Summer may be synonymous with long, leisurely days — but that doesn’t mean productivity slows. Let’s take a moment to call out where hard work paid off in the Miss-Lou last week:

•The Natchez riverfront welcomed a new feature — the Bridge of Sighs. As residents, young and old, crossed the bridge, many smiles — and perhaps a few sighs — were shared. We thank the city for providing the community with such a beautiful outlet to admire the mighty Mississippi River.

•Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Natchez campus opened its doors last week to 15 members of Area 7 Special Olympics. The college offered a summer program in which participants learned about agriculture, recycling and culinary arts. This is the second year Co-Lin has hosted to program, and we commend the college for taking the time to serve students who are eager to learn.

•After many years of lobbying, the area known as the bean field — a 37-acre lot next to Natchez High School — is officially in city hands. Natchez Mayor Butch Brown and several aldermen met Wednesday to commemorate the official deed transfer, which also included a 30-acre lot next to Walmart. We thank all city officials who worked for years to bring this acreage back into city hands.

As we dive into another busy week, we thank those who continuously work to make the Miss-Lou a great place to live, work and play.