With today’s edition comes the final in a series published each of the last four Friday’s about the myriad services the Panola Partnership provides for Panola County.

We hope that our readers have learned along with us what opportunities and resources the Partnership and Batesville Main Street provides. After the interviews, E-mails and phone calls conducted to develop these stories it has become obvious that there is no one in Panola County who has not been positively impacted by some aspect the Partnership’s work.
The Partnership played a vital role in helping save the rail line that serves Panola County. Certainly that effort was in concert with city and county officials from Panola the other seven counties impacted, but cooperative effort is a hallmark of the Panola Partnership, hence its name.

Perhaps you enjoy Springfest? Thank the Partnership and Main Street. Maybe you enjoy shopping for locally-grown produce and other goods at Square Market. Maybe you’ve learned more about social, economic and political trends at the Partnership’s Fall Forum. Maybe you brought your kids to enjoy Scare on the Square? Maybe you or somebody close to you works at an industry in Panola County or at a job generated by the presence of those industries? The list of positive impact would consume more space than we’re allowed here.

The series has mentioned the Partnership’s excellent professional staff — Executive Director Sonny Simmons, Economic Development Assistant Meredith Fleming and Batesville Main Street Manager Colleen Clark.

We list the current board of directors and each of their affiliations here to make a point. They are Dale Hart (INCA Presswood Pallets), President; Stephen Whatley (Edward D. Jones), Vice President; Justin Hill (First Security Bank), Past President; Dr. Tom Hodge (Dr. Thomas W. Hodge General Dentistry), Treasurer; Joe Azar (Southern Beverage Co., Inc.), Nick Bergeron (United Solutions Sardis); and Roy Girner (Dell Street Storage).

Also, Blake Shipp (Guaranty Bank and Trust Company), David Karr (City of Batesville); Gary Kornegay (Industrial Development Authority President); Kelley Magee (Panola County Administrator); Brad Robison (TVEPA, Partnership Board appointee), and Richard T. “Flip” Phillips and Ryan Revere (Smith Phillips Law Firm), Legal Counsel.

The board of directors represent a broad range of business, government and professional experience with interest in improving the quality of life in Panola County.

These Partnership directors stand on the shoulders of over 250 Partnership members who have joined themselves to this organization for the same reason — improving our quality of life. Therein lies the Partnership’s strength, its broad base of support from Panola County businesses, individuals and institutions.

If you are a member you can be proud that you have contributed to the momentum that the Panola Partnership carries. If you are not a member, you should thank those who are for allowing you to ride their coattails as we enjoy the benefits the Partnership brings to Panola County.