More than $25,000 worth of grants secured through the USDA Rural Development and the Alabama Aeronautical Commission made it possible for officials to break ground this week on a heliport on the grounds of L.V. Stabler Memorial Hospital. This project will hopefully save lives in the future by allowing faster transportation of trauma patients to critical care centers.

To all who participated in making this project a reality, we thank you. A seemingly simple slab of concrete will not only provide faster care for those in need, but also will serve as an example of how local, state and federal agencies can accomplish great feats by working together, pooling resources and keeping the best interests of a community in mind.

The addition of this heliport also serves as a final capstone to the newly expanded and renovated emergency department at L.V. Stabler that will continue to provide excellent emergency service to the community for years to come.