Northwest Florida Daily News (Fort Walton Beach, FL) articles from December 2002

Northwest Florida Daily News (Fort Walton Beach, FL) archives from December 2002

Navarre Beach, Fla., Gets Economic Development Vision.
December 31, 2002... Byline: Michael Stewart Dec. 31--NAVARRE BEACH, Fla.--In the year 2020, Navarre Beach could boast more hotels, shopping and public access areas. Those are just some of the changes possible once Santa Rosa County commissioners adopt...

Third-Quarter Economy Rises for Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Area.
December 31, 2002... Byline: Rebecca Cason Dec. 31--If the second quarter was all about taxable spending, the third quarter was about tourism, unemployment and real estate. During the July-September period, Northwest Florida saw bed tax collections,...

Officials Say Navarre, Fla., Dunes Leveled without Permit.
December 27, 2002... Byline: Michael Stewart Dec. 27--The potential development of a 22-acre site on Navarre Beach into upscale condominiums, retail shops and a marina is off to a rocky start. Bulldozer operators leveled beach dunes during the night last...

Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Florist Decks Out Governor's Mansion.
December 27, 2002... Byline: Jeff Ayres Dec. 27--You know you're doing well in the floral industry when you're asked to decorate arguably the most famous house in Florida -- the governor's mansion. Stan Brock, owner of La-Stan Florist in Fort Walton...

Experts Say Don't Let Debt Weigh You Down.
December 21, 2002... Byline: Rebecca Cason Dec. 21--If history is any indication, this weekend is expected to be the biggest shopping extravaganza of the year. While the day after Thanksgiving officially kicks off the holiday retail season, it's actually...

Navarre, Fla., Retools Deadly Intersection.
December 21, 2002... Byline: Michael Stewart Dec. 21--NAVARRE, Fla.--Brenda Guisasola has one less thing to worry about now that safety improvements have been made to a dangerous intersection. "It's going to be much safer," Guisasola said of the...

Florida Senator Willing to Discuss Development Suits.
December 20, 2002... Byline: Lee Forst Dec. 20--State Sen. Charlie Clary has offered to help settle lawsuits pitting Okaloosa and Walton counties against each other over two developments going up along U.S. Highway 98. "I think there's a way to do this...

Navarre Beach, Fla., Officials Say No Permit Issued for Potential Development.
December 19, 2002... Byline: Michael Stewart Dec. 19--NAVARRE BEACH, Fla.--The potential development of a 22-acre site on Navarre Beach into upscale condominiums, retail shops and a marina is off to a rocky start. Bulldozer operators leveled beach dunes...

Okaloosa County, Fla., Sheriff's Office Employee forwards Chain Letter.
December 18, 2002... Byline: Amber Bollman Dec. 18--CRESTVIEW, Fla.--It was a case of good intentions gone awry. A batch of letters went out on Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office stationery last week urging a couple of dozen local businesses to help make...

Urban Sprawl Nibbles at Edges of Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
December 18, 2002... Byline: Mladen Rudman Dec. 18--EGLIN AFB, Fla.--The rumbling, though some may characterize it more as grumbling, from Arlington, Va., has been felt from sea to shining sea. Encroachment -- shorthand for civilian activities...

Boeing Now One of the Largest Defense Contractors in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
December 17, 2002... Byline: Rebecca Cason Dec. 17--Just as the military has changed since the days of the Cold War, so have the defense contractors that support it. Now, instead of amassing large quantities of weapons systems, the military is producing...

Technology Advancements Signal Problems for Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
December 17, 2002... Byline: Mladen Rudman Dec. 17--EGLIN AFB, Fla.--What's good for consumers with appetites for the latest and greatest in cellular telephones or digital television has been bad for the Air Armament Center, which is charged with making and...

Industry Association Honors Fort Walton Beach, Fla.-Area Builder.
December 16, 2002... Byline: Joni Williams Dec. 16--The Building Industry Association named outgoing BIA president, John Dalton of Dalton Brothers Builders its Builder of the Year at a ceremony held Wednesday evening at Two Trees Restaurant in Fort Walton...

Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., Barbecue Expert Wins Award in International Contest.
December 13, 2002... Byline: Peggy May Dec. 13--Barbecue master Byron Chism of Santa Rosa Beach is accustomed to placing among the top three at competitions all over the country. Of course, coming in first is best of all, but he was thrilled to come in...

