By: Sen. Roger Bedford

The Thanksgiving holidays is always a good time to stop and reflect back on how much we have to be thankful for.

Our family, friends, good health and happiness are just a few of the many blessings that we’ve received.

One of the things that I am most thankful for is our brave Veterans of the past and present who have put their life on the line to protect the freedoms which we enjoy here in America.

One only has to turn on the TV to see the strife in Israel and the Middle East and know how truly blessed we are and we should always thank our Veterans for their service. By the time you receive this message in the paper another Iron Bowl will have been played in Bryant Denny Stadium adding another tale to our history.

I know that Auburn has had a tough year but I always think it’s a positive for the state of Alabama when all of our football programs are doing well.  It just makes the rivalry that much more fun.

I have heard from several hunters throughout our Senate District and State and it would appear that some nice deer have been harvested early this season.

I want to encourage all of you to enjoy the outdoors but to be very careful and safe when handling firearms and/or crossbows, because we don’t want any accidents happening this hunting season.

As you know the highway work is continuing throughout or Senate District.  I am hopeful that next year the new interstate I-22, also known as Corridor X ,will be tied into Birmingham. I want to make you aware of a meeting that is coming up on Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the division auditorium for the Fifth Division of the Alabama Department of Transportation, which is located at 2715 Skyland Boulevard, East in Tuscaloosa.

The Alabama Department of Transportation is inviting all of us to attend a presentation regarding highway funding trends and Alabama’s plans for allocating these funds.

L. Dee Rowe, as you know, is the Division Engineer and for any additional information you can call him at 205-553-7030.

I encourage everyone to attend and discuss the future concerns of the enhancement of our highways and to identify our systems capacity needs. There will also be discussions about the outlook for major earmark projects from past federal legislation. I think it would be helpful for the Division Engineers and the ALDOT employees to hear directly from you regarding the highway projects you want to see improved and built in Northwest Alabama.

I’m very impressed by the number of high school football teams that have advanced throughout our Senate District into the playoffs. I know that the coaches, players, cheerleaders, band and of course the parents and grandparents have enjoyed the season but there is also a lot of work that goes into getting ready to prepare for these playoff games. I am pleased to announce the following grants that were recently awarded in our Senate District.

Through the Franklin County Community Development Committee $1,000 was given to the Red Bay Park and Rec for a camera system for Fun Park.

$365 went to Vina High School’s 7th and 8th grade Scholars Bowl.  $1,997 went to Vina High School’s Accelerated Reading Program.  $500 was given to Vina High School’s 4th grade class.  $2,000 went to Red Bay Lions Club Christmas Project for a clothing and food drive.

Thank you for all the phone calls, letters and e-mails about your concerns dealing with the issues facing us at the State and local level.  Please continue to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Roger Bedford is a state senator for Franklin County.