2014/02/21 – Capitol Report – Senator Roger Bedford – February 21st, 2014

Capitol Report February 21st, 2014

It was certainly a pleasure to be able to announce this week that the City of Fayette has received a very well deserved grant in the amount of $250,000 from the Alabama Department of Economic & Community Affairs. I was glad to support this grant as it will help create and keep new jobs in Fayette. We must all continue to work together as a team to keep the jobs that we currently have and do what is necessary to attract new, good paying jobs to our area.

While on the subject of grants, it was certainly a pleasure to be in Red Bay and Russellville on Friday to present Franklin County TVA in-lieu of tax service grants. These grants are applicable to all Franklin County and it is a pleasure for me, working with Johnny Mac Morrow, to have presented over $750,000 worth of grants in Franklin County alone. We recently awarded Red Bay High School Baseball program $600, Red Bay High School Softball $1000, Vina High School Softball $500, Red Bay High School Weight Room project $2000, Pleasant Site Fire Protection Authority $512.50, Phil Campbell Elementary $500 for a teacher workshop on Behavioral Disorders, Belgreen High School $500, East Franklin Jr. High $500, Red Bay High School $500, Tharptown High School $1000, Vina High School $500, Belgreen High School Softball program $1000 and Russellville West Elementary $2400 for the purchase of iPads to be used in classrooms.

I am also happy to announce the following Grants awarded by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The City of Fayette has been awarded $250,000 to be used to renovate a vacant apparel manufacturing facility to be used as a business incubator. This project will benefit 50 people of whom 51% are of low and moderate income. The City of Fayette has committed a $50,000 match to the project. $59,293 has been awarded to the Community action Agency of Northwest Alabama, Inc to provide Department of Energy funds to local Community Action Agencies to weatherize the homes of low-income and elderly residents of the State of Alabama. The counties served by this grant are Colbert, Lauderdale and Franklin.
The Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Inc were awarded $127,718 to provide Department of Energy funds to local Community Action Agencies to weatherize the homes of low-income and elderly residents in Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties. The City of Sheffield has been awarded $100,000 to construct River Heritage Trail extension from existing river walk to CCC historic bridge in Whipporwill Hollow. This trail will be multi-use for bicyclists and pedestrians, and will be ADA accessible.
The Winston County Commission was awarded $9,168 to provide tactical equipment for deputies during high risk search warrants and to protect against situations in the county jail.

I recently had a wonderful time at the Annual Hackleburg Civitan Pancake breakfast and I look forward to attending the Frog Pond VFD Pancake Breakfast in Franklin County as well as the Winfield High School’s fundraiser Pancake Breakfast on February 22nd.

I’m pleased to report to you that my bill to make it illegal for animal right groups and others to intentionally and willfully use drones to disrupt legal hunting and fishing in Alabama has passed the Alabama Senate and is now in the House of Representatives. This is a growing trend among animal rights activist in the Mid-West and Northern states that I do not want to see occur here in Alabama. This bill will hopefully stop that type of annoying and intentional harassment. It will not interfere with the business use of drones to legitimately show real estate, inspect power lines or other legal uses. As a life long hunter and fishermen I do not want to see this type of disruptive behavior come into Alabama.

Maudie and I certainly lost a good friend, Mr. Bruce Adam Wilson of the Shoals went to heaven this past week. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean conflict and was a life long Democrat. Our best wishes and prayers go out to his family.

I hope the last blast of winter came through this past month and I’m looking forward to a warm and bright spring and I hope you are too.

Please continue to contact me with your cards, letters, calls and e-mails. I consider it an honor to work for you.

Roger H. Bedford, Jr.
Alabama State House
11 S. Union Street, Suite 738
Montgomery, Alabama 36130
Phone 334-242-7862, Fax 334-242-9202
Russellville Office
P.O. Box 370
Russellville, Alabama 35653
Phone 256-332-6966 Fax 256-332-6967
Email: senbedford@aol.com
Website: http://www.RogerBedford.com

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