Monday, November 05, 2001

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ – On a quiet Saturday in the Concord neighborhood

a few people ventured out to the local park.

Brothers Tony Hughes, 12, and Darrius Hughes, 10 and their

cousin Donald Knight, 8, spent part of the afternoon riding scooters

around Concord Avenue Park and playing on the playground equipment.

&uot;We’re acting like that’s a house,&uot; said Darrius

Hughes, pointing to the jungle gym behind him.

Tony Hughes, who said he was acting the part of a cellular

phone salesman, also took time to play basketball with James Miles,

20.

Former McLaurin Elementary School Assistant Administrator Montrell

Greene also visited the park Saturday.

Since leaving Natchez last year, Greene has been working on

his doctorate at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg

where he also works as a principal at a school for kindergarten

to eighth-grade students.

But Greene said he still makes a habit of riding through local

neighborhoods in Natchez on his motorcycle as he used to when

he worked at McLaurin Elementary School.

This helps him keep in touch with the children he taught in

Natchez.

&uot;Every now and then it’s good to see some of those kids

you had an opportunity to share your life with,&uot; he said.

The Dart is a weekly feature in which a reporter throws a dart

at a map and finds a story where it lands.