NATCHEZ &045; Aldermen saluted four residents as hometown heroes Tuesday as part of the city’s Presentations Representing Our Unique Diversity program.

First, Mayor Phillip West recognized Paul Perry, LaTonya Noble and LaPonda Noble for rescuing elderly Beaumont Street resident Marion Crawls from her burning house July 19.

LaTonya Noble broke a porch window to gain access to the house, and all three entered to help rescue Crawls, who was napping in the house, West said. Crawls was not injured.

In addition, Tywannaka Walters was honored for the part she playing in late April in caring for several teens who were injured when the car in which they were driving flipped.

West presented all four PROUD participants with certificates.

In addition, Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux announced during the meeting that the National Park Service had allocated $16,000 for the Forks of the Road project.

The money will be used for landscaping and other improvements, said City Attorney Walter Brown.

State Archives and History funds are being used to erect a temporary exhibit at the Forks of the Road at St. Catherine Street and Liberty Road. The site was once home to one of the South’s largest 19th century slave market.

But much of the aldermen meeting was taken up with major engineering projects &045; those that will soon be started and those that may lack the needed funds.

Aldermen accepted the sole bid of $192,912 from W.E. Blain for the overlaying of Orleans Street.

That bid was good news for the board since, when the city advertised for bids the first time around, the lowest bid was $235,000, over the amount allocated for the project.

The project, which is being done with Federal Aid Urban funds, should get started in about one month and take 90 days to complete, said City Engineer David Gardner.

With regards to another project that includes street improvements, Gardner said he should be ready to send plans for the Minor Street project to the Mississippi Department of Transportation by Sept. 1 for its approval.

However, other engineering project may not have the money to proceed.

While the city has received $75,000 to do erosion control work to the parking lot of Alcorn State University’s School of Nursing, it will take $400,000 to do the project right, Gardner said.

&uot;You could build a new parking lot for $400,000,&uot; said Alderman and Mayor Pro Tem David Massey.

Adams County supervisors recently voted to put up $6,000 for the project, &uot;but that won’t be nearly enough for the match,&uot; he said.

No action was taken on that matter Tuesday.