NATCHEZ &045;&045; Agencies on both sides of the Mississippi River have are fielding an increasing number of requests this year for help to pay utility bills.

Local residents were at the Salvation Army office in Natchez as early as 8 a.m. Monday, although the office doesn’t open until 9 a.m.

There, they were waiting for share of utility funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help with past-due bills during the area’s tough economic times.

&uot;They said first come, first served, and we’re still waiting,&uot; said Victoria Johnson, one of several unemployed or low-income residents still waiting in the afternoon. Most said they heard of the program through word of mouth or at church.

&uot;We’re trying to help as many people as we can before the end of the year,&uot; said Salvation Army Director Jeanne Brunner, adding that the office is open until 3 p.m. each weekday.

Most agencies’ personnel were too busy Monday to tally the number of requests they have fielded.

But at the LaSalle Community Action Agency, whose area covers Concordia and surrounding parishes, workers said their federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, funds have run out for the year.

&uot;Oh, yes &045;&045; it’s gone up a tremendous amount, and we’ve still got a waiting list,&uot; said Sadie Bacon, a case manager supervisor at the AJFC Community Action Agency, which covers Adams and six other counties in southwest Mississippi.

While the number of requests fielded for heating assistance by AJFC was not available as of press time, Bacon said the $700,000 they received from the program is almost gone, although the agency expects to receive more next month. Those wishing to apply for some the funds AJFC will receive in January can call the agency at 442-8681 for information.