Florida, Alabama Officials Discuss Highway with Panhandle Business Community.

Byline: Windy Booher

Dec. 7--GRACEVILLE, Fla.--The fish were crispy, the grits were cheesy, and the slaw was sweet as Gov. Jeb Bush and Alabama Gov-elect Bob Riley sat down with members of the Panhandle's business community in Jackson County at the Graceville Civic Center for the First Friday Fish Fry. The crowd comprised businessmen, locals, and politicians gathered to support a high-speed, limited access connector between Dothan, Ala., and Panama City.

Earl Durden, a railroad executive from Panama City, called transportation "the backbone of economic development." The hope is that the project results in a new highway, or an extensively multilaned existing …