All eyes are on the upcoming holiday season. The turkey day decorations are all out and Christmas plans will soon follow.

But for The Democrat’s staff this time of the year isn’t about the holidays and other things that are going to happen one way or the other.

Instead, behind the walls at 503 N. Canal St., all eyes, ears and brains began focusing on something that takes far longer to plan than Thanksgiving dinner and takes much more effort than Christmas shopping.

The Democrat’s staff is planning Profile 2014. The annual section is our biggest edition of the year. Usually topping out at much more than 100 pages, Profile makes a “thud” as it’s delivered on the last Sunday in February.

This year that means the biggest newspaper of the year will be coming to doorsteps on Feb. 23, and we cannot wait to deliver it to you.

But first, we’ve got to create it. Our newsroom staff will be working to find interesting and entertaining articles and photographs and our marketing department will be working to connect with local businesses to help tell their stories through sponsorships in Profile.

The Natchez Democrat has produced Profile for more than 40 years. What originally started out as simply a section that contained a simple snapshot, or “profile” if you will, has grown into a large, comprehensive community yearbook of sorts with varied themes and story angles.

Aside from a few years here and there, Natchez has been my home for two decades, so I feel I know her well. But each year when Profile comes out, my knowledge base of Natchez is always expanded with the stories, facts and tidbits our reporters uncover as they seek to tell the tale of our community.

But the story of our community is also a story of the economy and looking at Profile editions through the years, it’s interesting to see the rise — and sometimes fall — of certain businesses on the Miss-Lou’s economic landscape.

Profile is made possible by the businesses that participate each year. Each of those businesses is appreciated for what they do in our community as well as helping to make Profile a reality each year.

Perhaps one of my favorite parts of Profile’s publication day is that it’s also the day the newspaper recognizes its annual Citizen of the Year award winner and the slate of Unsung Heroes.

The newspaper’s staff selects the Citizen of the Year each year, but local citizens nominate the Unsung Heroes. We’re taking nominations right now so if you know someone who does good deeds in the community — and usually not something related to their paid job — let me know about it.

My favorite part is the astonishment some of the Unsung Heroes have when we inform them of the honor. Most of these folks are “unsung” because they’re just humble servants of others, never seeking fame, glory or even thanks.

These people are indeed the salt of the earth, and what makes our community so great.

Help us make the February Profile edition even greater by becoming involved as a business sponsor or thinking about the very best person you know who is always giving to others and nominate him or her as an Unsung Hero.

February can’t get here fast enough, but Profile 2014 will be worth the wait.

 

Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.