Editorial: Black Belt Recreation - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: Black Belt Recreation

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By John Shryock - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:20:08 GMT
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    •   

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Job creation is Governor Robert Bentley's top priority. 

Governor Riley made tremendous strides in attracting top quality jobs to the state and improving our quality of education was integral to creating those jobs. 

But one region continues to trail the rest of the state: The Black Belt.  It encompasses a third of the counties in the state.  For Alabama to truly prosper and improve on national rankings, this region must grow. 

The biggest asset in the Black Belt is unquestionably the recreation potential.  The region spans 11 million acres and 23 counties and houses 60 hunting and fishing lodges.  Developing this land for hunting and fishing enthusiasts makes huge sense.

Hunters flock to Arkansas for ducks and the Dakotas for pheasant – why not Alabama for quail? 

The Black Belt could be known nationally as an outdoor recreation destination, just as the Robert Trent Jones trails are for golf. 

Alabama offers an affordable destination and longer seasons for hunting and fishing.  Nearly 80 billion dollars is spent nationally on recreation.  Alabama should go after some of those billions!