By Billy Davis

The Panolian is inviting readers to vote on-line, starting today, for the 2009 photo of the year.

Six front-page photos, selected from a dozen contenders, were selected as finalists for the first-ever You Pick It contest.

To participate in the voting, visit Panolian.com to view the photos. Then cast an entry in the Panolian Poll also located on the Web site.

The top six entries, in the order they published, are:

Takin’ a Spin

Panolian staff writer Billy Davis photographed three Batesville Elementary students riding a merry-go-round after school. The photo published April 17.

“I was on a mission, with a looming deadline, to get a front page photo,” Davis recalled. “The little boy’s expression says it all.”  

Manley Counts the Votes

Following a close election, then-Batesville alderman Rufus Manley was photographed as he watched the Democratic Executive Committee count affidavit and absentee ballots.

“The world moves on,” Manley said moments later, when 13 affidavit ballots and two absentee ballots helped challenger Ted Stewart defeat the incumbent in Ward 2 primary.

Davis photographed Manley, who was seated beside executive committee member David Walker.  

Nelson Mills Railroad

Panolian publisher John Howell Sr. used a Canon PowerShot – a “pocket camera,” he recalled – to snap a memorable photo of John Nelson’s railroad in the Chapeltown community.

The accompanying cutline announced that Nelson would discuss his passion for steam engines at a meeting of the Batesville Exchange Club.

On a side note, Howell presented Nelson with a poster-size photo of the “Nelson Mills Railroad” last week.

Biker and Baby

Ron “Gabby” Myers was holding grandson Christopher Pena Jr. when Panolian freelance photographer Glennie Pou photographed the pair at Sardis Lake.

Myers had brought his grandson to Kids’ Day at the lake, sponsored by the Dreamriders Motorcyle Club, where the granddad serves as chaplain.

Bagpiper

At Magnolia Cemetery in Batesville, J. Stephen Sanders was playing “Amazing Grace” to conclude the burial service of late Panola Sheriff Hugh “Shot” Bright.

Not far away, Panolian managing editor Rupert Howell saw the potential for a front-page photo. But Howell had only a few moments since tradition calls for the bugler to walk away as he played.

Howell’s photo also managed to capture Sanders silhouetted against the late afternoon sky.

“I had positioned myself to photograph the bugler,” Howell recalled. “I thought the bagpiper marching off into the sunset captured the moment.”

Hoisting the Trophy

The snow had blanketed Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson when South Panola defensive end Devin Clark hoisted the State Championship Trophy after the Tigers trounced Oak Grove Warriors 56-14.

Glennie Pou snapped the photo, amid the chaotic excitement of the after-game victory, on December 4.   

“It was so humbling to see them hoist that trophy,” said Panolian sports editor Myra Bean. “We weren’t sure, at the beginning of the season, that we would even be there.”

The Panolian will tally votes through Friday, Christmas Day. The winning photo will be republished in The Panolian in the Tuesday, January 29 issue.