Aug. 25 - 31
35 years ago — 1978
The Destin Community Center opened its new Rodeo Office on Stahlman Avenue.
Enrollment at Destin Elementary School reached 331 kindergarten through sixth grade students, an all-time high for the school.
Choppy seas and strong currents in the Gulf claim two lives in South Walton, plus several near drownings occur in Destin and on Okaloosa Island.
30 years ago — 1983
Destin Savings & Loan gained its state charter and expected to open early in 1984.
A revised Okaloosa County comprehensive zoning plan was to result in “fewer mixed up districts” in Destin.
A state investigation into unpermitted buildings on Old Pass Lagoon turned up 10 confirmed violations, with more being checked into.
25 years ago — 1988
The Destin Public Safety Committee recommended to the city council that no sheriff’s deputy be taken from regular duty to ride with the harbormaster. The council decides to look into hiring off-duty Florida Marine Patrol officers to beef up enforcement in the harbor.
Jean Melvin was named executive director of the Destin Fishing Museum.
20 years ago — 1993
Land owners may have new procedures for building a dock on their property, as residents have raised objections to docks being built with no houses.
City seeks recommendations on how to make Christmas Parade bigger and better, including more music and business participation.
Destin prepares for annual Rally for Recreation featuring fishing, golfing, go-carting championship and a grand auction, with funds earmarked to help the Destin Family YMCA construct a swimming pool.
Gulf Power Co. customers to see a 3-percent decrease in cost of electricity beginning Oct. 1, with 1,000 kwh costing $65.
Tommy Chong, of Cheech and Chong, to entertain at Nightown with off-the-wall humor and political satire.
Bruce Williams, president of the Building Industry Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties, is the first Destin builder/developer to head the 418-member organization.
10 years ago — 2003
Destin will install a roundabout at the Benning Drive/Mountain Drive intersection to reduce accidents after City Council votes to okay the measure.
New MRI technology at Sacred Heart on the Emerald Coast enables doctors a wider variety of diagnostic imaging.
Jeff Miller, U.S. Representative for Florida’s First District, was first congressman to speak at City Hall during a town meeting fielding questions on taxes, illegal immigration, uncooperative bureaucrats and the future of social security.
Bishop L. M. Thorne, pastor of Abundant Life Church in Fort Walton Beach and person responsible for planting of the now Destiny Worship Center, preaches his first sermon at the Destin church.
Capt. Steve McMullen from Gulf Breeze was the grand prize winner at the Legendary Marine Southern Kingfish Association Tournament with a weigh-in of 46.5 pounds.
Summer’s heavy rains produced a bumper crop of microscopic toads and frogs, less than an inch long. (Is it happening again in 2013?)
An Alabama man was arrested by Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officers for felony molesting of a commercial Blue Crab trap after he was spotted pulling a commercial Blue Crab trap and dumping the contents into his pontoon vessel.