Vote now: Brent Spence bridge repairs up for people’s choice award
Posted Friday, September 24, 2021 6:24 pm
FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – The emergency project to quickly repair and reopen the Brent Spence Bridge following a truck crash and fire last fall, has been selected as one of the nation’s top 12 transportation projects competing for a national transportation grand prize and people’s choice award.
Kentuckians, Ohioans and regional travelers are encouraged to vote daily to honor the people behind the project who restored the nationally significant Ohio River crossing in record time.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or AASHTO, revealed the finalists on Friday. This means the Brent Spence Bridge project now is in the running for further national honors as part of America’s Transportation Awards program, jointly sponsored by AASHTO, AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The Brent Spence Bridge project and 11 other state projects from across the United States now are competing for a national grand prize, with the winner selected by a panel of judges, and a people’s choice award, which is decided by the general public in online voting.
“The online voting gives every Kentuckian an opportunity to express pride in a project of critical importance that was completed under budget and ahead of schedule under exceptionally difficult circumstances,” said Gov. Andy Beshear.
The Brent Spence Bridge, which carries Interstates 71 and 75 across the Ohio River between Covington and Cincinnati was abruptly closed early on Nov. 11, 2020, after two tractor-trailers collided and burned on the lower of the bridge’s two decks. Forty-one days later, on Dec. 22, just in time for Christmas travel, the bridge was reopened.
“It’s an honor to have the Brent Spence Bridge repair project recognized for excellence in a prestigious, national competition,” stated Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray. “It’s a great credit to our very innovative engineers and a host of partners, all of whom worked day and night to restore one of the most important river crossings in the eastern United States. We encourage all our fellow Kentuckians to go to the website and cast a vote every day.”
The 12 finalist projects emerged from four regional contests. Voting, which is now underway, continues until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Oct. 25, 2021. Participants can vote on any number of projects, once per day, at https://americastransportationawards.org/. Winners will be announced at the AASHTO annual meeting, Oct. 26-29, in San Diego.
M. ‘Dean’ Peoples, truck driver
M. “Dean” Peoples, 51, of Frankford, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, at Atlantic General Hospital. He was born March 10, 1970, in Henderson, N.C., son of Norwood Eugene Peoples and Pamela Jean Bullis.
Dean was a truck driver, working for Reed Trucking and Multi Koastal Septic Services before settling at Mountaire Farms for 19 dedicated years. He was an active member of both Roxana and Milville Fire Companies for nearly 13 years, collectively, as well as the Dagsboro Church of God and The Father’s House of Frankford. He enjoyed watching his son race and driving onto the beach with his family. Above all, Dean cherished time spent with those he held most dear. He was a loving and devoted husband, son, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Dean was preceded in death by his stepfather, Virgil V. Bullis Sr.; and his mother-in-law, Catherine Fischer.
Dean is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, Tracy Lynn Peoples; his mother, Pamela Jean Bullis; his father and stepmother, Norwood and Renee Peoples of N.C.; his sons: Joseph Blake Gomez-Bell (Jackie), Thomas James Peoples (Jasmine), Jacob Dean Peoples, Hayden Michael Peoples and Braxton Dean Peoples, all of Roxana; his daughters: Tricia Renee Cordrey (Justin) of Millsboro, Brittany Marie Peoples of Pennsylvania, and Haylee Faye Peoples of Roxana; his grandchildren: Hunter Adam Davis, Austin Dean Davis, Jaxson Cole Mouynivong, Raelynn Marie Cordrey, Rilee Cordrey, Bryleeann Marie Slegle, Remington Margaret Lynn Slegle, and Daniel Blake Gomez-Bell; his brothers: Virgil V. Bullis Jr. of Frankford and Michael Bullis of Millsboro; his in-laws: Richard and Sue Fischer of Orlando, Fla.; and numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends.
A funeral service will be held at 12 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 30, at Roxana Volunteer Fire Company Station 1, 35943 Zion Church Road, Frankford, where friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. Fireman’s honors and Graveside Services will immediately follow at Roxana Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Clarksville Chapel, Ocean View.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Dean’s memory to his Go Fund Me page: https://gofund.me/953ce2da.
Visit Dean’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
Indigenous People’s Market and Festival features arts, crafts, and traditional dancing
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Indigenous People’s Market and Festival was held on Saturday, Sept. 25. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Old Las Vegas Fort State Park on 500 E. Washington Avenue.
In honor of Public Lands Day, admission was free.
There were over 20 Native American artists and crafters, and several dance groups sharing traditional Native American, Aztec and Hawaiian dances.
The gift shop at the Old Las Vegas Fort State Park will have some of the items displayed available for purchase if you were unable to attend today’s event.