Christmas Outdoor Decorating Contest
The City of Destin’s Holiday Committee will form and select the best Christmas Holiday Decorations in Destin within City limits. oParticipation is open to all residents that are within City of Destin limits (annexed to City of Destin) o Entry is free, no cost or fees apply oEntry nominations must be received no later than 5 p.m., on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. oContest is for exterior decorations only (judges will not enter property to view back or side of yards) oParticipants agree to have one
Northwest Florida State College Confirms Commissioner Melvin P. “Mel” Ponder as President Starting January 2, 2025
The District Board of Trustees of Northwest Florida State College voted to confirm Commissioner Melvin P. “Mel” Ponder as the next President of Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) at the Board’s Nov. 19 Board meeting. President-Elect Ponder will begin as NWFSC President on January 2, 2025. The Board of Trustees selected President-Elect Ponder as the fifth president of Northwest Florida State College following an approximately six-month search with more than 100 candidates, which yielded four
City of Destin 40th Birthday Bash
The City of Destin will hold a 40th Birthday Bash on Saturday, August 10th at HarborWalk Village. All are invited to the event celebrating four decades of incorporation. From 5:30-8:30 p.m., enjoy stilt walkers, live music by Tobacco Road, the City’s first drone show, fire spinning, and much more. “It’s one of those events where there should be something for everyone, no matter the age,” said Tamara Young, City of Destin Public Information Director. “Our Harbor was recently voted 2nd best in the Nation,
Destin Makes Top 10 for Best U.S. Harbor
For the first time ever, Destin has made the winners list for the U.S. Best Harbor contest! The City also came in #1 for 2024's Gulf Coast winner. "When we first heard about the contest, I couldn't enter us or promote us fast enough," said Tamara Young, Public Information Director. "If you have ever visited the Destin Harbor area, you know it deserves a top spot." Thanks to all who voted. 1.Block Island, RI 2.Destin, FL 3.Padanaram, MA 4.Bristol, RI 5.Shelter Cove, Hilton Head, NC 6.Pillar Point,
Terésa R. Hebert Inducted into the Prestigious Marquis Who’s Who Biographical Registry
Terésa R. Hebert has been inducted into Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process. For nearly four years, Ms. Hebert has served the City of Destin as a councilwoman. Before her tenure in the public service sector, she enjoyed a career in both the military and
Destin Forward Celebrates Beautification of Clement Taylor Park
On May 20, the Destin Forward Class of 2024 celebrated the completion of its class project, the beautification of Destin’s Clement Taylor Park, with a ribbon cutting. Improvements include educational signage, upgrades to the volleyball court, and the planting of Florida native plants. Destin Forward, the Destin Chamber’s community education and leadership program, was created to help find and educate future city and business leaders. In addition to the project, the class spent nine months touring and
17 Graduate from Destin Chamber’s Community Education & Leadership Program
On May 2, the Destin Chamber celebrated the graduation of 17 business professionals from its 15th Destin Forward class. During the event, the prestigious Destin Forward Leadership Award, chosen by class vote, was presented to Wendi Davis of Eglin Federal Credit Union. She is seen in the photo on the left with 2024 Chamber Chairman Christian Carlee of Trustmark. Destin Forward, a community education and leadership program, was created to help find and educate future city and business leaders. After a
Destin Continues to Provide Flood Protection to Properties
Annually, the City of Destin provides an update to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on the progress made in mitigating flood losses through the planning and construction of stormwater management projects. This update also complies with the requirements for the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System. Due to the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, Destin is prone to significant rainfall events that impact the overall number of repetitive loss properties. Typically, these events
Destin Library Closed in December
The Destin Library will be closed starting December 4 and will reopen January 2, 2024. This closure is necessary to install new carpeting throughout the Library. Programing will be suspended while the building is closed, and the Library’s collection will be unavailable to patrons for check out. However, the Library will be open for the annual “Visit with Santa” event on December 1 at 6 p.m. Bring the kids for cocoa, cookies, and a picture with Santa Claus! If you have any questions, please contact the
