Rarely has silence ever screamed so loudly. By not signing a petition aimed at sending a prison proposal to an election, the voters of Adams County spoke volumes this week by simply saying — and signing — absolutely nothing.

Tuesday’s petition deadline passed with organizers announcing they did not have the required signatures necessary to send the plan to a vote.

All indications are that Corrections Corporation of America will locate a $90 million facility in eastern Adams County, bringing with it some 300 jobs.

So what, exactly, did the lack of a vote say about our community, its residents and the local business climate?

Politicians, at least the ones who had the guts to publicly support the prison, may say the silence was a vote of confidence in the local elected officials.

Perhaps that’s true.

Most important, however, we think the silence was a much-needed signal to businesses and economic development leaders that Natchez and Adams County are interested in development.

For years our area has received the reputation that we’re a bit difficult with which to deal.

Hopefully projects such as the prison development will silently signal that the door to commerce and development in Natchez and Adams County is open and we’re ready for business.