Q: With the recent announcement regarding Atlanta's National Center for Civil and Human Rights, I remembered several years ago that former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder spearheaded fundraising for a civil rights museum in Fredericksburg, Va. What happened to that museum and the funds raised for that project?
—Bob Murdaugh, Woodstock
A: Plans for the United States National Slavery Museum, as it was to be called, fell through and it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. The museum claimed to have more than $3 million in unsecured debts, according to the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch. The paper reported that there would not be any funds for creditors after the bankruptcy proceedings. The museum was scheduled to open in 2004 and no construction has been done on the site since 2007, according to the article.
Q: What is the reason for the tree cutting and clearing on U.S. 41 at the Chattahoochee River?
—Betty Guffin, Atlanta
A: The clearing of trees on both sides of the Chattahoochee River is the start of a project to rebuild the U.S. 41 bridge over the river, a spokeswoman with the Cumberland Community Improvement District told Q&A on the News. The new bridge will have six lanes, will be accessible to pedestrians and bicycle traffic and will include improved access to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. The $18 million project, which is being funded by the Cumberland CID and federal transportation dollars, is scheduled to be complete in 2015, according to www.cumberlandcid.org.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We'll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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