By Jason C. Mattox

After rejecting the request of a group of paranormal investigators access to the old North Panola Hospital just over a year ago, the Sardis board of aldermen voted Tuesday night to allow hospital access to Paranormal State, a television series aired on A&E.

Autumn Humphreys, representative of Paranormal State, said she was present at the board meeting because several calls for investigation have been made.

“We would like to get permission to film and investigate the location for our television show for two reasons,” she said. “We want to be able to prove if there is or isn’t anything there and to find out potentially how it started.”

Humphreys said the group’s preliminary research showed no signs of a bad occurrence in the hospital that would have caused a haunting.

“Our group has spoken with former employees, and all of them tell us they had a wonderful time working over there,” she said. “So, we want to go in and prove if this haunting is real, or if it is just a town myth because it has been closed down for so long.”

Humphreys added that the show is very respectful of the property and would like a city-appointed escort when they tour the facility for the show.

Sardis aldermen agreed to allow the group access to the hospital, but they must still receive approval of the Panola County Board of Supervisors. The county owns half the interest in the building.