Destin School Expansion Aims to Ease Overcrowding
Principal Walls says six new classrooms will replace portables, raising capacity toward 750 students. A new lunchroom will open, with the old facility converted to four more rooms by next fall. Current classes span kindergarten to sixth grade, with eleven rooms renovated in summer. Buses urged to use planned loading zone to speed traffic.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Oae
Destin
Walls
Destin School
Benning Drive
Kelly Street
Walton County opposes state plan on Old 98 road shift
Old 98 highway backers led by Lloyd Taylor and Walton County officials spar over transferring non park sections to Destin and city maintenance costs. Okaloosa County favors gifting east and west segments not in Henderson Beach to Destin, while Walton counters that the road is already 90 percent developed and warns of high future upkeep. Council members press for city acceptance of only the westernmost strip and resist broader maintenance duty. Dewey Wilson says a reply to the state's documentation request will be ready next week.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lloyd Taylor
Destin
Walton County
Joe Griffin
Okaloosa County
State Department of Natural Resources
Henderson Beach State Park
Henderson Beach
Dewey Wilson
City of
Richard Duke
Duke
State Department of Transportation
Crystal Beach
Danny Woodward
School program faces districtwide rollout pressure
"The only way we will ever get it in the school system is to demonstrate it works," Foxworthy said. Seventeen or eighteen elementary schools rely on you. Teachers, like Destin Elementary's Vicki Stevens, urge administration support and not burden teachers alone as contract talks proceed with the School Board's initial proposal.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Foxworthy
Vicki Stevens
Destin Elementary
Pilot program expands to eight elementary schools and one junior high
OCEA leaders feared repercussions if a single site failed the program. Foxworthy noted a potential 25 percent failure rate. The teachers' union pushed the School Board to broaden the pilot from four to nine schools, prioritizing those with larger enrollments. The sites include Florosa Ocean City Kenwood Valparaiso Plow Oak Hills Bob Sikes and Bruner Junior High.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
OCEA
Foxworthy
Florosa
Ocean City
Kenwood
Valparaiso
Plow
Oak Hills
Bob Sikes
Bruner
Woody the Working Squirrel Moves From Woods to Store
A pet squirrel named Woody transitions from the woods to daily life with Destin Jewelers owner Thompson and her husband Harold. The animal naps in a blanket at home, eats cereal as it matures, and rides on Thompson’s shoulder to accompany her to the store.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Squirrel
Woody
Thompson
Destin Jewelers
Harold
Thompson keeps Woody as future permanent pet
Thompson describes Woody as fond of crawling around her neck and curling in her hand to sleep or be petted. She plans to keep him at least through winter, noting he should fend for himself in four months but fears parting will be hard once attached.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Thompson
Woody
Arcade plans sewer expansion along Crystal Beach area
Franklin stated the sewer plan is a state requirement, not about preference, as Arcade prepares to lay lines in coming weeks. A form letter warns customers they have one year to connect or face a 500 fine or 30 days in jail, though no lines are yet installed. The sewage plant is finished and service is expected to reach over 80 percent of Crystal Beach within 90 days once lines begin, covering Henderson Beach to the Okaloosa Walton line and Emerald Coast Parkway northward.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Franklin
Crystal Beach
Arcade
Henderson Beach
Okaloosa
Walton County
Gulf North
Also Mentioned on This Page
Aily News
the United Way
Courtyart
Hwy
Gulfshore Dr. Destin, FL
Shoreline
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