NATCHEZ &8212; The welcome just got a little warmer for motorists visiting Natchez from U.S. 61 South.

Thanks to the combined efforts of the Natchez Downtown Development Association, the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce and the Natchez chapter of Rotary International, a brand new welcome sign has been constructed at the city limits near the entrance to Trinity Episcopal Day School.

The sign, which features a stylized temple form with the words

&8220;Welcome Historic Natchez on the Mississippi&8221; is identical to the welcome sign that was recently constructed at the U.S. 61 North city limits.

The first sign was constructed using a grant awarded to the Chamber of Commerce.

Plans all along were to build two other signs, one at each entrance to the city.

But after the first sign was completed there were no funds left for building the remaining two.

That is where the Natchez Rotary Club came in.

Last year, club members had been considering numerous service projects, in which to help improve the city.

When the idea of paying for the two signs was first mentioned,

the group decided the project was just the right size for the organization.

&8220;There was not enough funding to finish the other signs,&8221; Rotary President Nancy Hungerford said. &8220;So we decided to help pull it together.&8221;

Several months later, the new polymer signs are being constructed for motorists to see as they enter the city.

Rotary will also provide lighting for all three signs.

Michael Cates, president of the NDDA board and Rotary

board member, said the signs have been given to the city as &8220;the official welcome sign.&8221;

&8220;All along it has been a joint effort between the city, NDDA and the chamber,&8221; Hungerford said.

Gardner said that without Rotary&8217;s help the welcome signs would have

not been possible.

&8220;It was a little wave and Rotary helped us ride it all the way to completion,&8221; Tammi Gardner, director of NDDA, said.

Track and Field

Candace Fyre

Natchez Track Club USA Associaiton Track Meet Lafayette, La., won two gold medals

100 hurdles

15.43

400 hurdles

103.31