This week in Destin history: Aug. 3 - 9
40 years ago — 1974
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit was received for the Liberty ship fishing reef in the Gulf off Destin.
Ground-breaking ceremonies were held for the new Presbyterian Church on Calhoun Avenue.
The Plaza Restaurant in Moreno Plaza offered a daily buffet of entrée, vegetable, salad, dessert, coffee or tea for $2.25.
35 years ago — 1979
American Legion Post 296’s Auxiliary selected Lisa Ashmore as Destin representative to Girls State in Tallahassee.
Spectator Magazine, published by Chrysler-Plymouth, ranked Destin’s beaches among the top 10 in the United States.
The Okaloosa County Commission voted to rezone the west end of Holiday Isle residential intensive apartment. No construction permits were being issued due to inadequate water and sewer service.
30 years ago — 1984
The Metropolitan Planning Organization added six-laning of U.S. 98 through Destin to its wish list. The project was to be paid for a 4-cent gas tax imposed for five years.
25 years ago — 1989
Gulf Power held a switch-throwing ceremony to send 115,000 volts of electricity through four cables buried under Choctawhatchee Bay. The new $15.8 million transmission line was to serve Destin and South Walton.
20 years ago — 1994
Destin residents could begin to parlais across the world, now that St. Jean d’Luz, France, and the world’s Luckiest Fishing Village were officially sister cities.
King mackerel were showing up everywhere, but especially good down to the east in and around the Crystal Beach area, just in time for Destin King Mackerel Tournament.
10 years ago — 2004
Councilor Sam Seevers said to treat foreign workers fairly and “don’t blame Destin’s City Hall for not letting them live here in tents; blame their employers for not providing decent housing.”
Retired engineer Henry Klosterman suggested the city meet with Figg Engineers, a firm building an overhead expressway in Tampa, to find out if building a similar project above U.S. 98’s medians would be a solution to traffic congestion.
Local businesses said they would have trouble finding employees needed in summer if they did not have access to foreign workers.
Dozens of intersections throughout the harbor district sported new, blue street signs.
Average price of gas in Destin in August was $1.88 for regular unleaded.
Jan Montgomery of Niceville sang his way to earn the top spot at Emerald Coast Idol II.
Legendary president Peter Bos envisioned Turnberry Harbour, with its 750 condominiums ranging in price from $500,000 to more than $3 million, as a project to bring national attention to Destin.
Sharon Wilf of Destin was arrested on charges of selling real estate after her license was revoked.
New Bogwalk Restaurant opened at Destin Commons.