $124.23. The 1,000 kilowatt hours are based on electricity use for a 1,200 square-foot house.

The Navarre Pier may recieve a building permit soon. Due to sea turtles and gulf sturgeon, the county had to wait for a biological assessment of the pier's marine impact. Results will go to the Army Corps of Engineers when it issues the permit for the project. The county plans to have the pier completed by the end of 2009!

Coastal Vision 3000 is looking to market the entire Emerald Coast. Recently several coastal counties met to discuss how to market 227 miles of the Emerald Coast! Seven counties will be part of the branding "The Beach". With the downturn in the economy many businesses may be thinking of collaboration.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Betsy Badwater of Pensacola with her song Goodbye Baby.

• Betsy Badwater Myspace Page
• www.BetsyBadwater.com

Email me at destinfloridapo dcast@yahoo.com

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 047_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

Thanksgiving along the Emerald Coast is growing in popularity! More and more people are celebrating the holidays on the beach. Thanksgiving can be a busy time. Accomodations should be made early in the wake of falling gas prices. There are many beach homes that will easily accomodate large families. The weather is very unpredictable and packing warm clothes would be a wise choice.

The Destin Festival of Arts is growing! The festival started 13 years ago with just 60 artists. This year there was 160 artists from 14 different states. More than a 100 participated in the juried exhibition. Proceeds from the event went to both Okaloosa and Walton Counties for arts programs and education.

Maas Coffee in downtown Fort Walton Beach has coffee beans from all over the world! Maas is known locally for some great tasting coffee, but also the variety of coffee beans. Maas carries beans from as far as South America to Central America and other reaches of the world!

The Destin World Cup is cancelled for 2008. The powerboat races had a great event last year in 2007. Due to lack of sponsorships in an economy in hardship the event was cancelled because the $170,000 needed to put the event on could not be raised. The Destin World Cup will return, but the next event is to be announced.

Panama City Beach residents are getting relief in flood insurance. Annual premiums will go down by 25 percent due to the county's improved routing in a federal program. The price reduction is due to a Community Rating System. The rating in 2007 was a seven. In 2008, it is a five.

The City of Destin is trying to rebuild Norriego Point. Currently the City of Destin is trying to prove that sand dredged from the pass should be placed on Norriego Point rather than on Okaloosa Island. The city is willing to spend $125,000 to prove that the sand needs to be on Norriego Point. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection if the sand is placed in the pass the sand will eventually work its way out onto Okaloosa Island due to a predominant east to west current.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Crossing The Atlantic of Pensacola with their song Mighty and Blind New.

• Crossing The Atlantic Myspace Page

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 046_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

The 30th Annual Destin Seafood Festival had great success! Large crowds attended the festival the duration of the weekend. Over 36,000 people came out the course of the weekend. Moving the seafood festival back to its original location is part of the high turn out.

Behind AJ's is where the weigh ins for the Destin Fishing Rodeo will take place. From 10 a.m. till 7 p.m. daily fish will be weighed in on the docks. The rodeo's first fish was a 3 pound Spanish Mackerel. The fishing rodeo takes place the entire month of October.

The Florida Supreme Court recently ruled that beach restoration is a duty of the state. Seven justices ruled against 6 Destin-area beachfront property owners who wanted to stop the state from rebuilding their eroded beaches. The state has constitutional duty to protect its beaches. The Florida's Beach and Shore Preservation Act allows the state to add sand to beaches eroded from storms and other causes.

Halloween is just around the corner! Pensacola offers some great ghost tours that might give you the chills. From now till November 1st is when you can head to Downtown Pensacola for the Haunted House Walking and Trolley Tours. Pensacola is one of the oldest cities in the U.S. with a lot of history. Visit www.pensacolahistory.org for information.

November 7-9 is the Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival in Downtown Pensacola at Seville Square. The festival is free to everyone. Many artists from all over display their works of art. Along with art, live music, food and fun will be present!

The Navarre Beach State Park is now open! The state has spent $4.4 million to restore the 130-acre park to its condition before it was destroyed by the hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. All the major facilities are open and good to go! There are other additions possibly coming such as, an ocean education center.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is The Strychnines of Pensacola with their song Night Ride at Pickens Point.

• The Strychnines Myspace Page

Email me at destinfloridapo dcast@yahoo.com

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 045_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

This show is dedicated to Robbie Aldrich. His family and friends will always remember his cheerful smile and bright personality.

The Mullet Festival is coming!!! The Mullet Festival takes place Oct. 17-19 in Niceville. Last year 42,000 people attended. This year the festival has some great headlining musical acts like Sara Evans, Rodney Atkins and Jason Aldean. Festival goers can expect lots of seafood, arts and crafts, activities for kids and mullet!!! For more information visit www.mulletfestival.com

After 19 years of serving up some great food off of 30-A Criolla's has closed its doors. The restaurant closed so 30A Resorts could expand. 30A Resorts is a vacation planning portal. Criolla's cuisine can still be available as part of the 30A Resort's programs. Criolla's was named one of Florida's Top Twenty Restaurants and was named to Florida Trend's Golden Spoon Hall of Fame.

The parking lot of Pompano Joe's is now under construction. Finally, the parking lot for Pompano Joe's is getting long awaited repairs after being washed out from hurricanes. Much of the parking for the restaurant is taped off and parking is not easy. The parking lot could be finished by the beginning of March 2009.

Beach restoration could be stalled due to lawsuits. There is a lawsuit against the Municipal Services Benefit Unit, which could partially fund the beach restoration. Those opposing the MSBU may now be held responsible for damage incurred. The lawsuit could also seek damages from the loss of sales and rentals.

The military may be the reason oil rigs stay away from the Emerald Coast. The military often performs excercises and tests with missiles in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil rigs would disrupt missions and training. *The Panama City International Airport is extending the runway.* The runway will go from 8,400 feet to 10,000 feet. The extension will help bring in better air service and larger aviation. The Florida Legislature awarded the ariport an addtional $4.5 million in funding.

Tons of seashells can be found on the Navarre Beach! Not all the beaches have as many shells as Navarre Beach. The high wave action recently has washed in some beautiful shells. Along with the seashells, the sunsets are here!