City of Destin to Host Open House
The public is invited to attend the City of Destin’s Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., at the Destin Community Center. "This year’s theme is ‘Music to Our Ears’, and we'll have a local band to add a little flair to an already great annual event,” said Tamara Young, Public Information Director. “Jones and Company will share their talent, and the event gives City departments and important partners a chance to engage with the community on what we do." Nonprofit organizations
September Proclaimed Suicide Prevention Month
In honor of The Tatissa Zunguze Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Okaloosa Suicide Prevention and Support group, Mayor Bobby Wagner and the Destin City Council proclaimed September 2023 as National Suicide Prevention & Action Month in the City of Destin. All residents are encouraged to take time to understand mental health through education and recognize that we need to take care of ourselves while we take care of each other. Tatissa was one month from college graduation when she took her life. She
Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park Opens
After 17 years in the making, the Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park officially opened to the public on Tuesday, July 18. Members of the City Council, Chamber of Commerce and relatives of Royal Melvin took part in cutting the ribbon to what has been nicknamed the “Gateway to the Harbor.” The park is located at 206 Harbor Boulevard. “We are the sons of Captain Royal Melvin,” began Bo Melvin, as he and his brother Scott took to the podium at the celebration. “It is an honor to be here today. It has been a
Public Works Vacuum Truck in Area
The City of Destin Public Works Department has rented a large Vacuum Truck from Vermeer to assist with cleaning the major stormwater drainage structures. Starting the week of July 10, work with structures along Highway 98 will begin, followed by the Weir on Gulf Shore Drive. After those two areas are completed, drain boxes and pipes throughout the City will be cleaned. Disruptions to residents and tourists will be kept as minimal as possible, but please be advised there could be traffic delays at times as
Free Notary Service at the Destin Library
The Destin Library staff would like to remind the community that they offer notary services free of charge. No library card is required. The Notary Public, Kitti Capps, is available on the following dates and times: • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 9-10 a.m. and 3-4 p.m. • Wednesday: 3-4 p.m. • Friday: 9-10 a.m. Please call 850-837-8572 to make your notary appointment or if you have any questions about what is required to notarize your documents.
21 Graduate from Chamber’s Community Education & Leadership Program
On May 2, the Destin Chamber celebrated the graduation of 21 business professionals from its 14th Destin Forward class. During the event, the prestigious Destin Forward Leadership Award, chosen by class vote, was presented to Kayla O’Leary of Waypoint Title. She is seen in the photo on the left with Chamber Chairman Jason Belcher, FNBT Bank. Destin Forward, a community education and leadership program, was created to help find and educate future city and business leaders. After a retreat in August, the
Hurricane Season Protection Consultations Offered
The start of the 2023 Hurricane Season is only a few weeks away. The City’s Department of Public Works provides one-on-one flood protection consultations to home and business owners within our City limits. These consultations include a review of existing documentation (Elevation Certificates, V-Zone certificates, photos, development plans, etc.), an evaluation of the structural and/or mechanical vulnerabilities of the structure to flood damage from rising waters, the recommendation of best management
Hello Frances Podcast: Rooted in Creativity with Bobby Wagner
On this week’s episode of the Hello Frances podcast, our host Shantelle Dedicke interviews Bobby Wagner, Mayor of Destin and Owner of Land Air Sea Productions. Bobby shares his aspirations for the City of Destin, specifically, generational thinking, a way to invest in the families that live here so that they will stay in the area for generations. Bobby also discusses the importance of a fresh perspective in local government, how creativity fuels everything he does, and much more! Listen now.
