By Rupert Howell
Land Commissioner Wanda Carmicheal had to “leave the room” but her business was given a 25-year special exception during Monday’s monthly meeting of Panola County Land Commission in the Batesville Courthouse.
Long-time restauranteur/cook Pam Whitworth of the Curtis Community was issued a special exception to cook and serve, “food to go,” from a building next to her home on 3115 Curtis-Locke Station Road.
Whitworth explained that she had been preparing plate lunches over the years in several locations and needed something to do and local farmers wanted lunch without having to drive all the way to Batesville.
“I was handy for the farmers before,” she said while adding she was doing it, “Just to have something to do.”
Whitworth assured commissioners she was in the process of getting Health Department approval.
Although she said she would just be serving to-go lunches, Commissioners voted to allow Whitworth to operate between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. six days a week.
Carmichael’s business, Lawrence/Crane, has occupied a building on property that received a five-year special exemption which was expiring. The property is located on Highway 315 south of Highway 6/278.
Following the meetings regular business, board president Sledge Taylor informed members that planning specialist Jim Barber had been asked to attend the June meeting to discuss issues of economic growth and planning.