As summer vacations wind down to the beginning of another school year and football season, let us take a look at some of the good news from last week:

• The Humana Foundation is trying to start a fire of excitement in Natchez. Recognizing last year’s accomplishments with the city’s diabetes and heart disease prevention program, the foundation committed an additional $105,000 for this year’s efforts. Humana Segment Vice President Pattie Dale Tye said the foundation the company simply “helped blow on some embers.” This year the organization hopes to partner more with local physicians to increase involvement and has implemented a new website to help track progress. Thanks to the Humana Foundation for continuing to build a fire of excitement and commitment to this important issue.
• Congratulations to the Natchez Early College Academy for receiving a bronze medal ranking by the U.S. News & World Reports annual ranking of the country’s best high schools. The annual publication reviewed data from more than 20,000 public high schools across the country to determine the ranking. Natchez-Adams School District officials say the data provided by the Mississippi Department of Education was from when the school only taught ninth and 10th graders. After graduating its first class last May, school officials say they hope for even higher rankings when the publication uses information that includes all four grades.
• The Natchez Food and Wine Festival kicked off another year of delicious food and drink at is annual Tastings Along the Mississippi River event Friday night. More than 30 food vendors served everything from smothered pork cheeks with grits and greens to bread pudding to diners who enjoyed drinks from local and regional breweries.  Congratulations to organizers for kicking off another year of mouth-watering events.

Let us remember to thank those who continue to make our community great.