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Seeking Happiness of Pensacola with their song /phillip and agnes/.

• Seeking Happiness Myspace Page

Email me at destinfloridapo dcast@yahoo.com

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 044_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

The Destin Seafood Festival is back on the Destin Harbor! The seafood festival will take place Oct. 3rd through the 5th. Lots of fresh local seafood will be there along with live entertainment, arts and crafts booths, childrens activities and so much more! The Destin Seafood Festival is back at its home ground and will draw a massive turnout!

Hurricanes can change the beach scape very quick. With all the wave action that is created all kinds of foreign objects can be found on the beaches. The last thing beachgoers expected was a flamingo! A flamingo has been filmed and photographed on the east side of the Destin Pass.

There are some great sports bars along the Emerald Coast! With football season here and many important games with baseball still to go, that means the sports bars will be busy! The Twisted Palm just west of Hooters in Destin is a popular spot to watch the game. Some of the best drink specials are offered at the Twisted Palm. Angler's and Johnny O'Quigley's both offer a lot of screens and a good time!

The Okaloosa Regional Airport has changed names. What has been known as the Okaloosa Regional Airport is now known as the Northwest Florida Regional Airport. On August 14, the Pensacola Regional Airport changed its name to Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport.

There are many special rates being offered with condominiums and hotels along the Emerald Coast! Now that the Fall is here, business has slowed down some. Many places are offering some great specials. Along with condos and hotels, many restaurants have begun running fall/winter specials.

Tons of seashells can be found on the Navarre Beach! Not all the beaches have as many shells as Navarre Beach. The high wave action recently has washed in some beautiful shells. Along with the seashells, the sunsets are here!

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Cadillac Willy of Destin with their song Use Me.

• Cadillac Willy Myspace Page
• www.cadillacwilly.com/

Email me at destinfloridapo dcast@yahoo.com

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 043_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

Labor Day weekend was not the typical holiday weekend due to Hurricane Gustav. Lots of cancellations were made because of the storm. Visitors still came to the Emerald Coast regardless. The majority of the license plates on the road were from Louisiana. Labor Day weekend saw some sunshine on Friday and the rest of the weekend was rain and wind!

Bay County has passed a law for double red flags! Beach goers that enter the Gulf of Mexico during a double red flag can be ticketed or even arrested. Fines could range from $1 to $500. Jail time could reach a maximum of 60 days. Bay County has had 10 drownings this year. Stricter precautions must be taken in order to keep the public safe.

Joe and Eddie's has reopened in Fort Walton! Joe and Eddie's closed in September of 2005. The restaurant relocated to Eglin Parkway across from the Goofy Golf. The restaurant has been family owned and operated for more than 50 years. A locals favorite for breakfast!

There are many webcams to check out the beaches along the Emerald Coast. Second home owners can see the beaches behind their homes depending on the location and keep up with beach activity. Some of the popular webcams are on local surf shop websites such as www.fluidsurfshop.com and www.innerlightsurf.com. Both websites have highly active webcams on the beach.

The Panama City International Airport had its first bid! Many people are excited for the development of the airport. Developers may be worried about the cost of it. Recently, there were bids for the terminal building. The lowest bid was $13 million higher than what airport board members expected.

The Gulf Breeze Zoo will stay open through November. The Santa Rosa County gave The Zoo $125,000 recently. The sum will cover costs so The Zoo can stay open. Future funding is still undetermined as of now.

The Pensacola Seafood Festival takes place Sept. 26-28. From Friday through that Sunday festival goers can experience a great variety of seafood, crafts and music! The festival welcomes everyone of all ages free of admission. Sept. 27 is the Pensacola Seafood Festival 5k walk/run that will take place a 8 a.m. starting at Seville Quarter.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is spindletree of Santa Rosa Beach with their song better.

• spindletree Myspace Page
• www.spindletreemusic.com

Email me at destinfloridapo dcast@yahoo.com

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 042_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

Tropical Storm Fay spared the Emerald Coast. Much of south Florida received heavy amounts of rainfall from Tropical Storm Fay. Some power outages and flooding was a result of the storm. Northwest Florida only experienced some rain and some gusty winds. No flooding or damage has been reported along the Emerald Coast. Some locals say there is a "dome" over Miramar Beach.

Labor Day weekend is a busy weekend along the Emerald Coast! Many people may be questioning their reservations to come to the Emerald Coast for Labor Day weekend since Fay. The weather for Labor Day weekend should be great here along the Emerald Coast. Both jellyfish and Fay have left the area! Those coming to the Emerald Coast for Labor Day weekend should remember to do everything "early". The Emerald Coast will be extremely busy!

The Jamaican Festival will take place Labor Day weekend on Pensacola Beach! Fans of reggae should make plans to head out to Pensacola Beach for the Jamaican Festival. Along with the beautiful beaches of the Emerald Coast, some great music and a great crowd, festival goers should experience a great event of the Jamaica culture.

The Florida Public Service Commission has approved an 11.3 percent increase in electricity rates for the Gulf Power Company. Beginning September, the electric bill will rise from and average monthtly residential bill of 1,000 kilowatt hours from $102.22 to $113.76. Gulf Power is making the increase due to an estimated annual shortfall of more than $76 million in fuel costs. Mostly coal and natural gas are used to make electricity and the rise in the costs are bringing up the electric bill.

Red Snapper season is now closed in federal waters. Those fishing for Red Snapper will have to wait till June of 2009 to catch Red Snapper in federal waters. Red Snapper can still be fished for in state waters. Federal waters is where the best fishing takes place for Red Snapper.

Both the Royal B Restaurant and Finz of the Sandestin Resort have closed. Both restaurants closed due to a slow market. The Royal B's numbers were down by 50 percent after the 4th of July this year. Finz opened in 1983 as The Elephant Walk. Finz unfortunately closed its kitchen doors due to slow business like the Royal B. Both restaurants offered a great fine dining experience on the Emerald Coast.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is The Lowdown Throwdown of Mobile, AL with their song Little Bitty Piece Of Heaven.

