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!

iTunes listeners subscribe through our iTunes Destin Florida Podcast page.

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