For complete stories, pick up the 8/15/03 issue of The Panolian
Asphalt Plant Permit Pulled
Harry Sartin, who lives near the site proposed for the asphalt plant, said notification of the plan was not adequate.
BY KATE B DICKSON EDITOR
Lehman-Roberts won’t be building an asphalt plant on Kenneth Brassell’s property on Highway 35 – at least not without going through a new application process.
By a 7-to-1 vote, members of the Panola County Land Development Commission rescinded their previous approval of the plant.
The vote was what most of the 175-plus people in the audience wanted to hear from commission members at the Monday night meeting at the courthouse in Sardis.
But a permit for a gravel mining and washing operation at the site is still good, the board said.
Much of the discussion revolved around a public notice that appeared in The Panolian in advance of the commission’s vote.
The public notice contained wording with regard to the gravel operation but did not mention the asphalt plant.
Several of those who spoke said they had no idea a Lehman-Roberts asphalt plant was in the works until word began to spread in their community.
Just what Lehman-Roberts plans to do now that a permit for an asphalt plant in Panola County has been turned down remains a mystery today.
"We haven’t made a decision on that," said Hal F. Williford Jr., president/CEO of Memphis Stone and Gravel. Lehman-Roberts is the company’s asphalt division.
"We are looking at all our options," he said in a telephone interview Wednesday but he declined to give specifics.
Williford was on hand Monday night for a meeting of the Panola County Land Development Commission where the board rescinded its previous approval of the plant.
Art’s Cool!
With school starting this week, students and teachers alike have been getting to know the new faces in their buildings. (l to r) Kindergartners Jessie Alred, new art instructor Nicola Armstrong, and Tiara Campbell work on an art project at Batesville Elementary.
Sardis Lake Marina Grand Opening Aug. 23
BY JASON C MATTOX SENIOR STAFF WRITER
An official grand opening celebration is scheduled for the Sardis Lake Marina on Aug. 23, according to Mayor Richard Darby. The public’s invited to the 1:30 p.m. event.
The mayor explained that the project, which began in 1989, was set to be a 20-year project. "We are ahead of where a lot of people believed we would be," he said. "We had several people say they wouldn’t believe it until they could see it. Now they can see it."
Skipper Marina, which was awarded the contract for the development following extensive research by city officials, began moving boats into the slips on the July 4 weekend.
Darby said despite Skipper’s abilities to open the marina for this boating season, it is hard to say what the economic impact has been for the area.
BFD Dive Team Seeking Communication Eequipment
BY JASON C MATTOX SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Federal and state grant money could provide communication equipment for divers of the Batesville Fire Department if the Panola County Board of Supervisors decide to proceed with a 50-50 matching grant application.
Panola County Civil Defense Coordinator Son Hudson informed the supervisors of the potential funding, but no action was taken.
July BPD Statistics
BY JASON C MATTOX SENIOR STAFF WRITER
BPD reported in July:
Adult arrests – 54 Juvenile arrests – 18 Tickets (non DUI) – 131 DUI – 11 Accidents with injuries – 7 Total accidents – 53 Total funeral escorts – 15 Grand larcenies – 6 Petit larcenies – 22 Shoplifting offenses – 25 Auto thefts – 1 Assaults – 7 Domestic violence – 4 Burglaries – 3 Strong arm robbery – 1 Molestation – 1 Armed carjacking – 1 Total value of property stolen – $31,736 Total value of property recovered – $18,248 Total vehicles unlocked – 121.
… president/CEO Memphis Stone and Gravel.
