The new uniforms are washed and ready to wear. The supply list has been completed checked and the buses will soon be cranked.

School is set to begin soon across the Miss-Lou and another generation of youth will begin their education. Sadly, many are doing so in school facilities as old as their parents and with even older recreational facilities.

Remember when you were a child? The joys in life probably revolved around a few of life&8217;s simple pleasures: A hug from mom or dad, an ice cream cone or perhaps playing a game with friends.

All of those simple childhood pleasures depend upon adults.

Today as the start of another school year nears, we adults should be thinking, &8220;Are we doing enough for our area&8217;s children?&8221;

For a region so rich with culture and history, we have focused little of our resources in recent years on recreation.

When the Duncan Park Pool closed years ago, we as a community couldn&8217;t muster the resources to replace it. Many of our other facilities &8212; including the youth baseball parks &8212; are also greatly aged and badly in need of replacement.

The question is: don&8217;t each of those children riding the school buses deserve the very best this community can provide? We think so and we think doing something about recreation &8212; not just talking about it &8212; is long overdue.

The Natchez Recreation Department, the burgeoning YMC movement &8212; who does it and who gets credit for it is much less important than getting it done.

As the school buses pass, ask yourself &8220;Have we done all that we can for our community?&8221;