25 years and still writing: From fish to finances, Tina Harbuck has done it all at The Log

When I made the move here in November 1984 as a 24-year-old, I was just weeks away from my 25th birthday. And now in a few months, the city I now call home will be turning 25.

The move to Destin came at a great time. The “sleepy fishing village” was on the doorstep of a new beginning, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be here to experience those steps — some small, some big.

Speaking of small, I grew up in a small fishing town, Wewahitchka. Although, our fishing was mainly on the river. After high school, I went off to the University of Alabama where I majored in journalism. I got my first newspaper job in 1981 at the Eastern Shore Courier in Fairhope, Ala., where I stayed until I was hired at The Log in 1984.

I was hired as a reporter/photographer. Since then, I figure I’ve written about 10,400 stories and taken twice as many photos for The Log, but who’s counting.

My first “beat” for The Log, which turned 35 this year, was covering the county commission meetings in Shalimar. Incorporation had not yet taken place for Destin. So those who were concerned about the welfare of Destin attended the meetings and made their voices heard.

On day two at The Log, I was on the beat and covering my first commission meeting. John Dowd was the county attorney and some of the commissioners at the time were Larry Anchors, Mike Mitchell and Bill Peebles.

I was a little nervous with a noon deadline looming. This was before cell phones and laptops — thus no e-mailing the story. You took notes and then dictated your story over the phone to another reporter back at the office.

Today, life at The Log is much simpler with the Internet, when you have to cover such events away from the office — as long as you can find Wi-Fi.

Anyhow, one of my earliest recollections at a county commission meeting was  seeing Destin resident Jane Moore standing up holding a baggy of red sand — and saying we don’t want any red sand used in construction south of U.S. 98.

And today we still battle over sand, the loss of sand on our beaches and whether or not it should be replaced, and what color of sand to use, as well as whom the beaches belong to. It’s amazing that something so small as a grain of sand has now turned into such a big issue that the Supreme Court has been asked to answer some of these questions.

Once incorporated, the inauguration of the first Destin City Council held at the Holiday Inn in 1985 was a sight to see. I can still picture men like Richard Duke and his wife, Ms. Janie, placing their hand on the Bible and being sworn in. I was the photographer for the event, but all the negatives were washed away by Hurricane Opal when she compromised The Log’s roof.

Today at The Log, we’re all digital with the camera equipment. No more darkroom, developing negatives and printing pictures for me.

Although I do sometimes miss seeing those black and whites pop up in the trays.

Bob McIlroy was selected as mayor and not long after I sat down with him and wrote down his thoughts on how he thought the city should go forward.

“I visualize a city with a strong government with zoning laws that will be enforced,” McIlroy said in that early interview. “One that will work closely with the chamber. A government that will have a good law enforcement and the answers to traffic congestion; a government that is working in harmony with the county and state.”

Well some of that has come to pass, some not.

I think it’s safe to say we enforce zoning laws and the city does work hand-in-hand with the chamber. As for law enforcement and traffic congestion, some things never change.

When we first became a city, there were more committee meetings than we could keep up with. I was the reporter covering the public safety committee, which was headed up by Richard Duke. The topics then were pretty much what they are today. Does Destin need, and can it afford, its own police department?

When it comes to traffic, Destin has tried to relieve congestion and make things better. The latest answer to some of the congestion problems was the opening of Commons Drive and the four-laning of Airport Road and Main Street.

The first, however, was the opening of the four-lane known as Emerald Coast Parkway and the closing of a short section of U.S. 98 (where Henderson Beach State Park is now located). I remember taking photos of Mayor Bob Lloyd riding in a convertible with Mattie Kelly as the ribbon was cut for the parkway.

With the opening of the parkway came a whole new world for Destin. Businesses boomed in that direction, with Fudpucker’s (which is still a tourist and local favorite) being one of the first. Then came the gated communities.

After a couple of years covering government issues, I gradually worked my way into doing sports — my first love. Nothing against government meetings, but I’d much rather be at the ball field or fishing docks.

It was about that time that I started writing a fishing column — Fish Flash. There’s no telling how many miles I’ve walked up and down the docks and how many rack photos I’ve taken over the years. One would think with all the trips up and down I would be as skinny as a rail.

My first fishing trip was aboard Capt. Ben Marler’s Immanuel. I remember getting a little seasick, but I didn’t let that stop me from catching fish.

I recall a fishing trip aboard the Destin Princess with Capt. Bob Welniak. Co-worker Mike Cahall and realtor John King all went fishing on the Princess and had a little side bet on who would land the largest fish. It turned out the be me! I caught a 25-pound amberjack that pulled like crazy. But nothing like the 3-and-half hour fight I had with a 150-pound tarpon aboard the Silver King with Capt. Mike Parker. I actually wrote a fish column about the tarpon catch that won a first place award with the Florida Press Association.

I love the waterfront in Destin and being able to stroll from one end to the other. And the captains and mates are great. When I’m down there I feel like one of the folks off the old TV show Cheers — It’s a place where everybody knows your name.

As for ball games, there are a lot of memories. From riding the “cheese wagon” with the Fort Walton Beach Lady Vikings basketball team on one of their first treks to the state tournament to watching players like Danny Wuerffell and E.G. Green on the football field.

Destin continues to grow and in recent years, the city league softball games have moved from the ball fields from behind the elementary school to the Morgan Sports Complex built in 2000. I have had the privilege to play, scorekeep and take photos on all fields in both places. Most of all, though, I have learned to love the folks I come in contact with each day.

I made the move here 25 years ago to be closer to home, but now I call Destin home.