Prayers will be answered this weekend when people from Panola County and the surrounding area turn out for the fifth annual Answered Prayers Benefit Saturday at the Batesville Civic Center.

This year’s goal is $20,000 and proceeds will be split among three children, including a pair of sisters and a South Panola band member.

Amanda Gordon suffers from septo-optic dysplasia (blindness). Her sister Katy has cerebral palsy and microcephaly. Band member Chris Gray is battling cystic fibrosis and needs a double lung transplant.

"We think we chose the three most deserving kids based on their needs," Answered Prayers representative SFC John Ard said. "We had several applicants, but our committee determined these three were most in need of our help."

For those attending there will be a $2 parking fee to cover rental cost of the building, but admission is free.

Ard said there will be several activities going on during the 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. event, including live music from the South Panola Band, and several gospel, country and rock bands.

"There will also be several things for the children," he said. "We are going to have pony rides, train rides, clowns, face painting and a lot of different games."

All of the games, rides and food can be paid for with tickets purchased at one of the ticket booths that will be set up at the BCC.

"By having people come in and purchase tickets, it will make it easier for us to keep up with the money we raise this year," Ard said. "People just need to keep an eye open around the civic center for signs that will tell them where games and booths are located."

In addition to the usual activities, this year’s Answered Prayers Benefit will feature an arts and crafts fair.

"The flea market will take place outside of the BCC," Ard said. "We have over 80 vendors coming for that, and we are all very excited about their support."

"We have approximately 100 items for the auction this year," he said. "As usual, there have been a lot of businesses in town that have stepped up to donate items for our auction, and we would like to thank them.

"We feel really comfortable that the community will come out and support us," he said. "I think we will reach our goal without any problem.

Approximately 150 citizens braved the unseasonably cold temperatures on Saturday as the Memorial Park in the downtown area was officially dedicated.

The park was built with a grant and local donations and will enhance the monument bearing the names of war dead donated in 1977 by the Batesville Exchange Club.

Local National Guards-men presented the flag before David Honnoll sang the national anthem. Dr. Johnny Spencer gave the invocation and Alderman Bobbie Pounders emceed.

Alderman-at-large and vice-mayor Hudson Still praised the new structure and emphasized that the facility was built using no local tax money.

Colleen Clark with the Main Street downtown revitalization program explained that approximately $250,000 was received in two grants for the project which totaled approximately $292,000.

Longtime Batesville resident Norma Riser informed the crowd that several local denominations once met at the site for evening services on Sunday. She told of one occasion when Bro. Lee of First Baptist Church prayed for rain during a drought period and said that rain began falling before the end of the service.

Mary Lou Mitchell, representing the Panola County Historical and Genealogical Society, told of other historic events that once happened at the site on the square and noted that Saturday’s event was another historic occasion.

She presented Panola Partnership an original pen and ink of the new park by Beverly Ferrell of Batesville. Prints of the drawing will be sold as a fund raiser.

Batesville native and Mississippi Supreme Court Justice George C. Carlson recalled fond memories of the Batesville Square.

Following Carlson local municipal candidates spoke to the sparse crowd during the cold morning.

Ironically, materials to rebuild the local railroad crossing appeared on the site the previous day. That crossing has been somewhat of a political issue as drivers creep across the track crossing to avoid a severe bump or auto damage.

Candidates were congenial with almost all agreeing that Batesville police officers need more salary and stating that they would work with Panola Partnership to help develop additional economic activity.

Carlson was speaking on behalf of Jann Williams and the Williams family who for three generations have operated clothing businesses on the Batesville Square. Plaques on the pavilion portion of the new park are in memory of her late husband, Jon S. (Smitty) Williams and his deceased parents, J.D. and Lucille Williams, who ran the Williams and Stubbs Stores currently on the square. Her daughter and son-in-law, Allison and Teddy Morrow, currently operate those businesses.

The Williams family and other generous donors contributed the difference between the grant amount and total cost, according to Clark who heads the local Main Street program.