• The Lowdown Throwdown Myspace Page
• www.loosecannons.biz

Email me at destinfloridapo dcast@yahoo.com

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 041_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

Coastal Vision 3000 is marketing Northwest Florida as "The Beach". Northwest Florida may not have some of the major attractions as Orlando, but Northwest Florida does have some of the best beaches in the United States! That is a good enough reason for visitors to come year round!

Jellyfish in Destin seem to be gone! There are still reports of jellyfish to the west in Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach. Recently, the beaches along Old Hwy 98 have looked great! Little june grass and no jellies. Due to some strong easterly winds and some high surf the water behind Pompano Joe's has looked amazing!

Destin Airport has launched an updated website. You can check out the new website at www.FlyDTS.com. The new website has photos, current projects, what's new and community links. Operational policies and procedures can b accessed as well. Pilots flying into Destin Airport can access airport specific navigational tools to help provide for their safe travel!

The City of Destin is riding the waters of sunken boats. Its been a few years since the hurricanes in 2004 and 2005, but much can be seen below the water that are reminders of the destruction. The City of Destin is clearing the depths of the eyesores. Owners of the boats are being contacted to remove their property. Fines may be given to owners that don't comply.

U.S. Airways is pulling out of Panama City. On April 2nd of 2008, US Airways began air service in Panama City. Fuel costs and lack of passengers are the primary reason for the cancellation of air service. If fuel costs improve and demand from passengers increases the airline may consider restoring service. US Airways is keeping flights out of Okaloosa Regional Airport.

The Emerald Coast sees many visitors from the southeast and from other parts of the U.S. About 14 percent of those visitors come from Europe. With the Euro being strong, the local real estate is beginning to target the British and other Europeans to invest in real estate along the Emerald Coast.

Thinking about going on a date here along the Emerald Coast? The Bay Cafe in Fort Walton is a great place to make a reservation. The restaurant is right on the Santa Rosa Sound making for a great view! The French cuisine is even better than the view. A must on your to do list when dining out!

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Vibe Irie of Pensacola with their song Morning Sun.

• Vibe Irie Myspace Page

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 040_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

Okaloosa Regional Airport will be expanding! The first part of the expansion will be an aircraft apron on the east side of the airport. The apron will be 250-foot-by-300-foot. The apron would be able to give cover to both a 727 and a 757 aircraft at the same time. The apron will cost $1.6 million, and be completed by fall of 2008.

Jellyfish are still an issue in Pensacola. The further west you go the more jellyfish there are. Panama City has had some reports, but the reports of jellyfish increase to the west towards Pensacola. The jellyfish seem to make their presence with the tide. With expected high surf coming, the jellyfish may get cleared out!

Walton County recently approved a new ordinance on the beach to help sea turtle nesting. Sheriff's deputies will now remove tents and other objects left on the beach from both private and public beaches to reduce obstacles for sea turtles nesting. Deputies will patrol the beaches at night and tag any objects left on the beach to be removed the next day. Any objects tagged and not removed will be taken by the Sheriff's deputies.

The housing market along the Emerald Coast is up by 15 percent compared to last year. Single-family homes are leading by being up 20 percent. Sales of condo units in Destin are up by three percent. Both sellers and builders are offering incentives to buyers.

Okaloosa Isand and Destin residents will know very soon how much they will contibute to the beach restoration. The Municipal Services Benefit Unit will determine how much residents pay. The Okaloosa Island has been allocated $3.82 million by the Tourist Development Council an the State of Environmental Protection. The Destin Portion does not qualify for state funds. From Henderson Beach State Recreation Area to the east jetty sand is still needed. The Okaloosa Island MSBU area will cover the entire island. A spot has been located in the gulf that has great sand quality for the project. The project is estimated to cost $25 million.

New crosswalks and walk overs may be coming soon to high pedestrian areas along Highway 98 in Destin. More and more people are going by foot along Hwy 98 and having a difficult time crossing the road. The Destin City Council is looking into helping pedestrians cross Hwy 98 safely.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Reed Waddle of Destin with his song The Beast Within.

• Reed Waddle Myspace Page
• www.reedwaddle.com

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 039_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

The Panama City International Airport is going green! From the ground up the airport is being built with environmentally friendly concepts. It will be the only one in the country! All building materials are being purchased within 500 miles to reduce gas prices and harmful emissions. The airport is ahead of schedule and under budget!

Jellyfish are still here along the Emerald Coast! From Destin to Pensacola swimmers are getting stung!!! Forecasters are not sure when the jellyfish will be moved out due to calm gulf waters. Some good surf will help move the jellyfish out!

Foreclosures are still on the rise in the area! For the month of May there was 164 home foreclosures in Okaloosa County. Thats almost 3 times the amount in the same month in 2007. Walton County has 158 foreclosures in May. Almost 4 times the amount from year-to-date. Some predictions say the market may see improvements in three years.

Sea Turtle nesting season is here! Beach goers are urged to leave only their foot prints when leaving the beach. Massive sandcastles and holes on the beach create obstacles for seaturtles trying to next, which puts nesting at risk!

New signs on 30-A will be going up next month! Friends of 30-A contracted Signtek LLC. to create new signs for 30-A. The Glatting Jackson Group was hired for community planning and design. Phase one of a two part project is estimated to cost $160,000 and be completed this month. No date has been set for total completion. Phase two is still being discussed.

Residents near Destin Airport want a study to be done again to test air quality around the airport. A study was done in April 2007 to test air quality and the airport proved to be below federal safety levels. The last study was done during a time that is not as busy as summer. The new study may reveal new results.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Chris Taylor of Destin with his song Lift Me Up.

• Chris Taylor Myspace Page
• www.becrecordings.com

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 038_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

Building is going strong at the Emerald Grande! The well-known restaurant Harry T's could reopen as early as mid- July. Pat O'briens could be open in early July!

Holiday Isle has sand! Finally some relief has come to the beaches of Holiday Isle. 30-50,000 cubic yards of sand has been deposited on Holiday Isle. Many property owners are excited to see some and even more excited to know that more major beach-restoration is not far away!

