With a pull of the handle, the steam whistle comes alive and everyone within earshot instantly knows a steamboat is coming.

The once familiar sounds of both the steam whistle and the much more melodious sounds of the steam calliope may soon return to Natchez.

Sadly, those sounds have largely been only in the memories of residents who have been around long enough to remember the pre-Katrina hey days of the riverboats.

After a few years’ hiatus, the American Queen paddlewheeler is scheduled soon to return to the Mississippi River next April.

The vessel will be homeported in Memphis and is slated to take passengers on river cruises again.

Although the exact schedule of stops has not been made public, Natchez tourism officials are hopeful that the boat will make frequent stops in Natchez.

The community is fortunate to have a native daughter connected to the boat. Natchez chef Regina Charboneau has been selected as the chef de cuisine for the vessel. In addition to deciding what menus will be served onboard, she may be able to lobby for Natchez stops as well.

Natchez desperately needs to have the boat stop in Natchez again and the city should be willing to bend over backward to make sure that happens.

The tourist dollars that steamboat landings can bring to our city are significant — and needed.

We hope all aspects of our tourism community are working together to create a “cannot miss” package for the steamboat company.

We can almost hear the whistle already.