Hollingsworth re-elected mayor of Byhalia; Person returns as Potts Camp mayor

Byhalia mayor Don Hollingsworth goes back in to a full term as mayor of the Town of Byhalia after serving a short term as mayor following the resignation of mayor Debby Weathers.

He received 116 votes and contender Daylon Cannon took 77 votes.

There are some changes in the board of aldermen as the result of the June 3 general election, as well.

The electorate cast the following votes for aldermen: Donna Horne – 109 William Rose – 94 Ben Moore – 92 Kevin Wood – 80 Delainer Richmond – 80 William Kelly Crain – 77 Steve Rodgers – 69 Denise Cooper Anglin – 64 Top vote getters, Horne, Rose, Moore, Wood and Richmond will comprise the new board of aldermen. Horne, Moore and Wood are newcomers to the board of aldermen. Mayor Hollingsworth expressed hope as the town is experiencing growing pains due to possible economic stressors that may come as a result of federal program cuts taking place in the current administration in Washington, D.C.

“I already have a punch list of projects of about $122 million,” he said “Everything is kind of stagnant due to federal government grants.” he said.

And the State of Mississippi is holding it's breath due to uncertainty in funding in Washington.

“The state is not funding any special projects in the state because of what the federal government is doing,” he said. “According to Washington, they are cutting lots of programs.”

The town population has increased from 1,300 over the past years to now 1,900, he said. And he expects Byhalia to grow as a result of about 3,000 new jobs being created in the Chickasaw Trail Industrial Park and elsewhere in the county.

That is going to create growth possibilities in housing and Byhalia is preparing to be ready for that growth.

“We are working on applications for water and sewer and are looking for revenue streams because the town is growing,” the mayor said. “You gotta be able to flush the commode and get drinking water.”

He said the town's sewer, water and streets are old and the roads have to be improved to handle additional traffic.

“This town has been stagnant for years,” he said, but that is not going to last long.

“It's called growing pains,” Hollingsworth said, “which is a good problem to have. It's a learning curve for them (the new board members). I don't have a vote, but it's my job to make sure we network and work together to move the town forward.”

Potts Camp

Potts Camp Mayor Sidney C. Person III was reelected, receiving 81 votes to Tamara Miller's 36 votes. The votes for five aldermen are as follows: Michael A Brown – 87 James Kevin Houston – 90 Dollean Porter – 85 Sabrina Porter – 85 Dunmetria Anshe´ Russell – 83