NATCHEZ &8212; A citywide cleanup is being planned for early March in the conjunction with the nationwide Great American Cleanup, and the public is being asked to take part.

The event is tentatively set for March 4, although that date must still be finalized, said Stephanie Hutchins. Hutchins is a founder of a beautification committee founded by concerned citizens in conjunction with the city.

How much of a difference can such a cleanup make? A citywide cleanup day held in late April 2005 by the Vision Natchez organization gathered at least 2.6 tons of garbage.

Also, Hutchins said that during a Monday beautification committee meeting, Alderman Bob Pollard came up with the idea of identifying the 10 most blighted sites in the city.

A team of Keep Mississippi Beautiful representatives, including Hutchins and fellow Adams County resident Arella Bacon, will work Wednesday to pinpoint those sites.

The beautification committee will contact the owners of the properties to ask them to voluntarily clean up those sites with committee members&8217; help on the citywide cleanup day.

If the owners won&8217;t volunteer to help, however, the committee will report violations of city codes to the city planner&8217;s office, Hutchins said.

Another purpose of KMB&8217;s Wednesday tour of Natchez will be to see firsthand how much trash is left along city streets and assign Natchez a &8220;litter index&8221; comparing its cleanliness to other cities statewide.

&8220;This is something that&8217;s never been done before here in Natchez,&8221; Hutchins said.

To participate in the cleanup, call Bacon at (601) 446-7068.