May 07, 2010
As oil continues to spill into the Gulf, our
prayers and thoughts go out to the families and businesses which will be
directly affected by this catastrophic event for years to come. However,
whether you live along the coast or not, we all will feel the effects of the
spill from the reduction in seafood production to increased costs for
products related to oil. While the investigation continues as to what
happened, it remains an undeniable fact that this spill will have a large
impact on our economy and our environment for some time to come.
While the news is bad from the coast, our own senate district has had
several good pieces of news including the announcement that the Tiloston
Corporation was going to make an additional $2 million donation to the
Fayette Community Foundation this year. The foundation was established from
funds from Tiloston Corporation in 2005 and has grown since. The Foundation
uses interest from this money to provide grants to projects that improve the
quality of life for Fayette County citizens. Since its founding, the
Foundation has distributed $754,000 grants.
Also good news for Fayette County came from the Alabama Emergency Management
Agency when it announced that they had awarded a grant agreement to Fayette
County for a warning siren in the Oak Ridge Community. This is very welcome
news especially in light of all the recent severe weather and tornadoes
which have taken place throughout the State.
I had an enjoyable time this past week traveling down to Guin for their
annual Industrial Appreciation Banquet. This year’s recipients were an
excellent group as always including Employer of the Year, Webster’s Piggly
Wiggly, the Industry and Innovation winner being 3M Company, the
Professional of the Year, Dr. Travis Miller, Retail Business of the Year,
Guin Shell, Good Start Award, Goodies & Gifts and Friend of the City,
Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood. I congratulate all the winners and I again
appreciate the Mayor and the rest of the city officials allowing me to
participate.
Guin also had a groundbreaking the past week for the Holiday Inn Express
which will be constructing an 82-room hotel at the intersection of State
Highway 44 and Corridor X. The Hotel will be managed through Certified
Hospitality Hotel. It is hoped that the hotel will also encouraged other
business along the route including gas stations and restaurants.
In other good news, it was announced that bids for the final link between
Interstate 65 and Corridor X will be opened May 21. The project will
hopefully start in late July or early August and is expected to take three
years. The project had been delayed while waiting for federal funds. I am
pleased to see this project on its way to completion.
I also had the pleasure of presenting multiple grants in Franklin County
this past week including the following:
$300 to the City of Russellville to assist with the restocking of Sloss Lake
$1,000 to the Town of Vina
$1,500 for the Russellville Track & Field team
$1,000 to Belgreen High School for the academic banquet
$1,000 each for the Vina High School for the varsity and junior varsity
football
$2,000 for the Vina Youth League
$1,000 each for the Belgreen High School for the junior varsity and varsity
cheerleaders
$750 for the Russellville Middle School for the aerospace science club’s
trip to the Space and Rocket Center
$500 for the Franklin County Schools teen day program
$500 for the Franklin County Schools child abuse and neglect program
$1,000 each for the Phil Campbell High School varsity and junior varsity
cheerleaders
$1,000 for the Franklin County Schools P.A.L.S. program
$500 for the S.P.A.N. program of Franklin County
$1,000 for the HOSA convention trip
$1,000 for the Tharptown Youth cheerleaders
I thank all the sponsors and participants for all their hardwork with these
programs and projects. I commend them all.
I was also able to attend several area relay for life events. I was pleased
with the turn out and by all the hard work from all the teams as we join
together to fight the many devastating forms of cancer.
Should you need to reach me for any reason please do so at the following
addresses.
Roger H. Bedford, Jr.
Alabama State House
Suite 730
Montgomery, AL 36130
Phone:334-242-7862
Fax:334-353-4304
Roger H. Bedford, Jr.
P.O. Box 370
Russellville, AL 35653
Phone: 256-332-2880
Fax:256-332-7821
Email: Senbedford@aol.com