By Arthur McLean
Editor

Gov. Bob Riley

Powerful political and military leaders came to Thomasville Wednesday morning, impressed with the city's continued efforts to develop this region as they spoke for the second rural national supplier conference.

Cong. Joe Bonner said Thomasville is leading the charge in getting people to work together to "let the sunlight of economic development shine on rural Alabama."

Bonner called Mayor Sheldon Day "the Energizer Bunny" of Alabama mayors. He hailed Clarke County as "truly a partnership," for economic development.

Gov. Bob Riley also praised the area, but was quick to point out that the state as a whole was doing well these days. "Thomasville is on a roll," he said. "What you're seeing here is indicative of what's going on around the state."

He also took a good-natured jab at Day, saying, "your mayor is a piece of work. I made the mistake once of telling him to call me whenever I could help."

The speeches kicked off a conference bringing small rural businesses and large government contractors together in the hopes of forming new business partnerships in rural Alabama. A full report from the conference will be in next week's paper.