Alderman Eddie Nabors picked up an interesting comparison during the meeting with C Spire officials about the ultra-fast fiber optic Internet connection that the media services provider will provide with a fast track build-out in one Mississippi city.

They said that the transformation of the societal landscape that result from the availability of the proposed ultra high-speed Internet will be comparable to the transformation of peoples’ lives when power first became available through TVA’s rural electrification.

When I spoke with the Ward Four alderman following the meeting, we agreed that probably neither of us could fully comprehend all the possibilities that could arise from making such a powerful tool available to the many imaginative and creative minds in our city.

Nabors also mentioned another area, the Certified Healthcare Zone that Panola Partnership CEO Sonny Simmons describes in his column on the facing page.

During the meeting with C Spire officials, Nabors said, “One of the guys I talked to recognized the fact without me saying me saying a word that we were in one of these Health Care Zones.

“He said, ‘that’s big; that’s a big plus in your favor,’” the official said, referring to C Spire’s evaluation of proposals from cities seeking the fiber optic Internet service. “I didn’t say anything to him about it; he knew it already,” Nabors said.

Meanwhile other signs of local activity include the number of people who attended the Sept. 23 planning commission meeting seeking approval to advance building projects of various types. There were ten such requests, three of which came from local entrepreneurs in rental storage businesses.

Sardis Mayor Billy Russell has announced a buyer for the old Steelmatic building north of Highway 315 and west of Highway 51. The sale will relieve Sardis taxpayers from a big monthly note.

And Como keeps attracting a favorable spotlight to its unique cultural niche. This time it’s two segments on Mississippi Public Television’s Mississippi Roads. One segment will feature the Como Steakhouse and another will feature the Como Mamas.

The segments will air Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. and repeat on Friday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. And will be available online at mpbonline.org following the broadcast.