Putting Gulf Coast businesses back to work, including the largest employer in the states of Mississippi and Louisiana, is an essential step in putting the region and its citizens' lives back together.

I worked (for) Coles County for 14 years and typically we'd use millings for shoulder work. I suggested the idea and it took some cooperation between the city, the engineering office, city's street crews and Howell Asphalt to make it happen.

As long as we have material to use, we can work in another alley (project).

I'm excited. I know there is still more in me and I'm going to a program that will work with me. It is going to be a big change, but intimidated? No, not really.

We're getting a lot accomplished on these alleys, this year and last year. It actually might fool you into thinking it is a new road.

We could sell it or shut it down and neither of those have been determined.