The contenders are official and the campaigning has begun. Bryant Hammett&8217;s shoes won&8217;t be empty for much longer.

Let&8217;s just hope the four men vying for his seat have big feet.

Andy Anders, James Lee, Richard Madison and Samuel Thomas will face off in November to fill the open Louisiana House of Representatives seat Hammett vacated for a state job.

The first three on the list are Concordia Parish residents. They know the area&8217;s needs and will surely lobby for home first.

Concordia residents might not realize how much Hammett did for the area unless they faced life without a hometown representative. Voter turnout in the coming elections can prevent that realization.

Politics aside, construction topped the good news last week with work on the Canal Street condos under way and the Vidalia library nearing completion.

When completed, 17 condos will line Canal Street for purchase, bringing more residential options into downtown.

Library construction in Vidalia is set for completion in October. The renovated building will offer more space for books, computers and programs.

In Natchez, the National Park Service is preparing to conduct a feasibility study on the Forks of the Road site to prepare for future projects and memorials. The park service and the city want the public to be a large part of the plans for the site, something that is a must for a historical site with a divisive past.