Saggy pants and Halloween curfew ordinances were two items tabled until a meeting Friday at 9 a.m. by Batesville’s board of mayor and aldermen who met for their second meeting of October last Tuesday afternoon.

Sheriff Dennis Darby and Pam Presley Cousar both addressed the board, Darby concerning the state of law enforcement in Panola County and Cousar proposing and receiving permission to use the downtown park to launch a veteran’s memorial project on December 15.

Darby told aldermen that cooperation with local agencies including Batesville Police Department was the best it’s ever been.

“There is a lot more dope buying going on,” he said referring to ongoing investigations within the county and also noted cooperation with schools and the public with gang and drug  problems, “… things people don’t want to talk about,” the sheriff added.

Darby also said assistance with drug and gang problems was coming from the state and federal level telling city officials, “They’re here because we asked them to be here.”

Darby also endorsed a proposed “group home” for delinquent juveniles and asked for city support to use a confiscated building for a Boys and Girls Club extension.

Cousar’s request was to use the downtown park for a service in conjunction with a wreath-laying project at Magnolia Cemetery in connection with Wreaths Across America, a national movement to place wreaths at veterans’ markers in state, national and local cemeteries.
Her son, Brandon Presley, was killed during the Iraq War.