Roadscapes Wednesday: I-59 Etowah County Construction Is Done


Roadscapes Geek Alabama

Well, well, ALDOT has finally finished the Interstate 59 construction in Etowah County.  It took them two years, yes two years to reconstruct 10 miles of Interstate.  Before the construction began, I-59 was in very poor shape.  Just take a look at these photos.

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Now, brand new concrete is in place and the drive is much smoother.  I am just glad this Interstate is in better shape.  It just should not have taken two years for the work to be done.  Here are some pictures of the new roadway.

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Community Thanksgiving Dinners 2012


Before I went to my mom’s house for Thanksgiving dinner I went by the Hobson City Community Thanksgiving Dinner and the Comm-Unity Thanksgiving Dinner at the convention hall in Gadsden.  The Hobson City dinner is put on by Mayor Alberta McCrory at the old C.E. Hanna school to help give meals to the less-fortunate in the small town.  The dinner in Gadsden is put on by the United Way of Etowah County.  Both dinners saw good crowds and everyone enjoyed the food!  This is what Thanksgiving is all about.  Enjoy the photos!

Roadscapes Wednesday: ALDOT Bashing in Etowah County


One thing I love to do on Geek Alabama is do some ALDOT bashing.  The state department that is responsible for maintaining our highways has been wasting millions of dollars in the last few years on projects such as U.S. 98 in Mobile County, U.S. 280 in Birmingham, I-20 in East Alabama, I-759 extension in Etowah County, and I-59 in Etowah County among others.  It’s no secret some folks over at ALDOT does not like me talking about the bad roads in Alabama.  And yes they do want me Nathan Young and Geek Alabama gone forever!  But I am not going to stop talking about the bad roads in Alabama.  I want to start with the I-59 Etowah County project.  It’s been over two years and the project to replace the concrete is still not done!  Last weekend I went up to view the progress.  The bridge on south I-59 over U.S. 11 is complete.  And the concrete overlay looks like it’s done.  But this project should have been completed long ago!

At least the new concrete is better than what it used to be!  It’s a shame ALDOT let this road get so bad!

http://geekalabama.com/2012/05/09/roadscapes-wednesday-i-59-work/

Next I want to talk about the I-759 extension in Gadsden.  Recently there was a story in the Gadsden Times talking about the slow progress on this project.  The Federal Highway Administration continues to ask ALDOT to look at other possible “avoidance alternates” to the four proposed routes that were introduced at a public meeting eight years ago.  The four proposed routes are shown below.

Many officials in Gadsden and Etowah County don’t think they will see this road built-in their lifetimes.  The cost of this project, if it was built today would be around $100 million!  And currently the funds are not available.  FHWA is wanting ALDOT to find a route which does not adversely impact the neighborhood, the historic districts and (the) community in general.  This basically means they want a different route.  I have proposed a different route which I think would be better.  Why not take I-759 behind Gadsden State and connect it to College Parkway.  The 4-lane that ends at a chicken plant.

While I am on the I-759 talk; I watched traffic at the intersection of I-759 and AL 291 or George Wallace Dr.  The two traffic lights needs re-timing badly!  One light stays green with no traffic around while traffic on I-759 backs up.  Then when they get the green light they only see the Academy light turn red.  The backed up traffic then blocks the first intersection.  These signals needs to be re-timed!

During Steam Engine Day in Attalla, AL.  A police officer had to stop traffic on the green light to allow pedestrians to walk across.  The intersection has ped signals but they are not working!  Lots of traffic backed up on U.S. 431, U.S. 278 and U.S. 11 because some equipment was not working!  I am surprised no one got hit or an accident didn’t occur!

 

If ALDOT would maintain their roads in the first place I would not be going around and criticizing them.  I wish ALDOT would do a better job maintaining roads in Alabama.  And believe me; I am not going to stay quiet!

 

Gadsden Dragon Boat Festival


25 teams competed on Saturday at the Gadsden-Etowah County Habitat for Humanity Dragon Boat Festival that took place on the Coosa River in Gadsden.  Many people turned out for the entire day to watch the teams race up the Coosa River.  Enjoy the pictures below and the video is footage of the last race where Brute Fitness & Northeast Orthopedic took gold, Watkins Ford’s Ronnie’s River Rats took silver and Gadsden City Council’s Coosabillies took bronze.  For more information on the Dragon Boat Festival go to: http://www.habitatdragonboat.com/

I-20 and I-59 Updates


This post is about updates to the road works on East Alabama Interstates.  The I-59 Etowah County Road work is trying to move along.  At least they are now putting asphalt over the old concrete lanes.

And the southbound I-59 bridge at US 11 is now gone!

