Seven is a good number.

The sixth successor of one, the number is the smallest number that can’t be represented as a sum of fewer than four non-zero squares.

The “Newlywed Game” premiered on TV on the seventh day of January in 1967.

On April 7, 1977 the Toronto Blue Jays played their first game. They won.

And in 2007 Natchez Regional Medical Center announced its own good news — for the first time since 2000 the county-owned hospital made a profit to the tune of $325,718.

CEO Jeff Wesselman said it best, “This is good news.”

And it is. Natchez Regional is a big part of our local economy. The hospital employs many, and treats many more.

Recently, the facility has struggled to the point of refinancing bonds to make needed improvements.

An increase in patients locally and from surrounding areas has been good to the hospital. And the increase means we are a growing community.

Prior to 2006 the hospital had seen four consecutive years of losing more than $1 million each year.

The turnaround reflects well on the current leadership, and more important, it reflects well on our community.

We like, Wesselman, hope 2007 continues to be a good one.