Partnership terminates director

By John Howell
The Panola Partnership terminated its Director Sonny Simmons Wednesday.
The action is believed to have been triggered by Simmons’ criticism of District Three Supervisor John Thomas for his vote against increased funding for the Partnership. Simmons published the statement in his column “From the Director’s Chair” in the Partnership’s September online newsletter. Newspaper publication of the column, which normally coincided with the online distribution, was cancelled at Simmons’ request after the controversy arose.
The termination was announced in an email over Simmons’ signature sent at the close of business Wednesday stating, in part, “As of the close of business today, I will no longer serve as Director of the Panola Partnership.”
The Panolian initially misunderstood the wording and interpreted it to mean that Simmons had resigned. After the incorrect information was published on The Panolian Facebook, Simmons contacted the newspaper by text message, stating “I did not resign, I was terminated due to the fact I would not agree to the terms presented to me.”
A subsequent text message from Simmons cited the “newsletter that cost me my job” as the reason for his dismissal.