Now for the I-20 updates.  The sinkhole detour is now gone and the westbound lanes are back to normal.  And the lanes in the Calhoun County work zone has moved to the newly paved median.  And on the eastbound side at exit 185 there is a contraflow situation set up.

Here is video of the right lane rumble strips on I-20 in the Cleburne County work zone.

Roadscapes Wednesday: I-59 Work


This week on Roadscapes Wednesday I took some photos of a closed interstate.  Yep I went onto the closed portion of I-59 in the Etowah County work zone.  Both lanes of traffic are currently on the northbound side.  And the southbound side is currently closed and about to be worked on.  As you can see this work is really needed.

A Tragic Child’s Death


http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20120222/NEWS/120229956/1016/NEWS?Title=Grandmother-stepmother-charged-in-9-year-old-s-death-

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/02/etowah_county_sheriffs_office.html

This story is probably going to make national news.  And it happened in Young’s Blog territory so this story needs to be talked about.  A 9 year old girl named Savannah Hardin has died because she was forced to run around a house for over three hours as punishment for eating a candy bar on a school bus.  As she was running around she collapsed from dehydration and passed away at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham on Monday.  The tough decision was made to pull her off life support after her father who flew back from being halfway around the world was by her bedside.  This story has blown up on social media and all the comments are in anger to the parents responsible.  And many on social media are wishing the parents arrested hope they get the death penalty or has to do the same punishment they forced on Savannah.  I think this sunset shot tonight is appropriate to a child lost.

The first thought I have in this story is disbelief.  When I first heard the story this afternoon my head just shook.  What is wrong in eating candy on a school bus?  Kids love candy and it was a Friday afternoon.  Kids need to have some fun.  And everyone knows that kids love candy.  I know that even some bus drivers will give kids a treat now and then.  So what the girl did by eating candy and then gets punished like this makes no sense at all.  My second thought is I am not surprised.  I used to work for Fed Ex and delivered in the Carlisle area of Etowah County where this girl was from.  And I saw some houses where the living conditions are not so great.  And there were some people that I delivered too that were a little weird.  So was this a surprise?  Maybe.  My final thought goes to the girl’s friends at school.  They now have to go through the process of grief.  And they are all too young to go through this.  I am glad that the school brought in grief counselors and are allowing everyone at the school to leave notes at Savannah’s desk.  The girl’s desk at school has been turned into a makeshift memorial and the notes will be given to Savannah’s father.

The grandmother Joyce Garrard and the stepmother Jessica Hardin have been arrested for Savannah’s death and have been charged with murder.  Here’s the mugshots.

 

And the news has come out that Jessica Hardin has given birth to a child at a Gadsden hospital and is being guarded by Etowah County Deputies.  Other news is coming out saying that there is a DHR case in another state from this family.  So it sounds like there is a history of abuse in this family.  I want to end this post with my thoughts.  The DHR officials in Alabama were too late in saving this girl.  And this is a sad story.  But I have been abused by my dad and step mom when I was younger and had DHR officials look into the matter only to have the parents lie to them and nothing happening at all.  I just have to wonder if the parents in the mugshots above were lying to DHR officials and thus nothing happened at all.  To everyone out there; if you suspect you are seeing child abuse from anybody; report it!

Roadscapes Wednesday


For more pictures; visit the offical photo blog Traffic Light Pixels. http://trafficlightpixels.tumblr.com/

It’s time for another edition of Roadscapes Wednesday.  And this week I am featuring some old bridges around Dekalb County Alabama that you probably do not want to cross.  These one lane bridges have seen better days and really need to be replaced soon.  This bridge is on CR-86.

Kind of bad right.  But it gets better!  This bridge is on CR-185.

Here is a brave person crossing this bridge.

Those are some bridges in very bad shape.  Now here are some in Collinsville, AL on Broad St.; Valley Rd.; and College Ave.

The old bridge tour continues in Dekalb County Alabama on CR-39.  You would think they get these dead trees cut out from under the bridge.

And to wrap up this old bridge tour.  Here is one old bridge with a 3 ton weight limit on Campbell Gap Rd. in Etowah County Alabama.

Alabama Gives Day: Local Charities


Alabama Gives Day is coming up on Thursday, Feburary 2nd.  We are asking everyone to help donate and make this a record breaking event.  Everyone in the state of Alabama has gone through a lot in the last year.  And the charities need support now more than ever.  I found this list from 97.9 WVOK that lists all the charities that have signed up for this event in the Anniston/Gadsden areas.  Click on any of the charities below and please donate on Thursday online at http://algives.razoo.com/

 UNITED WAY OF EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA

United Way of East Central Alabama is investing in the building blocks of a good life for all – Education, Income and Health.

