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Welcome to Flashback, a podcast by the Okaloosa County Public Information Office. Get ready to dust the nostalgia off your sleeve as we talk with Okaloosa citizens who share with us how things used to be. I’m your host Nick Tomecek. Its time to step into your imaginary DeLorean tap your flux capacitor and Flashback!!!
Episodes
Monday Oct 24, 2022
FLASHBACK (Okaloosa): We’re No. 1! - Purple Heart, Special Olympics and FADs
Monday Oct 24, 2022
Monday Oct 24, 2022
Okaloosa County has the distinction of being the first County in the state to accomplish certain "Firsts". Listen to the stories of becoming a Purple Heart County, the first Special Olympics County and how Fish Aggregating Devices are a game changer for anglers in the Gulf of Mexico.
Need more Okaloosa County government information? - Go to MyOkaloosa.com
Monday Sep 26, 2022
FLASHBACK (Okaloosa): Brooks Bridge - Then, Now and the Future
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Monday Sep 26, 2022
We will take through the history of the Brooks Bridge and give you an update on the replacement project currently underway.
More info on the replacement project by FDOT can be found at https://nwflroads.com/projects/415474-2
In the 1930s the state saw the need to connect northwest Florida to south Florida on a highway system that would require a fair amount of bridges. The Gulf Coast Highway system, aka the Florida Loop would go from Pensacola to Tampa. According to news articles, in 1931 funds began being allocated to build bridges to make this idea come true.
Yes folks we are talking about the Brooks Bridge. We’ve had two Brooks Bridges since the 1930s and were about to see a third. You can already see buildings and signs being removed to make way for the new one. The construction of the new one as you may know, is being overseen by the Florida Department of Transportation.
Friday Aug 12, 2022
FLASHBACK (Okaloosa): Building an Indy 500-style speedway in Destin, Florida
Friday Aug 12, 2022
Friday Aug 12, 2022
The Florida International Motor Speedway Destin was going to be a 2.5 triangular track with a 60,000 person seating capacity. The announcement for the track was made in newspapers Jan. 1, 1971. Listen to how this track almost became part of the Emerald Coast landscape.
Friday Jul 15, 2022
FLASHBACK (Okaloosa): Stories from Okaloosa County drive-in theaters
Friday Jul 15, 2022
Friday Jul 15, 2022
There were drive-ins as early as the 1910s, but the first patented drive-in was opened I 1933 by Richard Hollingshead in New Jersey. He created it as a solution for people unable to comfortably fit into smaller movie theater seats after creating a mini drive-in for his mother. Hollingshead advertised his drive-in as a place where “The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are.”
Drive ins began to take off around the country in the 50s and 60s and their popularity was evident in Okaloosa County, too.
Wednesday Jun 29, 2022
Wednesday Jun 29, 2022
We’ll get into whether German U-boats actually infiltrated the shores of the Choctaw Bay, and what would have happened if it turned into the largest seaport in the world as some early developers wanted And of course we will discuss the role of the nightlife in the early years of Shalimar. We will also get into a story about a not so widely know area of Shalimar, Black Point.
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
FLASHBACK (Okaloosa)- From Timber to Tourism - Water Boggan origin story
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
We explore the origin story of who built Water Boggan on Okaloosa Island in the late 1970s. Thanks to Harvey Fleming for this look into Okaloosa history.
Wednesday May 18, 2022
FLASHBACK (Okaloosa): Milligan’s fame as the County seat
Wednesday May 18, 2022
Wednesday May 18, 2022
We don't think much about County seats or what they mean. When Okaloosa County was formed in 1915 by the state legislature, a temporary County seat had to be named and Milligan was chosen. Listen to how they got the seat and how they lost it.
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
Listen to AFSOC historians discuss the early history of Hurlburt Field and AFSOC, as well as some funny, serious and patriotic stories about this elite group known as the Air Commandos. Learn more about Okaloosa County services at myokaloosaa.com
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
FLASHBACK (Okaloosa): From Boggy Tech to Northwest Florida State College
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Northwest Florida State College has grown to be a premiere Junior College, recognized nationally for academics and athletics. Listen to past and present presidents, former students, and other historic recollections about the institution's history and some exciting new projects on the horizon.
Thursday Feb 17, 2022
FLASHBACK (Okaloosa): Niceville’s Mullet Festival and stories from backstage
Thursday Feb 17, 2022
Thursday Feb 17, 2022
Lannie Corbin, Sheila Bishop and William Prince discuss their memories while working behind-the-scenes at the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival. Listen to what they learned about the personalities of artists such as Rick Springfield, Charlie Daniels, the Dixie Chicks and Billy Ray Cyrus.