Funding for beach restoration may be available in the near future. Lobbyists recently convinced the Legislature to restore some funding that was lost due to the budget cuts. Major beach-restoration may continue in the near future!

Jellyfish are bad in Pensacola! Jellyfish have been keeping swimmers out of the water for a few weeks now. As of now, the jellyfish seem to be concentrated in Pensacola and have not made their way to Destin beaches. If one is to get stung remedies such as, putting meat tenderizer, Windex and urinating on the area stung are supposed to help.

The 4th of July is a great time here on the Emerald Coast! The week of 4th of July is a very busy time here along the Emerald Coast. Visitors can expect lots of traffic, long wait times at restaurants and hotels with full occupancy! There are many fireworks displays that can be seen simultaneously. There are some local spots where you can see the fireworks in Fort Walton all the way to Sandestin!

The road that connects Navarre Beach to Pensacola Beach will not be reopened till early October. The road was scheduled to be finished by late July, but negotiations over the projects contract took longer than expected. Once completed, the beach stretch between Navarre and Pensacola beaches is an amazing, scenic drive!

The Emerald Coast will be featured in Delta Sky Magazine! Delta a passengers will be exposed to our beautiful beaches come this September in the Delta Sky Magazine. There will be 20 or more pages devoted to the Emerald Coast as one of the greatest places to visit! Delta Sky's website will have the feature for one year at www.delta-sky.com

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is The Tiles of Mobile with their song Radio Blasts.

• The Tiles Myspace Page

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 037_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

A Humpback Whale was recently spotted over Memorial Weekend! Many beachgoers had the rare opportunity or seeing a Humpback Whale pass along the Emerald Coast. Whales are not a common sight along the Emerald Coast. Especially Humpbacks!

Hurricane Season 2008 is here! The Colorado State University forecast team predicts there will be 15 named storms, eight of them becoming hurricanes and one hitting the U.S.

Dockside diesel is near $4.25 a gallon. Gas is up 81 cents from the beginning of the year. High fuel prices are putting pressure on boat captains to economize and increase prices. On Anastasia it costs more than $530 for an eight hour trip. It costs $170 per hour for a trip, which just went up to $180.

30-A is now known as scenic in the state of Florida. Recently the community of 30-A celebrated the recent scenic corridor state designation for 30-A. Many people from the community have been trying to get the road designated as scenic for quite some time. Now, 30-A is entitled to state grants and other funding, and is up for being submitted for national designation!!!

Crab trap theft has been up recently. Stealing crabs from crab traps is a third degree felony. Three men were recently caught stealing more than a fair share of crabs. Crab traps can be seen with a small buoy as a marker. The Choctawhatchee Bay and Santa Rosa Sound have lots of traps, and boaters should not tamper with traps. Local fishing stores sell crab traps. All it takes is some chicken as the bait and a little patience!

Sand on Crystal Beach is not acceptable to some residents. Recently some residents complained about the sand that was once soft and white is now harder with black streaks and crushed shells. The homeowners want the Destin City Council to really look into sand quality before more restoration takes place.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Luna Mantra of Pensacola with their song Chasing The Wind.

• Luna Mantra Myspace Page

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 036_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

Dredging in the pass has finished up just in time for the busy boat months of the summer. From 30,000 to 50,000 cubic yards of sand has been deposited just east of the East Jetty. The Destin City Council is now waiting for approval from the Environmental Protection Agency to approve the city's plans of using the sand on Holiday Isle to shore up the beaches before hurricane season.

Grand Boulevard has plans for a 4-star hotel, spa and more retail space. The continuation to Grand Boulevard will cost $50 million. The expansion is expected to be completed 2010. There's no word on what hotel will come to Grand Boulevard. There will be 40,000 square feet of retail space, another restaurant, meeting rooms and ballrooms.

Destin and Walton County recently were selected as one of the nations best restored beaches for 2008! The was presented by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. Other winners included, Olympic Structure Park in Seattle, Washington, Boca Raton, Florida, Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina and Kuhio Beach in Waikiki, Hawaii.

Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival is June 7th through the 9th! The festival is a local favorite and has been recognized as one of the really fun and great festivals during the warm months. Saturday is the day when the landing takes place and a massive boat parade takes place with water balloons and super soakers creating a war on water! On the shore vendors along with lots of food and entertainment will be present. A great time for the family!!!

May 28th through the 31st is the Boeing Golf Championship! The golf tournament in the Sandestin Resort has national and international television audiences with more than 58,000 spectators showing up for the course of the week. A must on the to-do list while on vacation!

The Destin Harbor will cater to Summerfest on the Harbor for 12 weeks starting June 1st! The festival is to celebrate what is unique about Destin and for everyone in town to experience it! Events will take place on Thursday and Friday nights. Everything from live music to chances at winning a trip for two to the Budweiser Brewery in St. Louis. Sundays will be family involved. Local artists will be present displaying their works along with lots of other family oriented activities.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Patricia Musgrove of Pensacola with her song 7 Ways.

• Patricia Musgrove Myspace Page

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 035_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

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Some Of The News Covered:

Cuvee Beach on Hwy 98 recently auctioned for $1.575 million, plus 10 percent for the auction company Roebuck Auctions. The winning bider does not plan on changing much, but the color scheme. Cuvee is known for its great wine selection and food. Cuvee has always been a favorite for locals when it comes to fine-dining!

The Tourist Development Council received its final permit needed for the parking lot of Pompano Joe's. Construction is expected to start after the summer when traffic lightens up on Scenic Gulf Drive. The new parking lot will cost $4 million and take about 180 days to complete. The parking lot will be built on concrete pilings so that water can flow underneath during high surf. The parking lot will also have 130 parking spaces.

Hurricane season is one month away and a tax exemption for one week may be possible. If approved, the tax break would be from June 1st till the 7th. Items such as, flashlights, portable radios, weather radios, tarps, gas cans and batteries will not be taxed!!!

Gas is running an average of around $3.56. Visitors should seek cheaper gas prices in Navarre. Fort Walton Beach is second to Navarre with gas prices. Destin is the highest!

