Legislative Chapter Closes, Reynolds Intends To Continue Serving Fellow Mississippians
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To My Friends and neighbors in Yalobusha County:
REPORT TO THE PEOPLE
By Tommy Reynolds
District 33 Representative
During the holiday season, I want to wish each of you a Merry Christmas and a great 2024.
As you likely know, when January arrives, it will mark the first Legislative Session since 1980 that I won’t represent our people in the Mississippi House of Representatives.
It has been an honor and a privilege to help bring forth the needs and desires of the people of Yalobusha County and make a positive influence in your quality of life. I always tried to do my best to listen and act on citizens’ needs.
Among our joint victories was the passage of the Education Reform Act of 1982 which brought us public kindergartens, funding to install air conditioners in our public schools, state-funded insurance and increased compensation for our educators. The late governor William Winter, from our neighboring county of Grenada, pushed these needed reforms and I strongly supported his efforts, as the son and husband of educators.
I was one of the first sponsors of the Rural Fire truck Acquisition Program, and we have obtained more than one dozen, state-of-the-art trucks with help from these state grants.
For Water Valley, in the last two years, we’ve brought in $1,250,000 ($1.25 million) for our Water Valley Electric Department and for broadband service expansion; $475,000 for repairs and much needed renovations at the Water Valley Civic Center and $100,000 for our Water Valley/Yalobusha County Industrial Park.
I am proud of helping to secure funding for the infrastructure improvements which have helped make possible the location of Ajinomoto Windsor Foods in Oakland and the 400 jobs for the 15 years it has provided for our county. I never and will never back away from trying to meet the need of providing jobs for our people.
When some thought it was okay to ignore the threat of our businesses and manufacturers losing access to a railway from Memphis to Jackson, I and others stepped in to secure the continuation of that important component of economic development. The Memphis to Jackson railroad line had been sold to a firm which operated one of the world’s largest railroad scrap yards. We were able to secure passage of a 30 million dollar state bond issue to help purchase the railroad line and assure that rail service could continue for such communities as Batesville, Oakland, Grenada and many others.
Serving you as your state representative has been a joy and an honor, and I thank you for the support and confidence you have shown me for the past 44 years. Although my role will change in 2024, please know I do not intend to quit serving my fellow Mississippians.
From our family to yours, we hope you enjoy these next few weeks together.
God Bless Each of you and Happy New Year!
