BAGHDAD — Lt. Col. Michael Shrout announced the start of Operation Iron Gator, Jan. 8, with more than $2 million in funding for school refurbishments, the expansion of the Bawi Canal, construction of the Kanassa windmills and micro-grants for small businesses in Salman Pak.

The announcement was made at the ground breaking for the Mada’in high school refurbishment. The funding for the projects comes from the Commanders Emergency Relief Program and is intended to improve the infrastructure and quality of life in Salman Pak while building the capacity of the government agencies that operate and maintain schools and other public facilities.

BAGHDAD — After the doldrums of any circumstance, hope is restored in new beginnings.

In the Qahira community, in Baghdad’s Adhamiyah district, the Talaba Sports Complex was reopened to the public Jan. 9 after an extensive refurbishing project Iraqis and Coalition forces undertook to improve the impoverished Shi’a neighborhood.

BASRAH — Commercial and residential traffic is expected to increase here sometime next year now that a deal for a new bridge crossing the Shat Al Arab river was signed at Basrah International Airport, Jan. 9.

The contracting company, Ibn Majid, signed the agreement with the Iraqi government to replace a pontoon bridge near At Tannumah.