Dredging is underway in the East Pass! For several more weeks there will be barges and massive floating pipes working on removing sand in the pass and relocating it on Holiday Isle and Norriego Point. Boaters are advised to idle and create no wake in the pass to prevent disturbing the dredging project.

Navarre Beach Road may be open July 10! State Road 399 that connects Navarre Beach to Pensacola Beach is almost finished. The road is known for being very scenic and beautiful. The road was washed out in 2005 from Hurricane Dennis. Many locals look forward to the quiet beaches along Navarre Beach Road to open.

Beaches along Holiday Isle are heavily eroded. Behind the Islander on Holiday Isle there is very little sand for beachgoers to enjoy. Beach Restoration in the near future beachgoers should check out the beaches from the Holiday Inn eastward where the beaches have a lot more room and sand!

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Robert Royal of Ft. Walton with his song Dealing With Blue.

• Robert Royal Myspace Page

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 034_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

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Some Of The News Covered:

The blue signs on 30-A are being pulled! The Tourist Development Council voted to pull the blue signs on 30-A. Many residents complained the signs looked terrible and did not fit. The signs will be replaced in the future. The new look of the signs is yet to be decided.

The Destin Seafood Festival for 2008 will have a new location! To locals its not so new! The Destin Seafood Festival was once held at the foot of the Destin Bridge on the harbor. The festival was relocated to the sports complex behind The Track. Look forward to a great Destin Seafood Festival for 2008 right on the harbor!

Red Snapper season will close August 5, 2008 in federal fishing waters. The season will reopen June 1, 2009. The gulf's statemanaged waters will have a longer Red Snapper season that will last from April 15 till October 31. The National Marine Fisheries Service changed Red Snapper fishing season due to overfishing.

The Seabreeze Jazz Festival will make a new home in Panama City in 2009! The Seabreeze Jazz Festival has been held in Santa Rosa Beach for 10 years. Now, the festival is relocating to Panama City's amphitheater in Pier Park for 2009. The festival has grown a lot over the past few years and needs a new location to accomodate its growing popularity! The festival has had a cap of 4,500-5,000 to keep the festival at a safe number.

Walton County Commissioners recently visited Tallahassee to meet with legislators. Commissioners pushed to get more funding so that U.S. Hwy 331 can get widened. 331 has been known as a narrow road to drive on. Lots of deer frequent the roadside making it a dangerous road to drive on during the hours of the night.

From Airport Road to Scenic Highway, medians are getting a facelift! 7.5 miles of U.S. Hwy 98 will be getting much needed widened turning lanes. Along with the turning lanes the medians will also be getting milling, resurfacing, new sidewalks, marked crosswalks and wheelchair ramps at signalized intersections. The project is to be completed in 506 days and cost $12.7 million.

Boating along the Emerald Coast is very popular! Many boating accidents can be prevented with knowing marine forecasts. The weather along the Emerald Coast is quick to change especially water conditions. Boaters should check out forecasts at www.fluidsurfshop.com and go to the surf report where links can be found to some very accurate forecasts for safe boating!

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Moseley Brown Band of Pensacola with their song So Long.

• Moseley Brown Band Myspace Page

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 033_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

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Some Of The News Covered:

A meeting was held recently regarding the large blue signs on 30-A. Many residents gave their opinions and suggestions to the Tourist Development Council. No decisions have been made yet.

The Army Corps of Engineers is expected to start fixing Norriego Point this month. Only 2,500 cubic yards of sand has been washed into the channel, which is far less than what was anticipated. Sand will be dredged from the pass and put back on Norriego Point. The Corps were given $230,000 earlier this year. The dredging should only cost $40,000, which will leave the Corps extra money to fix Norriego Point for the long term.

The Sandestin Wine Festival takes place at the Baytowne Wharf in the Sandestin Resort April 10-13. There will be wine tasting, rare-wine auctions, celebrity winemakers and private dinners. More than 600 wines both domestic and international available for tasting and purchase at special-event pricing. Celebrity vintners and winemakers will also be there for tasters to meet. For festival details go to www.sandestinwinefestival.com

Starting in May, fresh organic produce, greens and seafood can be purchased along the Destin Harbor. For four weeks the market will be on the harbor for the opening of the first phase of Harborwalk Village. The market will open on Saturdays from 7-11 a.m. starting May 3-24.

Louisiana Lagniappe reopened March 12th! After renovations, the restaurant is back open with new flooring, roofing, expanded dining room, outdoor seating and much more! The menu has not changed nor the great view from the east end of the harbor! A new 20 year lease has also been put into effect!

Red Snapper regulations are getting tough too! Red Snapper fishing may be closed from August 5th till June 1st of 2009. The amended Magnuson-Stevens Act could affect catch quotas for gag grouper, greater amberjack, grey triggerfish and king mackerel depending on stock assessments. The Act also requires an end to over-fishing of species, red snapper too, by 2010.

The Florida Department of Transportation has approved a grant to build a new bike path the entire length of the Navarre Beach Bridge. When the bike path is finished a 40-mile loop connecting Navarre and Navarre Beach to Pensacola and Pensacola Beach will be available for cyclists. Work should start by the end of the year!

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Blood Stained Grace of Pensacola with their song You Are

• Blood Stained Grace Myspace Page

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 032_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

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Some Of The News Covered:

Grouper fishing regulations may get tighter in federal waters. Federal waters start 9 nautical miles from shore. The Gag Grouper is a species that is being overfished. Along with new regulations that will decrease the bag limit and fishing season, the Fishery Management Council is recommending a 28 percent to 45 percent reduction in the annual Gag Grouper catch. Hearings are being held all over the state of Florida for the public to voice their opinions.

Beach Event and Party Bus LLC is up and rolling! A $40k makeover to a school bus has turned the big cheese into the big blue! The makeover includes a thumping sound system, new seating and a gray-blue paint job. Up to 25 people can rent the bus, drink all night and get dropped off at home. The party bus is a great idea for corporate events, weddings or parties!

For once, there will be no cranes on the Panama City Beach for an entire 22-mile stretch of the gulf beachfront. Tropic Winds has been under development for more than 18 months, and was the last major project before the real estate market slumped in 2006. Trade Winds had the last crane on the beach. The development is a 164-unit high-rise on Panama City's west end.

