If you believe there are sites in and around Natchez that are in dire need of attention due to deterioration and neglect, now&8217;s your chance to call statewide attention to your cause.

The Mississippi Heritage Trust is accepting applications through Sept. 30 for the 2005 list of Mississippi&8217;s 10 Most Endangered Historic Places, which will be announced in April.

The list is a way to raise awareness of the most threatened historic places in the state and to emphasize that Mississippi&8217;s historic sites are irreplaceable, said MHT executive director and former Natchez city planner David Preziosi.

Some sites on previous years&8217; lists have included the Cutrer Mansion in Clarksdale, the L.Q.C. Lamar House in Oxford, Westbrook House at Mynelle Gardens in Jackson, the Tivoli Hotel in Biloxi and the old Hattiesburg High School.

Nearly half of the properties on previous lists have been restored and are in service or purchased and protected for later rehabilitation.

The majority of the remaining sites are in the planning stages of rehabilitation, according to information from the Heritage Trust.

Sites are selected on the basis of their significance of the site to the community, state or nation and the nature and immediacy of the threat to the property, such as development pressure or neglect.

The site must be significant based on its architecture and/or a person or event associated with it.

The entry must be threatened by vacancy, neglect, demolitions, encroaching development, natural conditions such as severe weather or erosion, or other threats.

If you&8217;d like more information, contact MHT at (601) 354-0200.

Who knows? Calling attention to historic sites in need might help attract public and private funds to help rehabilitate those sites, saving a piece of our history for future generations to enjoy.

4From saving historic sites to saving lives &8230;

The Adams County Nursing Center is selling custom auto magnets for $5 each to raise funds for their campaign for Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society&8217;s biggest annual fund-raiser.

Magnet designs include &8220;Support Our Troops,&8221; &8220;Support America,&8221; &8220;One Nation Under God,&8221; &8220;In God We Trust,&8221; &8220;Not Forgotten,&8221; &8220;Relay for Life,&8221; &8220;Relay for Life (Survivor)&8221; and &8220;Breast Cancer Awareness.&8221;

Upcoming fund-raisers include a breast cancer awareness gift basket raffle Sept. 13-30, with a drawing set for Oct. 1; a car wash and bake sale at Car Quest the last weekend in September; and a Nov. 6 garage sale.

Previous fund-raisers this year have included a Father&8217;s Day gift basket sale; an M&M sale; a Wal-Mart sidewalk sale and a wreath raffle. As of September, the nursing center had raised $1,400 for Relay for Life.

For more information, call Christine, Matiel, Karen, Kim or Stacey from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at 446-8426.

Every one of us knows at least one person affected by cancer &8212; and most of us know many more.

Let&8217;s do our best to support these and other Relay for Life fund-raisers being held from businesses and organizations throughout the Miss-Lou.

A note about the relay event itself: at the relay, teams of eight to 15 people camp out and take turns walking around a track. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Teams come from businesses, clubs, families, friends, hospitals, churches, schools and service organizations.

It&8217;s never too early to think about forming a team at your business or organization for the next event, to be held in May.

City Editor

Nita McCann

can be reached at 445-3554 or by e-mail at

nita.mccann@natchezdemocrat.com

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