By Amanda McBride

The Choctaw Plaindealer

The Choctaw County Board of Supervisors hopes hard work in Washington, D.C. will pay off in the near future.

Supervisors Thomas Higgins, Chris McIntire and Eric Chambers along with Marty Crowder, county engineer, and Alan Bates, executive director of the Choctaw County Economic Development Foundation, returned from a trip to Washington, D.C. after meeting with five agencies and both senators.

Chambers explained that the trip was an investment in the future for Choctaw County.

"We certainly view that (trip) not as an expense, but as a wise investment for the county," said Chambers.

"If you want to borrow something from someone you go ask them," said Chambers.

Bates said the results of the trip might not be immediately seen.

"It was a good trip for officials from Choctaw County to make. Visits you have up there may not see results right away," said Bates.

The Choctaw County group was joined in the trip by officials from Pickering, Inc. and officials from Winston and Attala Counties.

The agenda for the trip was full of meetings to discuss funding and the next steps for the Lake Project, how to improve communication with the Kansas City Southern Railroad, discuss linking the road between Choctaw Lake and the Noxubee Refuge in Winston County and four-lane Highway 15 was mentioned, according to the supervisors.

Bates said he thinks the most beneficial part of the trip was learning about each agency. He said they would have to work with different agencies with different kinds of assistance.

"It helps piece the whole puzzle together," said Bates about the Lake Project.

The group met with both Sen. Thad Cochran and Sen. Roger Wicker and their staffs.

"We thanked them for previous funding and talked about our future plans and what we hope to accomplish in 2008," said Higgins.

Bates was thankful the senators took time out of their busy schedules to meet with them and hear their requests.

Meeting with the senators helped McIntire remember how fortunate Mississippi is to have great senators.

"Mississippi is fortunate to have good legislators in Washington. You don't see that in other states, Mississippi is very fortunate. The senators have helped this area," said McIntire.

The group met with the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Economic Development Administration, the Environment Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers.

During the visit with each agency, the group learned of the agency's resources and how they may be able to help Choctaw County in the future.

Another meeting was with a possible future industry that is interested in locating in Choctaw County.

Chambers said this industry would utilize wood resources.

"Choctaw's number one renewable resource is wood and it is the number one or major industry in the county," said Chambers.

Also, in Washington, the group held a reception jointly sponsored with Winston and Attala counties where the senators and their staffs were invited and each agency was invited.

The co-sponsors of the reception were North American Coal, 4-County Electric Power Association and Pickering, Inc.

Bates said the reception was an informal setting where everyone could talk to each other. Sen. Cochran and Wicker both attended the event.

The Choctaw County group was fortunate enough to visit the West Wing of the White House, also.

"To be able to stand in the doorway of the Oval Office, the president's office, is inspiring," said Bates.