Despite all of our community’s problems, we are a blessed community.

Most residents could easily rattle off their top gripes0, but today, on Thanksgiving Day, we pause to simply reflect on exactly how blessed we all are.

Taking our community’s blessings for granted is easy. We all do it from time to time. We simply get into the groove of things and tend to focus on the negatives rather than seeing the many positives of our community.

From a relatively low rate of crime to a relaxed quality of life many residents enjoy, our community has many, many things in the plus column.

Across the world, Natchez is known as being a small time capsule of pre-Civil War history. The amazing collection of historic mansions our community features has lured curious visitors for generations.

But to simply discount Natchez as a town of old houses would be to judge the book by its cover.

Amazing food has long been a staple of Natchez’s culture.

In recent years a growing live music scene has also burgeoned in the area.

Wildlife teems in our area, which draws sportsmen from near and far.

But it is Natchez’s diverse, sometimes eclectic, collection of residents for which we are most thankful and most proud.

Natchez residents are unique, they are proud and they are fiercely loyal.

And regardless of skin color, ethnic background, social status or economic means, the people who call this area home are family. For them, we remain thankful on this day of thanksgiving.