Okaloosa County Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourism Seeks Volunteers for Earth Day Cleanup
Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourism and Saltwater Restaurants is excited to host the Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday, April 29, 2023 from 8-10 a.m. Volunteers from businesses, government agencies, communities and families are all welcome to attend. The goal of the cleanup is to remove as much trash and debris from local beaches. There are multiple locations where volunteers of all ages can participate. Join this local effort at any of the below cleanup locations by registering here. • The Boardwalk on Okaloosa
Destin Library to Celebrate Twenty Years
The Destin Library will celebrate 20 years in its current Sibert Avenue building on March 17, and an entire week of festivities is planned to mark the occasion. On Friday, March 10 at 6 p.m., the celebration begins with a Spring Fling on the lawn with face painting, lawn games and craft activities. All ages are welcome. Throughout the day on Monday 13, there will be a special origami craft for patrons to try. On Tuesday, March 14 at 2 p.m., author and Coast Guard veteran Ashlee Leppert will offer an
ADA Transition Plan For Pedestrian Walking Facilities Meeting
The public is invited to attend a meeting to discuss the City of Destin’s ADA Transition Plan for Pedestrian Walking Facilities. The meeting will take place on February 24th at 9 a.m. at the City Hall Annex (Council Chambers) located at 4100 Indian Bayou Trail. The Departments of Community Development and Public Works are seeking public input on pedestrian access to the City's parks and public facilities/areas as well as suggestions on how best to improve the City’s existing pedestrian infrastructure. The
City of Destin COMPASS Updates to Take Place
Effective February 14th, the City of Destin’s new version of COMPASS (COMmunity Permitting and Support System) will be going live as a cloud-based system. This migration from on-premises system to a SaaS (Software as a Service) will improve performance and reliability of the city’s permitting, licensing and code compliance system. To make the system-wide upgrade, COMPASS will be offline beginning Thursday, February 9th at 4 p.m. until the morning of Tuesday, February 14th. During this time, the system will
Tarpon Beach Expansion Celebration
A nearly 340-ft beachfront “Tarpon Beach Park” is now on its way to becoming a reality thanks to the partnership between the City of Destin, the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council and Trust for Public Land. To celebrate this project, on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, at 10 a.m., located at 3310 Scenic Highway 98, the City of Destin hosted ceremony as the current structures on the three parcels adjacent to the Tarpon Beach Trail will be cleared to make way for the park
City Prevails In Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit
In a landmark private property rights case that will shape the Destin Harbor for years to come, the City of Destin has prevailed against the Destin Fishing Fleet, Inc., as to all counts, after a legal battle that was ongoing for almost five years. The Fleet was seeking nearly $15 million dollars from the City pursuant to the Bert J. Harris Private Property Act. However, the First Circuit Judge found that the Fleet wrongly accused the City of Destin of violating the Bert Harris Act, which allows demands for
Destin Chamber Presents Special Recognitions & Installs 2023 Board During January Breakfast
During its Jan. 13 Business Before Hours and Annual Membership Meeting at LuLu’s Destin, the Destin Chamber honored some of its most outstanding volunteers and installed its 2023 Chairman and Board of Directors. Before passing the gavel to 2023 Chairman of the Board Jason Belcher of FNBT Bank, 2022 Chairman Jennifer Gutai Comella of Hand Arendall Harrison Sale presented the James D. Neilson, Sr., Chairman’s Award for Volunteer Service and the Paul Woolman Ambassador of the Year Award. These awards are
Updated Staging and Parade Starting Point for the City of Destin's 38th Annual Christmas Parade
The 38th annual “Elf on the Shelf” Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, December 10th, 2022, at 10 a.m. *UPDATE* The parade will begin at the intersection of Beach Drive and Highway 98, then travel west down Harbor Boulevard (Hwy 98) to Stahlman Avenue. Spectators are asked to stand on the north side of Harbor Boulevard to watch the parade. At no time should parade spectators enter the street area. We ask that parents and guardians closely monitor their children and keep them out of the street at all
Northwest Florida State College Announces its Fall 2022 Commencement Keynote Speaker
Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) is pleased to announce its Fall 2022 Commencement keynote speaker, Mel Ponder. Since November 2020, Mel has served as an Okaloosa County Commissioner for District 5. He is also the association executive for the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors and the founder and president of Business Empowered (BE). Mel had the honor to previously serve as mayor of the city of Destin as well as serve in the Florida House of Representatives, District 4, before coming back home
