NATCHEZ — A new group in town is planning to kick a lot of butts.

The newly formed Tobacco Free Coalition materialized less than one month ago and is aimed at educating the area’s youth on the perils of smoking.

The formation of the group was made possible by a $53,000 community grant from the Mississippi State Department of Health’s Office of Tobacco Control.

The grant was funneled through the Adams County Coalition for Children and Youth.

Project Director Paige Dickey said the group is so new they haven’t even had their first meeting yet, but her goal is clear.

Dickey said, once formed, the coalition will be made of local community leaders, law enforcement officials and members of the faith-based community.

After the group is fully operational, it will be heading out to local schools to speak to students on the dangers and health risks associated with smoking.

But the group will also be doing a little more than just talking to students.

“We want to work with the older students so they can start working with the younger students,” Dickey said.

As part of the coalition’s plan it will be training high school-age students on how to educate grade school children on the dangers of smoking.

“Education is a key part of this,” she said.

But education isn’t the only component of the coalition’s agenda.

Dickey said she’s hoping to partner with two city leaders to take the no-smoking fight out of the classroom and into the city’s public areas.

Ideally Dickey would like to see the coalition work toward making the city’s restaurants and public area’s smoke free.

In early November Natchez Aldermen James “Ricky” Gray and Bob Pollard said they would like to see the city adopt an ordinance that would ultimately ban smoking in Natchez’s restaurants.

While Pollard said the effort hasn’t made much headway since the plans were announced, Gray said he’s been diligently contacting other cities in the state to examine their anti-smoking ordinances.

But both men do agree they’d welcome help from the coalition to get the smoke out of Natchez’s restaurants.

“I’m open to work with anyone who wants to work on this,” Gray said.

The coalition’s first meeting will be next Thursday. Those interested in working with the coalition should contact Dickey at 601-818-7748.