Joint-use $52 million facility scheduled for April 2004 opening WEST FORT HOOD —Amongst a crowd of 300+ people, and with the turn of 12 shovels full of dirt, Killeen officials formally dedicated and broke ground on Monday for the city's $52 million joint-use municipal airport project at West Fort Hood. Gathered beneath a large blue and white tent set up on the site of the 76-acre airport, citizens, along with an array of city, county, state and federal government officials met at the southeast corner of Robert Gray Army Airfield. In the background —alongside the airfield's 10,000-foot runway, were signs of preliminary excavation work for a 3,700-foot taxiway to be scraped out of the rocky terrain. According to John Clark, of the Temple Daily Telegram, the $3.4-million taxiway will accommodate civilian aircraft for the airport and is scheduled to open for business in April 2004. Area, state, and federal politicians took were present to express their support for the venture, which has been called the most significant local economic development opportunity since Fort Hood was established more than 50 years ago. "What an excellent example of partnership," said District 54 State Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, R-Lampasas. "Look at what you all have created here. I can't wait to actually be on a plane that's either going into or out of this airport." Carol L. O'Connor