Vicksburg has had many nicknames. It once was referred to as the “Red Carpet City of the South” — rolling out the red carpet treatment to not only visitors but those who call Vicksburg home. Slogans have changed over the years, but at City Hall, the spirit of the slogan is alive and well.

Tucked into a City Hall office, two women — Katrina Flagg, 29, and Cheryl Cummins, 58 — are poised five days a week to field questions, complaints or requests for services.

The two man the City’s Action Line — 601-636-3411. They field questions on the mayor giving away clothes, snakes in buildings and even the temperature of local casinos’ gaming floors.

But they also field calls from residents with water or sewer problems, funneling them to the appropriate offices. The Action Line gives the city a wonderful service. The line is manned 5 days per week, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Flagg, the mother of a 5-year-old boy, who, before landing the job at the Action Line, worked as a convenience store clerk. Cummins was a teacher’s assistant for 10 years in the Vicksburg Warren School District before being hired. The beauty is that both have deep connections to the city. Flagg’s parents both work for the city, while Cummins’ mother, Arveta Avant, is assistant director at the Vicksburg Senior Center.

The deep roots in the city help with their knowledge of how the city works and offers them stability in their jobs.

Of course, there will be the occasional sore head who opens a gas bill in the winter with horror. Those, Flagg said, are immediately directed to the appropriate offices. While people get a bit hot-under-the-collar at times, remember that these two women are providing a valuable service for the city.

No matter the situation, when the time comes for questions to be answered or problems to be solved, the first stop should be Flagg, Cummins and Action Line.

In the 1960s, Vicksburg was known as the Red Carpet City of the South. The Action Line is following that motto and rolling out the red carpet to anyone who needs it.

Keep up the good work.