Editors Note: The Friday, Aug. 27 print edition of The Panolian listed the date of the combined event as October 14. The correct date is October 21.

The Panola Partnership has announced a daylong industry appreciation and legislative open house in October that will replace the annual January reception honoring the county’s legislators in Jackson.

The move will combine on Thursday, October 21, an annual Existing Industry Appreciation Golf Tournament with the annual Legislative Open House.

“Our hope in combining these two events is to have increased participation from our members … and hopefully a more convenient avenue for you to lobby your concerns with our local and regional elected officials,” Panola Partnership Chief Executive Officer Sonny Simmons stated in a letter to the organization’s members.

The combined event will include morning panel discussions with local and state leaders hosted at Batesville’s Holiday Inn, lunch at the Panola Country Club followed by the golf tournament in the afternoon.

Panola Partnership members, event sponsors and elected officials are invited for the evening legislative reception, also at the Holiday Inn, according to Simmons’ letter.

The Partnership is seeking sponsors for the event, he said.

The Partnership executive board made the change to provide a more cost effective effective forum for its members to meet with legislators and regional government officials, Simmons said. He cited the increasing cost of renting the Jackson Convention Center each January and providing catering for the affair.

The annual Legislative Open House began in the 1970s as a reception honoring Panola legislators to which officials throughout the state were invited. It soon became known as the “Panola County Party and enjoyed such success that it was copied by counties across the state, eventually diluting its effectiveness.

The change is expected to bring costs under control and to encourage more local participation at the local site.

For additional information about the combined events or sponsorships, contact the Panola Partnership at 662-563-3126.