NATCHEZ &045; It was an emotion the adults had long since lost the ability to convey in the same way, but something Veronica Nickelson will probably never outgrow &045; excitement.

The smile took over her face, except for the area conquered by glistening eyes, she slightly bobbed her head and hard to control arms flailed as much as the wheelchair bound body would allow.

Watching Veronica was enough to crack the professional shell of the nearby adults who were feeling all the same things, inside.

But she didn’t notice that. Her eyes were glued to the procession of law enforcement cars escorting the Special Olympics torch down Main Street Thursday morning.

The closer the cars got, the more uncontrollable Veronica’s excitement became. Perhaps the crowning moment in the teen’s mind was seeing all the familiar faces of her friends waving from inside police cars.

The 11 a.m. Law Enforcement Torch Run was the first ever for Natchez &045; but not the last.

Natchez High School special education teacher Tommie Jones and a couple of parents decided this year they wanted to torch to come through their hometown.

&uot;I went to some Torch Run seminars at a leadership conference,&uot; mom Mandy Wisner said. &uot;And we said, ‘That torch has got to come to Natchez.’ So we called and asked.&uot;

And it was as simple as that. Torch Run organizers work in the months prior to the mid-May Special Olympics to bring the torch from north Mississippi to Biloxi, where the games are played.

Wisner and other parents were left to contact the local law enforcement to find volunteers for the run, and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office jumped at the chance.

Deputy Charles Harrigill organized the group of 15 ACSO employees who took the torch from the bluff’s gazebo, up Franklin Street, across Martin Luther King Jr. Street, down Main Street and back to the bluff.

Harrigill will escort the Special Olympics bus to Biloxi when they leave this morning and he will participate in the opening ceremonies.

The largest group of Natchez students ever, 119, will compete through Sunday in swimming, bocce, and track and field events.

&uot;Special Olympics has been so great for Haley, my daughter,&uot; Wisner said. &uot;Anything we can do to grow it is great.&uot;

Wisner, Harrigill and Jones all promised that next year’s Torch Run through Natchez will be a much larger event.

Around 15 students and their families and teachers participated in Thursday run, which ended with a picnic on the bluff.

Harrigill said he’s had a chance to get to know some of the children and looks forward to working with the group more.

&uot;This is so much fun,&uot; he said. &uot;All they want is a little love and a hug and a smile.&uot;