Boeing's Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Facility Gets Contract for AC-130U Gunships.
December 12, 2002... Byline: Rebecca Cason Dec. 12--Four AC-130U gunships for the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command will be built at the Boeing facility in Fort Walton Beach, according to industry sources. A contract, which would bring extensive...

People Flock to Florida Hoping to Hit $78 Million Jackpot.
December 12, 2002... Byline: Isaac Sabetai Dec. 12--LAUREL HILL, Fla.-- Alabamians had 78 million reasons Wednesday to cross the border into the Sunshine State. With the jackpot for Wednesday night's Florida Lotto drawing reaching $78 million, there was...

Sprint to Cut Jobs at Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Call Center.
December 12, 2002... Byline: Rebecca Cason Dec. 12--Sprint will close its Fort Walton Beach call center and lay off nearly half of its area workforce as part of the telecommunication giant's latest restructuring effort. The company announced on Wednesday...

Respected Northwest Florida Consultant Breaks New Ground.
December 11, 2002... Byline: Rebecca Cason Dec. 11--Eddie Phillips is well known in many business circles. The defense industry knows him as a respected consultant, having had a career in the military and years as an area manager for Grumman Corp. ...

Niceville, Fla., Development Firm to Design Tech School.
December 11, 2002... Byline: Kari C. Barlow Dec. 11--After searching the East Coast for experts who can make the proposed career-technical high school a reality, the Okaloosa County School Board is placing its confidence in a Niceville development firm. ...

Failed Crops May Bury Okaloosa County, Fla., Farmers.
December 9, 2002... Byline: Michael Stewart Dec. 9--Just about everyone says this is the worst year for farming anyone can remember, which could mean a bleak Christmas for many local families. Worse yet, many farmers, unable to make payments on...

Developers Sue Walton County, Fla., over Rival Mixed-Use Development.
December 7, 2002... Byline: Jeff Ayres Dec. 7--As expected, Walton County is being sued over a massive, 54-acre retail/entertainment/commercial development by several groups involved in a similar project just a few miles away in Okaloosa County. Walton...

Destin, Fla., Cafe to Get Notice of Violation over Its Size.
December 5, 2002... Byline: Amanda Brannon Dec. 5--DESTIN, Fla.--City staff are preparing this week to put the Inn at Crystal Beach on notice that it is in violation of a 1995 settlement agreement that outlined how large the restaurant on-site, Beachwalk...

Walton County, Fla., Businesses Balk at Sign Mandate.
December 4, 2002... Byline: Heather Civil Dec. 4--Some of at least 100 South Walton businesses required to replace their signs by Jan. 1, 2003, are still balking at the expense. Since 1996, Walton County has had scenic corridor guidelines stating that...

Aviation, Automotive Firms Consider Okaloosa County, Fla., Plant Sites.
December 4, 2002... Byline: Lee Forst Dec. 4--CRESTVIEW, Fla.--Aviation and automotive firms that could employ up to 600 people are eyeing property in Okaloosa County's Industrial Airpark here. But county officials say they can't just donate land that...

Fort Walton Beach, Fla.-Area Planners Give Green Light to Intersection Design.
December 3, 2002... Byline: Lee Forst Dec. 3--Probably few motorists notice the small, circular grass median on U.S. Highway 98 as they drive across Okaloosa Island between Fort Walton Beach and Destin. But it can loom large to westbound travelers--...

Pear Trees Test Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Business Owners' Patience.
December 3, 2002... Byline: Lee Forst Dec. 3--Dozens of Bradford pear trees planted in downtown Fort Walton Beach some 10 years ago were meant to spruce up Miracle Strip Parkway only temporarily. The trees could be coming down soon after a property...

Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Eateries Emphasize Safe Food.
December 3, 2002... Byline: Angie Toole Dec. 3--When a Subway employee works on the sandwich line, corporate policy dictates that he put on gloves for each and every sandwich. Keeping it clean is so important to the company, a local spokeswoman said,...

Delta Air Lines Strengthens Connections in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
December 2, 2002... Byline: Rebecca Cason Dec. 2--Delta Air Lines is once again boosting its presence at Okaloosa Regional Airport, bringing in another feeder airline on a permanent basis and adding more flights for the winter tourist season. SkyWest...

Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Stores Expect Short Shopping Season to Flatten Sales.
December 2, 2002... Byline: Rebecca Cason Dec. 2--If it seems like there's a sense of urgency at area stores this year, there's a good reason. With just 26 days in the official 2002 retail holiday season-- measured from the day after Thanksgiving to...