Hofbrau Bier Garden is now open in Pier Park Panama City Beach!!! The restaurant/bar originated in Germany and everything in the restaurant is German influenced. Hofbrau is a franchise in the U.S. Other locations include Miami, Milwaukee and Las Vegas.

Fireworks are back on the Destin Harbor! From March 14th through April 18th fireworks can be seen at 8 p.m. on every Friday night! The fireworks were postponed in June of 2007 from ashes and debris that fell on the fishing fleet in the harbor. Legendary's HarborWalk and Emerald Grande sponsor the firework display

Lifeguards are back on the beach from Panama City to Pensacola Beach! With recent high surf and dangerous conditions, the lifeguards have great timing coming back to the beaches. The lifeguards of South Walton and Okaloosa Counties train very hard to keep beach goers safe. Swimmers should not go into the Gulf of Mexico during red flag conditions.

Bayou Bills Restaurant caught fire earlier this year and was a total loss. The owners are planning to rebuild the restaurant. Collecting insurance money has slowed recovery progress.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Trey Hebson of Pensacola with their song Fresh Hit

• Trey Hebson Myspace Page
• Trey Hebson Home Page

Email me at destinfloridapo dcast@yahoo.com

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 031_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

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Some Of The News Covered:

The Mossy Headz Music Festival takes place April 4-6 in Mossy Head. The festival is right by the Shoal River. Attendees can expect vendors, food, canoeing and lots of other activities that will be present. Lots of local favorites will be performing such as, Reed Waddle, Dread Clampitt, Lyndsey Battle and Green Hit.

The Seabreeze Jazz Festival takes place April 18-20. The festival takes place on Scenic Highway 30-A in Santa Rosa Beach at the Gulf Place Outdoor Amphitheater. The festival is becoming increasingly popular and is known as one of the best jazz venues by attendees.

Every week at 5 p.m. on Friday Sandestin Wine World and Liquors Wine Tasting will be at Grand Boulevard! The cost is $10 per person with a $5 rebate towards the purchase of featured wines. A knowledgeable staff will be available as well.

The Walton County Tourist Development Council has put a stop on installing the "Big Blue" signs on County Road 30-A. A lot of residents along 30-A have complained about the signs. A meeting will be scheduled in the near future for everyone to voice their feelings, thoughts, opinions and suggestions.

$800,000 is needed to repair Destin beaches. There are two lists to which projects get funding. The first is the priority projects list. The second is the alternate project list which, Destin beaches are on. Budget cuts have changed the funding status of the beach restoration project. 1.8 miles of the beach will be repaired, but 1.3 miles will not.

A barge ran into the Mid-Bay Bridge recently causing $250,000 in damage. Drivers are told to not worry about the safety of traveling over the bridge. The Florida Marine Transporters own the vessel and are paying for repairs. The Coast Guard is still investigating what may have caused the accident.

Two towers that were waiting last month to be approved by the Destin City Council may be approved this month! Legendary wants to build a pair of high-rise towers next to the Emerald Grande on the harbor.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Lojah of Pensacola with their song Rez to Wrongside

• Lojah Myspace Page
• Lojah Home Page

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 030_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

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Some Of The News Covered:

Spring Break 2008 is just around the corner! If you are coming with your family be sure to remember to go "EARLY". Going to breakfast, the beach and dinner at certain times can illiminate waiting and frustration! Be sure to plan ahead! College spring breakers should be sure to go to the Whales Tail and Crab Trap in Destin and the Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island for beach hot spots! Be sure to check out the Swamp, AJ's, Nightown, Blue Point and Club Overboard for nightlife!

Florida's Governor Charlie Christ, is reducing the states budget for beach restoration projects by $10 million. Its not certain how it will affect the restoration of Emerald Coast beaches. Destin may benefit most from from the reduction in the budget due to Destin's budget only needing 11 percent funding from the state. Okaloosa Island beaches may suffer!

The Beaches of South Walton County may get beach restoration along County Road 30-A. 13 miles of beach is being assessed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Permits must be issued first! The project is estimated to cost between $40-$60 million. The Tourist Development Council will use bed tax revenues and state and federal grants to help pay for the restoration.

Pompano Joe's parking lot is under construction. As of now it has stopped due to environmental permits. Work should resume soon! Work on the sand dune system is almost complete as well. Plants have been planted to stabilize sand to build sand dunes. The plants are close to the road and away from the water.

Big Kahuna's will open in March! The water park section will not open until May 10th. New renovations give park goers a new surf machine called the Honolulu Halfpipe! The entrance to Big Kahuna's is also being renovated. The next renovations will be eliminating the miniature golf course and race track to make way for more water park rides!

The Panama City International Airport is underway. 270 acres of upland property have been cleared with thousands of wetlands set aside for preservation.. 2010 is the expected year for the airport to open but environmental groups are still battling to stop the construction of the $300 million project.

In 1965 a pass to the Gulf of Mexico was open in Navarre. The pass may be opened again! As of now, there are only 3 harbors in the entire panhandle. Navarre is currently pushing to get the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to open a pass. Opening a pass in Navarre would boost the local economy!

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Kasi Calvin of Pensacola with their song Love 'em All

• Kasi Calvin Myspace Page

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 029_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

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Some Of The News Covered:

The Destin Bridge also known as Marler Bridge is getting repairs. The bridge has been around for 30 years. Bridge inspectors found two caps under the eastbound bridge deck were cracked! The foundation crew is currently drilling under the bridge to determine the stability of the soil. Vehicles weighing over 80,000 tons are urged to NOT cross the bridge. As of now the bridge is not a threat to travelers. Repairs are expected to be finished by the end of the year.

Legendary Inc. has a new development up for approval by the Destin City Council. The project is a Tier 3. The structure would be 157 feet high making it taller than the Emerald Grande. The project would be part of the Harborwalk Village.

US Airways will return to the Okaloosa Regional Airport April 6. The airline will have 3 daily arrivals and departures to and from Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. Travelers will also have access to Washington, New York and Baltimore without connecting in Atlanta.

