Already, we are nearly halfway through 2018. Though it’s easy to let time fly by and allow recent happenings to slip to the back of our minds, let us take time to reflect upon some of the good news that recently happened in the Miss-Lou.

* On Tuesday, Concordia Parish announced that more than $400,000 in funding would go toward repairing the waste treatment system in Washington Heights. The subdivision’s residents had been asking the Concordia Parish Police Jury to fix the water treatment facility — which police jury secretary treasurer Sandi Burley described as “a swimming pool full of old trees, roots, snakes and raw sewage — since 2014, but jurors said their role was limited because the facility is privately owned. But thanks to the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant program, the subdivision can now get some much-needed aide in terms of sewage.

* Any parent of one valedictorian should be proud — but this year, Janae Minor became the fourth Minor child to reach the highest honor of their respective graduating classes. As her three older sisters did before her, Minor was the valedictorian of her Wilkinson County 2018 graduating class. Janae credited all her success to her mother, Jessie Minor, and God. Jessie Minor said she felt blessed to have four valedictorian daughters — Jessica, Joycelyn, Jasmine and now, Janae. The family is the ultimate example of what can be achieved with good parenting, determination and faith.

* This Saturday marked the opening of the summer 2018 Downtown Natchez Farmers Market. Along with the typical year-round items that line the street for the market, seasonal foods such as summer vegetables, beans, squash and zucchini became available to customers. The driving force of these markets is the farmers, and we encourage those who have yet to attend the summer market to support local producers by stopping by and taking home some fresh, natural eats.

As we continue plugging away at 2018, don’t forget to slow down from time to time and appreciate the good things in life.