Before we start this work week in earnest, let&8217;s take a look at the good news of the previous week:

A group working to establish a series of walking trails along the Mississippi River bluff and through downtown is close to receiving $200,000 in federal funding toward that project.

The bill has been passed and is waiting on the president&8217;s signature. The bill also includes $100,000 for long-range community planning.

Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, choir director for Natchez High School, announced the award-winning ensemble recently added 12 superior and best in class rankings from two choral festivals to its awards shelf. Also, the group is raising funds to attend a music festival in Toronto. So not only is the NHS choir representing us well nationwide, but they&8217;re taking their talents to the international level. We wish them well.

Food and lodging tax revenues coming to Natchez jumped almost 26 percent in November from the same month in 2004, according to city figures.

And members of the Concordia Parish Sheriff&8217;s Narcotics Task Force and the Louisiana Probation and Parole Office netted seven pounds of packaged marijuana, 278 grams of freshly cooked cocaine, three guns, $12,614 in cash and three arrests in a Friday drug bust.

Here&8217;s to another week of good news.