Panama City International Airport was at a standstill due to legal issues with whether or not the new airport would cause irreparable damage to wetlands. A federal appeals court okayed the construction and work is to begin full speed!

Pompano Joe's new parking lot is under construction now! Bulldozers and crews can be seen daily rebuilding the parking lot that suffered from erosion due to hurricanes.

March 2nd Seaside will hold its 5k run. 1,400 runners have already signed up and more than 2,000 are expected. The race is a fundraiser for the Seaside Neighborhood School. Last year around $100,000 was raised by sponsors.

February 28th is when quotos for recreational and commercial snapper fishers will drop by almost 50 percent. The restriction will continue through atleast 2010. The quota is now 5 million pounds down from 9.12 million. Stricter measures may be passed with the new ones.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Dread Clampitt of Fort Walton Beach with their song House with Gold Bars

• Dread Clampitt Home Page
• Dread Clampitt Myspace Page

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 028_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

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Some Of The News Covered:

Mardi Gras along the Emerald Coast is a fun and exciting time! Fat Tuesdays in the Baytown Wharf of the Sandestin Resort always expects a crowd. With other bars to choose from, Baytown is a great place to celebrate here on the Emerald Coast!

Plans are being made for the Highway 98 Bypass Project. In the plans, a road would connect State Road 87 in Santa Rosa County to U.S Highway 331 in Walton County. The project could take 10 years to complete!

Readers of Southern Magazine selected the Destin area as one of the top family vacation destinations! This is no kept secret. For years the Destin area has brought back generations for vacation.

Navarre Beach may use university employees and/or students for Navarre Beach renourishment inspections. The other option is spending over $200,000 for a firm to do the inspections. Many university employees have jobs with government agencies such as, the Environmental Protection Agency, which could be very beneficial.

Panama City plans to host its first annual Grand Lagoon National Saltwater Fishing Tournament August 20-24. The tournament is expected to draw over 400,000 spectators and 2,000 anglers and crew members. $1 million is planned to be handed out to the winners!

The Uptown Station on Eglin Parkway in Fort Walton Beach is expanding! A three story and a one story building with a mix of office and retail space will be added. The project has taken a year to put together, and should take 12-18 months to finish. Building is expected to start in the spring or summer. There will be new tenants coming to Uptown Station. Big Lots is planned to be replaced with a national retailer eventually!

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Race You Home of Fort Walton Beach with their song Medicine.

• Race You Home Myspace Page

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 027_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

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Some Of The News Covered:

Hammock Bay is a new 3,000 acre development in Freeport of off Highway 20. Hammock Bay offers so many great things such as, access to the Choctawhatchee Bay, a large sports complex, a dog park, nature trails and a town center for shopping.  Hammock Bay is in close proximity to both the Okaloosa Regional Airport and the Panama City International Airport.  Along with great amenities and traveling convenience, Hammock Bay is only 15 minutes to the beautiful beaches of 30-A!

Liza Jackson Park in Fort Walton Beach will have 33 new parking spots for boat trailers! Liza Jackson frequently gets congested during busy boating months.  The construction is expected to be finished by the end of April of 2008. 

The Gulf Breeze Zoo reached the goal of raising $1 million for 2007.  This gives much more hope that the zoo will continue to reach financial goals and pay off debts! 

Some tenants are already open and operating at Pier Park on Panama City Beach. Target, Longhorn Steakhouse, Panera Bread and the Grand Theatre are all now open.  The Back Porch Seafood House and Hofbrau Beer Garden will open within 60 days!  Ron Jon Surf Shop, Dillards, JC Penny, Fresh Market, Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Borders Books and Music and Old Navy will all open in the near future! 

Existing and new properties may have to change exterior lights for seaturtles sake! Lights on some buildings draw turtles to the lights instead of the water, putting them in danger.  There are provisions and if identified properties do not comply, then code enforcement procedures will be necessary. 

A new Helen Back will open the end of January in Wynnhaven Beach near the Santa Rosa and Okaloosa County line. The new Helen Back will be family oriented and will have no bar, smoking or live music.  There will be televisions and some beer selections.  The restaurant will be serving soups, salads, lasagna, spaghetti bakes and the great pizza Helen Back is known for. 

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Vibe Irie of Fort Walton Beach with their song Amber.

• With Hatchet, Pike, and Gun Myspace Page
• One Sun Music Band Gig Dates

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 025_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

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Latest podcast episode online now covering:

Travel suggestions for Christmas on the Emerald Coast, Guiseppi's Wharf opening soon!!! Red Tide Update, Hampton Inn coming to Navarre, More Non-Stop Flights out of Okaloosa Regional Airport, Bayou Bills tragic accident, Brown Sand on Okaloosa Island and much, much more!!! !

Some Of The News Covered:

The "Welcome to Destin" billboard at the foot of the Destin Bridge may have to come down! The AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar logo on the billboard is the reason. The sign is on government property. The government does not advertise for private businesses. The logo must be covered up or removed in order for the sign to stay up.

Bayou Bills Crab House on Hwy. 98 in Walton County recently caught fire. The restaurant is a total loss! Bayou Bills was known for great local seafood in Walton County. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Delta Airlines is starting two non-stop flights December 22nd from Okaloosa Regional Airport to New York City's La Guardia International Airport and Cincinnati, Ohio. The flight to New York is not permanent and will depart daily at 11:30 a.m. starting December 22nd till January 2nd. The non-stop flight to Cincinnati, Ohio is permanent, and will depart at 12:30 Monday-Thursday.

Red Tide is still going strong in the bayous. Lots of dead fish can be seen in the water from the Cinco Bayou Bridge.

The Melting Pot of Destin is now open! The restaurant is located just west of the Silver Sands Outlets. The restaurant is only open for dinner. The restaurant is more than 4,500 square feet and offers seating to 190. One special feature is the secluded lover's lane seating area. The Melting Pot also has a full service bar and a wine list of more than 200 wines. The hours are Sunday through Thursday, 5-10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5-11 p.m.

