Port to get needed road improvements

Entrance roads to the Alexandria Port will get some needed improvements once Cool Planet Energy Systems builds its manufacturing facility there.

The Alexandria Metropolitan Planning Organization recently approved a project to overlay from Louisiana Highway 1 to River Port Road. The City of Alexandria will pick up the project there and continue it into the port.

"With the amount of traffic we're getting in there, and the increase expected with Cool Planet, this will be great," said port Executive Director Blake Cooper.

"I think Cool Planet provided the impetus to do it, but this has been needed for awhile," said Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy.

Cool Planet first commercial facility will convert wood biomass into ready to use transportation fuel. The process also produces CoolTerra — a biochar-based agricultural product designed to increase crop productivity while reducing fertilizer and water requirements.

The MPO portion of the project is $400,000 in federal transportation funds, with an $80,000 local match. Construction on the roads will be held until Cool Planet has finished moving heavy equipment in and out for its construction needs.

The MPO also approved a $300,000 project ($50,000 of that a local match) to add a turn lane on Louisiana Highway 28 West at John Allison Drive. The new lane is intended to serve traffic going into the Coca-Cola facility there.

Local bakery rates mention among South's best

Harlow's Do-Nut and Bakery in Pineville recently rated a mention in "Taste of the South" magazine's travel blog, "The South's Best Doughnuts."

Harlow's, opened in 1972, recently celebrated 30 years under its current ownership, the Burr family. It was one of 11 doughnut shops in the South (including, interestingly, Washington, D.C.) spotlighted by writers Paul & Angela Knipple.

"While there are plenty of flavors to choose from, the stars here are simple, lightly glazed doughnuts made from scratch every morning," the Knipples wrote of Harlow's.

To see the full blog post, visit www.tasteofthesouthmagazine.com/the-souths-best-doughnuts.