From deep freezes and floods to a strip club settlement and a returning city manager, the city of Destin has seen quite a bit in 2014. Here’s a look back at some of the topics and stories that shaped the year.
APRIL
• Two new community gardens, Emerald Coast Garden Project and Main Street Community Garden, sprouted up on Main Street and were ready for volunteers.
• Development is up in Destin, about 2.5 percent on average over FY2013.
• Construction on a new roof for Destin Community Center set to begin.
• Timberview Helicopters relocated its barge from the foot of Marler Bridge to Destin harbor and mulls over its next move.
• A neon green speed-boat, the Hydro Jet, is the first of its kind, as it uses a 500-horse-power John Deere motor and a six blade propeller.
• The city of Destin began live streaming its council meetings April 7.
• Evelyn Drowne retired from the Tree Board after serving 15 years.
• Kira Moraca was crowned Miss Destin 2014 following a month of events and a pageant of dancing, question answering and poised competition.
• More than 75 turned out for a City Council meeting in opposition to the proposed strip club, but no decision was made yet by council.
• Jami Jones is the new face of the Destin Seafood Festival, being named the chairman for the 36 Annual Destin Seafood Festival.
• Capt. Curt Gwin and the crew aboard the Only Way hauled in a 668.1-pound Mako moments after the crew aboard the Realin Script with Capt. B.J. Teems weighed in a 232.8-pound Mako shark.
• The proposed five-story control tower for the Destin Airport will be complete by the fall of 2015 if all goes according to plan.
• The proposed Henderson Beach Resort project will feature a 177-room hotel, in addition to two condominium buildings with a total of 96 units.
• After a record-breaking lease up for Phase One, TerraMar has broken ground on phase two of its apartment community. The new addition will include 60 new 1 and 2 bedroom apartment homes.
• City leaders agreed to a settlement with the proposed developers of The Runway, which was set to become the city’s first strip club. As part of the agreement, the city will pay Trident Operations LLC and related partners a sum of $1,750,000 and they will purchase the property at 908 Airport Road for $400,000.
MAY
• After days of torrential rain and wind gusts up to 41 mph blasted the city of Destin and flooded resident's homes, city officials worked to assess the damage that was done and targeted the hardest hit areas. The storm forced the city to declare a state of emergency.
• The city of Destin looks to adopt an ordinance that would allow city leaders to approve an economic development ad valorem tax exemption (EDATE) program.
• Those affected by the three-day storm that flooded Destin with more than 2-feet of rain now have the ability to register for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
• With a budget shortfall, the board of fire commissioners voted that the district will no longer respond to medical calls, offering basic life support or advanced life support, as of Oct. 1, but will still respond to fire calls, accidents and other injuries.
• A new lifeguard tower with a jet ski has been put in near the east jetty at East Pass.
• Mike Buckingham opened his new restaurant, Buck’s Smokehouse, on the site of where St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church once stood.
• From an informal poll, McGuire’s was named Destin’s top burger, followed by Top’s Choice Hamburgers, last year’s winner.
• Destin Middle School’s concert band comprised of sixth-eighth graders won first place in two categories during the Music USA festival at Universal Studios.
• As the Destin Fire Control District faces a budget shortfall in the range of $600,000, its board of fire commissioners unanimously approved a measure that would allow firefighters to voluntarily separate from the district for a specified sum of money.
• Department of Transportation officials have issued a cease and desist order to Timberview which prevents the tourism helicopter company from taking off and landing from its floating helipad.
• Faculty and staff at Destin Elementary School chose Hillary Ray as Teacher of the Year.
JUNE
• Destin City Council urged by residents and business owners to go forward quickly with ways to make crossing “Bloody 98” safer for pedestrians.
• The 2nd Annual Emerald Coast Transportation Symposium, hosted by Northwest Florida Regional TPO and West Florida Regional Planning Council, drew more than 200 people May 29 and 30. Goal was to share ideas, build teamwork and inspire people to do good things.
• As a way to share news and reach more of the city’s visitors, the city of Destin has joined the social media world and created a Facebook page — City of Destin Government.
• Recently creating a voluntary incentive separation program to help overcome a budget shortfall, firefighters at the Destin Fire Control District have jumped on board. Three firefighters took advantage of voluntary incentive separation program that would help overcome a budget shortfall.
• The Back Porch turned 40 years old.
• The proposed air traffic control tower at Destin Airport will be put out to bid in early July and should be under construction by fall.
• Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill with language sidetracking state Department of Environmental Protection efforts to hire a concessionaire to provide visitor amenities at the park.
• The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance begins the Offer Your Shell To Enhance Restoration (O.Y.S.T.E.R.) program by collecting shucked oysters from local seafood restaurants for use in building new reefs in the Choctawhatchee Bay.
• City Manger Maryann Ustick tendered her resignation and will stay with the city of Destin through Aug. 19.
• Stan Lauderdale clung to the bottom of his 10-foot Zodiac boat that capsized and Mark Broome of Power Up Watersports came to his rescue.
• Hard Rock Café at Destin Commons closed after almost 10 years.