Beginning next week I will assume the duties of publisher of the Picayune Item and The Poplarville Democrat. As many of you know I have been reporting the news here in Pearl River County for close to a decade. In that time I have seen a number of things change, get better, and in some cases require a bit of repair.

It has been encouraging to see how this county’s various leaders in Poplarville’s Board of Aldermen, Picayune’s City Council and Pearl River County’s Board of Supervisors have worked with each other to help move this county forward. I’ve seen the implementation of litter programs in both cities, and the establishment of new jobs through new businesses locating here. There’s only one way to achieve great things, and that’s through teamwork, so I commend our leaders for working together.

Since Hurricane Katrina a lot of changes have occurred. We have new buildings, new programs and many new laws that have been passed. Most of these changes have brought about much needed growth in our area.

While I will be transitioning out of covering the news on a day-to-day basis, I will continue to work to ensure the staff of our publications help keep you informed on what’s happening here at home. Even as technology provides new ways for us to keep up with what’s going on in our area, and around the globe, our commitment to the community will stay the same. But we will still need the community’s help. We are always looking for compelling stories to tell, whether through our daily product, our special sections or our quarterly magazine. We’d like your input. If you have a story idea, feel free to let us know. And most of all, if you read something you liked, we’d love to hear that as well.