With morning temperatures in the low 60s and afternoon temperatures warming into the 80s, local residents might have been tempted to look for hot-air balloons on the horizon. While the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race is still a few days away, the beautiful weekend weather may have been the best news in a week filled with good news. Highlights from this past week include:

-The City of Natchez in cooperation with the Community Alliance continues to make the Natchez Trails an enjoyable place for a morning jog, an afternoon in the park and an evening watching the sunset over the Mississippi River. Workers finished installing lampposts and hanging flower baskets along Broadway Street last week. The lights are just one of the many projects that have helped beautify the area for residents and tourists. Thanks to all who have helped make our community a better place in which to live.

-The City of Natchez is also playing a role in teaching local students the importance of growing and eating healthy vegetables. As part of the Adams County Diabetes and Heart Disease Intervention Program and funding from Humana Foundation, Master Gardeners from Mississippi State University Extension Service will spend Friday mornings teaching McLaurin Elementary students how to grow their own gardens. In the next few weeks, students will watch the plants and their knowledge of healthy eating grow.

-Local women dressed in their finest hats and gathered at the Natchez Grand Hotel last week to help save lives. Enjoying afternoon tea and local entertainment, the women helped raise money for free mammograms and sonograms for local women who do not have health insurance. Thanks to founder Joyce Washington Ivery and the Edna B. and Joyce Fay Washington Breast Cancer Foundation for hosting this important event.

As we look toward a week of blue skies and beautiful weather, let us remember to give thanks to everyone who is striving to make our community great.