TRIUMPH YOUTH AND ADULT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

We are an organization whose mission is to meet the needs within communities in an effort to help improve the quality of life for families.

INTERFAITH MINISTRIES INC OF CALHOUN COUNTY ALABAMA

Bringing God’s people together to serve God’s people in need

2ND CHANCE INC

2nd Chance provides safe shelter and supportive services to victims of domestic violence escaping abusive situations.

THE NORTHEAST ALABAMA CRISIS CENTER INC

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTHEAST ALABAMA

Our mission is to wisely assess needs and channel donor resources to maximize community well-being.

East Central Alabama United Cerebral Palsy

Serving children and adults with developmental disabilities in East Central Alabama.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA

NORTHEAST ALABAMA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

SAVING ANIMALS VOLUNTEER EFFORT INC

SAVE is dedicated to to reducing the population of unwanted dogs & cats in order to empty all the shelters in our area through spay/neuter.

ANNISTON COMMUNITY EDUCATION FOUNDATION

The Anniston Community Education Foundation (ACEF) is dedicated to holistic development and empowerment of the youth in Calhoun County, AL.

WEST ANNISTON FOUNDATION

We provide services that promote the health,education and community development of current and former residents of West Anniston.

BAYSIDE MEDICAL MISSIONS AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH INC

Help volunteer surgeons offer hope for better quality of life by correcting deformities for people with unavailable specialty surgical care

ATC Men’s Training Center (Lincoln)

Alabama Teen Challenge is part of the oldest, largest, and most successful faith-based addictions recovery programs in the world.

TALLADEGA COUNTY CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER INC

Talladega County Child Advocacy Center-Palmer Place

Alabama Teen Challenge

Alabama Teen Challenge is part of the oldest, largest, and most successful faith-based addictions recovery programs in the world.

NORTHEAST ALABAMA CENTER FOR COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

The Northeast Alabama Center for Community Initiatives (NACCI) is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, public charity corporation

CALHOUN CLEBURNE CHILDRENS CENTER INC

The Calhoun/Cleburne Children’s Center provides free counseling and therapy to child abuse victims.

JESUS IS THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE MOBILE MINISTRIES

Our goal is Feeding Hope to God’s People by bringing awareness to the invisible problem of hunger/poverty in our community through mobility.

KID ONE TRANSPORT SYSTEM INC

Transporting Children to Better Health

PIEDMONT EMERGENCY RESCUE SQUAD

Piedmont Rescue is a not for profit ambulance and rescue service providing care to the citizens of a 400 square mile area around Piedmont AL

PIEDMONT BENEVOLENCE CENTER

The Piedmont Benevolence Center is a Charitable organization that assist needy in the 36272 postal zip code.

ALABAMA BAPTIST CHILDRENS HOME AND FAMILY MINISTRIES

We exist to protect, nurture & restore children and families through Christ-centered foster care, group homes, family care & counseling.

·FAMILY LINKS

We provide a continuum of support services for children and youth by maximizing their school readiness and encouraging positive life choices

SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA

We provide children with vision screenings, eye exams, eyeglasses, medications, surgeries, low vision assessments, vision aids and more.

THREE HOTS & A COT

Provide services for homeless veterans while transitioning into affordable housing. Serving those who have served our nation.

THE NORTHEAST ALABAMA CRISIS CENTER INC

ALABAMA 4-H CLUB FOUNDATION INC

Head. Heart. Hands. Health. For 103 years, Alabama 4-H has been a guiding force to help youth across state achieve life success….

A ROCK FOUNDATION

A Rock Foundation is a Disater Relief and Community Revitalization 501 c 3 non profit organization.

SAMARITAN HOUSE

The Samaritan House of Talladega was founded in 1978 as a ministry to meet the physical and financial needs to those facing challenges.

·TALLADEGA COUNTY CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER INC

Talladega County Child Advocacy Center-Palmer Place

THE ARC OF NORTH TALLADEGA COUNTY INC

ALABAMA INSTITUTE FOR DEAF AND BLIND FOUNDATION INC

AIDB is the world’s most comprehensive education and service program for children and adults of all ages with hearing and vision loss.

SHOCCO SPRINGS BAPTIST CONFERENCE CENTER INC

Shocco Springs is a Christian Conference Center in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains near Talladega, Alabama.

SYLACAUGA ALLIANCE FOR FAMILY ENHANCEMENT INC – SAFE

SAFE is a community-based, nonprofit organization whose purpose is to provide meaningful opportunities for families.

SUSAN G KOMEN BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION

To save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.