Thanksgiving travel period underway

Many travelers hit the roads, and the skies Wednesday as the Thanksgiving holiday period began at 6pm, running through midnight Sunday. At Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, officials expect to see a slight increase for the 102-hour stretch over last year, to about 1.7 million travelers moving through the airport. On the road, officials predict more than a million Georgians will travel more than 50 miles this weekend--a bit down from last year.

Early holiday travel off to good start

The early start to Thanskgiving holiday travel looks good for Georgians. The state Department of Transportation says most construction involving lane closures will be suspended from now until midnight Sunday. Current gas prices are friendly to drivers--the average in Georgia for regular unleaded is in the $1.70 range. It's the lowest for the Thanksgiving holiday in four years. And for people using Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International airport, security wait times early Wednesday morning were listed at 10 minutes.

Atlanta airport officials: "a really good day"

As people across the state settle-in for Thanksgiving Day meals and celebrations today, officials with Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport reported few flight delays yesterday. The day is traditionally known as the busiest travel day of the year. Security checkpoint lines were reported as moving steadily. Yesterday's travel day was said by an airport spokeswoman to be "a really good day before Thanksgiving".

Drive safer this Sunday

As the Thanksgiving weekend gears up and travelers hit the roads … the U.S. Senate has declared Sunday as “Drive Safer Sunday.” It’s the idea of Georgia Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest highway traffic day of the year. Last year, 19 people died on Georgia roads during the Thanksgiving weekend.

Ft. Benning already serving the turkey

Ft. Benning plans to serve festive Thanksgiving Day meals to some soldiers a day early, on Wednesday.

Troops and officers of the 11th Engineer Battalion will enjoy a meal with all the fixins', so -- as in years past -- the staff at one facility can spend the holiday off with their families.

The lunch will also include the tradition of officers in dress uniform serving the troops, according to a statement released by the post.

Al Sharpton visits Augusta

Civil rights activist Al Sharpton helped distribute Thanksgiving turkeys to needy families in Augusta Monday.

It's an event that the late soul singer James Brown hosted annually until his death last year.

Sharpton and Brown were close friends. Brown died on Christmas Day last year of congestive heart failure.

Two of the soul singer's daughters, some of his grandchildren, and his widow, Tomi Rae Hynie Brown, joined Sharpton at the giveaway. The family has been embroiled in a court battle over Brown's estate, and there have been questions as to whether Tomi Rae Brown and James Brown were legally wed.

Sharpton, however, said today was a time to set those issues aside.

James Brown Enterprises has typically paid for about half of the 1000 turkeys distributed.

But the funding is currently tied up in the court case.

Family members say this year that they paid for their portion out of their own pockets, and used donations from churches and charitable organizations.

Comcast Cable donates funds for the other 500 turkeys each year.