A Hampton Inn is coming to Navarre! The new hotel will be located on Hwy. 98 next to Cayo Grande Apartments. The hotel will offer 102 rooms, 32 suites and meeting rooms. Other features include an indoor swimming pool, wireless internet and a dinning area that will offer complimentary breakfasts for guests. The Hampton Inn is expected to open March 4th of 2008.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Acoustifunk of Pensacola with Tuesday.

• Acoustifunk Website
• Acoustifunk Myspace Page

Email me at destinfloridapo dcast@yahoo.com

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 024_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

Some Of The News Covered:

AJ's will host the Destin Fishing Rodeo again in 2008 and 2009. The fishing rodeo will celebrate its 60th Anniversary in 2008! AJ's has hosted the Destin Fishing Rodeo for the past 7 years.

Condo sales for the Emerald Coast have increased by 22%. The median price for those condos increased from $157,500 to $338,900 or 115%. Much of the market is slow, but this could be an early sign of things changing. Now is the time to take advantage of buying a condo.

The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island is getting a face lift. The wood decking is being replaced with a synthetic material that DOES NOT splinter. The restrooms are also being renovated to give more privacy and comfort to beach goers.

The Baytowne Wharf in the Sandestin Resort now has an ice rink. A 40x60 foo ice rink is now located by the lagoon under a white tent. The cost of the rink was about $105,000. Skaters can skate for 90 minutes for $6. Skates can be rented for $2.

A man from Kentucky was recently awarded a Compassionate Citizen Award from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The gentlemen recently helped a shark that was tangled in garbage and released it back into the Gulf of Mexico.

5-7 party buses will be coming to the area to cater large groups going out on the town. The buses have state-of-the-art customizations. Each bus has a different theme and seating capacity. The first bus is planned to be in operation for the holidays. Call 850.231.9007 for info.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is Michael J. Thomas of Destin with Mrs. Magic -www.myspace.com/michaeljthomas -www.michaeljthomasmusic.com

• Michael J. Thomas Website
• Michael J. Thomas Myspace Page

Email me at destinfloridapo dcast@yahoo.com

How To Listen:

Listen online using the player at the upper right hand corner of this page (broadband) or click for the dial-up version.

You may also right-click to download the podcast: 023_Destin_Florida_Podcast.mp3 and put it on your portable media player or burn it to a CD and listen in the car!

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Latest podcast episode online now covering:

Hot Spots to Watch Sunsets, International Airport in Panama City Breaks Ground, Red Tide Is Gone, Foreclosures along the Emerald Coast, Destin Deep Water Shark Tournament, Destin Arts Festival, Pensacola Arts Festival, More!

Some Of The News Covered:

The International Airport in Panama City broke ground at 9:30 a.m. on November 1st! The new airport will be located near West Bay. The international airport will allow less layovers and connections to those traveling internationally to the Emerald Coast.

Doug Kemper recently resigned as executive director of the Gulf Breeze Zoo. Danyelle Lantz will replace Kemper's position. The Gulf Breeze Zoo was heavily damaged by hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. The zoo needs to raise $3 million to keep from closing. So far, the zoo has raised $400,000.

Beach Restoration in Navarre may have caused some flooding. Pools of water have formed between some houses and dunes created from beach restoration. Residents claim that some pools are up to 4 feet deep. That standing water could cause a mosquito problem.

A man from Kentucky recently wrestled a shark to the beach behind Edgewater Condos. The man noticed the shark was struggling and was tangled up in plastic close to shore. The man grabbed the shark and wrestled it to the beach. The shark was freed from the plastic and released safely.

Red Tide is known to be a major threat to marine life. Recently a large female Loggerhead was found dead behind Jade East Condos (across 98 from Big Kahuna's). Loggerheads are an endangered species. A female dolphin that was under five years of age was found dead as well. Eight birds were also observed struggling from Red Tide. If beach goers notice marine life in trouble, they should contact the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge.

Many places in the United States are experiencing a mortgage crisis. Here along the Emerald Coast, there have been 717 foreclosures in Okaloosa County and 501 in Walton County. Now is a great time to look for a second home or condo!

State Road 87 is now a wider road. From Hickory Hammock Road to US Highway 90, State Road 87 is now four lanes. Travelers coming to Navarre from SR 87 will experience smooth sailing! SR 87 at one time was only two lanes and a dangerous road to travel.

Links From This Episode:

Thanks to our sponsors for helping make this show possible. Please visit them at:

• Hammock Bay in Freeport, Florida
• Uptown Station in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Music selection for this episode is 12 Oz Curl of Miramar Beach with Hello Again

• 12 Oz Curl Myspace Page

Email me at destinfloridapo dcast@yahoo.com

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Some Of The News Covered:

The intense storms, rain, and tornadoes that recently came through our area are now gone, and we are happy they didn't do more damage. Listen to my first-hand account of some of the crazy and unfortunate results of the weather in my area this past week.

Halloween here on the Emerald Coast is a great place for the kids. Uptown Station will be holding a Halloween Kids Day on October 27th! Uptown Station is in Fort Walton Beach off of Eglin Parkway. There will be lots of Halloween activities in areas such as, Seaside, Baytowne, Destin Commons, Grayton Beach and Sandestin! Adults make sure you bring your costumes too! Many bars have costume contests and its always a great time!

Norriego Point is eroding away more each day. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is supposed to start dredging the pass to temporarily repair Norriego Point. The repair that has been pushed back would cost $75,000. The city is still waiting for approval. A seawall or rocks is a possible solution to the everlasting erosion.

Red Tide has been here on the Emerald Coast. Though it is improving, take extra caution if you swim or have respiratory trouble. Red Tide is an red algae bloom that gives off a toxin that kills fish by the masses. If Red Tide is present the following symptoms can be experienced: coughing, sneezing and burning of the nose and eyes. Red Tide's existence is determined by the weather and water conditions.

23 Leatherback Sea Turtles recently hatched in South Walton County. The South Walton Turtle Watch Group monitored the next closely for 79 days! This was the first documented Leatherback Sea Turtle nest in Walton County.

Big Kahuna's is not becoming a condo complex! Big Kahuna's might be expanding by adding more parking, more access from 98 and new attracti