While you prepare to start another week of work &045;&045; and hopefully, a little play as well &045;&045; take a moment to look back of the past week’s good news:

Mayor Phillip West started his first full day as mayor Tuesday following the Fourth of July holiday, and seems like he’s off to the right start.

West had meetings scheduled all week to give himself a better idea of the projects that are highest on the city’s priority list &045;&045; the ones he will be called to make decisions on in the coming months. He also set meetings with key community leaders, including economic development officials, in order to gain a better idea of what projects they have on the table and how the city can help.

Louisiana Technical College’s Shelby M. Jackson Campus has a new dean, Mignonne Ater &045;&045; but she’s not new to the school.

Ater has already served as head of the Health Services Department at the school for 12 years, giving her a good understanding of the school, its history and goals.

She has said one of her goals is to &uot;not only to continue and strengthen the workforce but to make the community aware and involved in what we do.&uot;

Ater said she also plans to work with the Chamber of Commerce, city officials and community groups to find ways to involve the campus with the community and vice versa.

Miss-Lou Community Action, a Ferriday, La.-based nonprofit, has reached an agreement with charity Feed the Children to distribute food products to needy Miss-Lou residents as food shipments become available.

A little less than 20 percent of the population of Concordia Parish and Adams County is living under the poverty level, compared to 12.4 percent nationwide, according to the latest Census figures. Although a date has not yet been set for such a distribution, it’s still a step in the right direction for the area’s needy residents.

Have a good week, and God bless.