OLIVE BRANCH — Olive Branch officials, citing economic conditions, have decided to abandon more than two-year-old plans for annexing some 15 square miles to the east and south into the city.

Mayor Sam Rikard says economic conditions today are different than they were when we began this effort several years ago.

Olive Branch filed annexation plans in November 2007.

Interest cooled when the movement of residents and businesses into the city slowed and new aldermen took office.