June 24, 2009 10:22:00 AM By KIMBERLY WHITE / Florida Freedom Newspapers SANTA ROSA BEACH — None of the nearly 450 active development orders in Walton County will be affected if a countywide height ordinance goes into effect as expected later this summer, according to Gerry Demers, the county's director of development services.

The only project that would have been affected — a proposed 12-story condominium off Jolly Bay Road in Freeport — already has been turned down by county commissioners, who said the building's height would be incompatible with the surrounding area.

With some exceptions, the proposed ordinance would limit buildings in South Walton to 50 feet. Structures north of Choctawhatchee Bay would be capped at 50 feet in residential areas, 75 feet in commercial areas, and 100 feet in industrial zones.

'Wheel of Fortune' lands on Sandestin (update) February 4, 2009 - 1:15 PM Robbyn Brooks, Florida Freedom Newspapers

SANDESTIN - Wheel of Fortune prize winners have jumped up and down on the small screen after hearing they're going to Rome, London and Egypt. Now one of the famed destination spots on the big wheel will be Sandestin.

"This is the second time in three months we have been on ‘Wheel' and we are hoping for another spot later in the spring," said Mike Stenson, Business Development Manager for the Northwest Florida Regional Airport.

TOPS'L Beach and Racquet Resort, managed by ResortQuest, was again selected by Tennis Magazine as one of the TOP 50 Tennis Resorts in America. TOPS'L offers guests a wide selection of vacation rentals, tennis packages and instructions by certified professionals.

Destin, FL (PRWEB) November 30, 2008 -- During 2008, TOPS'L Beach and Racquet Resort, located in Destin, Florida, continued their tradition of being recognized as a Top Tennis Resorts in America. Tennis Magazine recently presented TOPS'L with a plaque commemorating their status as a TOP 50 Tennis Resort. During Tennis Magazine's semi-annual review, tennis resorts throughout the United States were reviewed for their courts, their quality of instruction, their clinics and game matching as well as their all-around experience.

"TOPS'L Beach and Racquet Resort has been ranked a Top 50 Tennis Resort by Tennis Magazine for the past 12 consecutive years," stated Director of Tennis, Joe D'Aleo. "In May of 2008, TOPS'L was also voted a Top 10 Tennis Resort in the United States by tennis enthusiasts on TennisResortsOnline.com for the eighth consecutive year," continued Mr. D'Aleo. "We are very proud of our tennis programs at TOPS'L and we always go the extra mile to make sure our guests get all the tennis they want during their stay."

Fall in love with Florida Rosemary Beach a perfect autumn getaway for Canadians Peter Wilson, The StarPhoenix Published: Saturday, October 18, 2008 ROSEMARY BEACH, Fla. -- It's fall, it's warm, and the sugar white beaches along Florida's northwest panhandle are looking very inviting.

It's the time of year that Jason Bell is particularly fond of. The mad rush of summer is over and the 22-year-old can ease up a little on his work renting kayaks and setting up beach chairs and umbrellas.

02.18.08 The Panama City - Bay County International Airport and Industrial District (Airport Authority) announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Timothy J. Corrigan had denied airport opponents' third attempt to halt construction at the new Panama City - Bay County International Airport. Airport Authority Chairman Joe Tannehill said construction was proceeding unrestricted, in accordance with our permits, and on schedule. The new airport is being built on a 4,000-acre site in northwestern Bay County on land that was donated by The St. Joe Company.

The Florida Clean Water Network, Inc. had requested a preliminary injunction to halt construction of the new airport. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Citizens for the Bay and Defenders of Wildlife subsequently joined Florida Clean Water Network in the lawsuit. The lawsuit was brought against the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. On February 14, 2008 following a hearing in Jacksonville, United States Federal District Court Judge Timothy J. Corrigan denied the requests for a preliminary injunction. Yesterday's denial follows a similar denial on February 5, 2008 when Judge Corrigan denied the opponents' request for a Temporary Restraining Order to halt construction.

In denying the motion for a preliminary injunction the Court said:

"The Court finds plaintiffs have failed to carry their burden of demonstrating they are substantially likely to prevail on any of their NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) or CWA (Clean Water Act) claims against the Corps. Specifically, plaintiffs have failed to show that the Corps acted arbitrarily and capriciously or abused its discretion in defining the purpose, in evaluating the alternatives, in assessing the cumulative and indirect impacts, in declining to supplement the EIS regarding the dewatering issue, in relying on the Fish and Wildlife Service's Biological Opinion to reach decision as to the effect the project on the flatwoods salamander and other species and biota, in assessing the mitigation plan or in any of the broader or narrower explications of these issues suggested by plaintiffs."

"Plaintiffs having failed to demonstrate a substantial likelihood of success as to any of their claims against the Corps, the Court need not determine whether the other prongs of the injunction standard are met."

"As for plaintiffs' claims against the Fish and Wildlife Service brought under the Endangered Species Act, the parties disagree as to the appropriate standard upon which to review these claims, but the Court finds that even the standard argued by plaintiffs does not support the issuance of a preliminary injunction as plaintiffs have not demonstrated (to a substantial or even reasonable likelihood) that the Biological Opinion issued by the Fish and Wildlife Service violated the procedural or substantive requirements of the Endangered Species Act."

"Judge Corrigan's ruling was the best we could have hoped for at this juncture," said Airport Authority Vice Chairman Bill Cramer, who attended the hearing in Jacksonville. "Airport opponents have not established a substantial likelihood of success in their arguments against the new airport. As we have said from the beginning, the FAA did a complete and thorough analysis of alternatives before issuing its Record of Decision to relocate the airport. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did an equally thorough analysis before issuing the Section 404 Permit. Every step of the way, the Airport Authority has sought to exceed what is required. We have been very diligent in managing this project, and our success in Court to date underscores that."

"It's taken nearly a decade of hard work and analysis to get to this point," said Tannehill. "We have completed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). We have a Record of Decision. We have applied for and received more than twenty different permits, an approved financial plan including local, state and federal funding, and we have sold the existing airport site," said Tannehill. "It's taken hard work from dozens of local, state and federal agencies to get to this point. Now, with construction underway, we fully expect to open our new airport in 2010."

"We look forward to delivering the air service, economic development and environmental benefits of this project to this region's residents and visitors alike," said Tannehill.