Between a big birthday and an increase in most of the town&8217;s school test scores, Ferriday had a lot to celebrate this week. Throw in a significant enrollment boost at nearly all of the Miss-Lou schools, and last week was chock full of good news.

4Ferriday is 100 now, but it&8217;s the next 100 years that count. Economic development leaders and town officials have high hopes for downtown. A new park is planned, renovations are coming and work is under way to land a major business. Mayor Gene Allen thinks there is nowhere to go but up. He&8217;ll need citizen support though; it will take a team effort to achieve the goals.

4Teamwork was the answer at Ferriday Lower Elementary and Ferriday Upper Elementary last year. Both schools had huge academic challenges and both showed big gains, receiving a nod of approval from the state.

4The Miss-Lou&8217;s public and private schools are approximately 450 students stronger this year. Hurricane Katrina played a role in the enrollment jumps, but she doesn&8217;t deserve all the credit.

No one quite knows from where all the students have come, but principals agree most of the new children have relocated here from outside the area. School numbers are an easy way to gauge growth in a community. New students bring parents with them, and parents usually don&8217;t come without jobs.

Something must be changing for the better.

Here&8217;s to the next 100 years &8212; from Natchez to Ferriday.