When you walk through historic Vicksburg, there are many beautiful things to see, especially at this time of year. 

During the day, there are blooming crepe myrtles, antebellum and postbellum homes, many of which showcase Victorian, Eastlake, Italianate or Greek Revival architecture. In the evenings, cicadas chirp a melody distinctive to the deep south and seem to lull the sun to rest, turning the blue sky various hues of orange, pink and red. Clearly marked walkways lead you to the heart of downtown and on to the riverfront, where murals, some of which tell the story of our community, bring old brick walls to life. 

Unfortunately, all too often the beautiful scenery is tarnished by trash that has been thrown on streets, sidewalks and in front yards instead of in trash cans. The litter problem continues past historic Vicksburg into other parts of the city and county.

I recently had the honor of joining two ladies on the Vicksburg Beautification Committee for lunch. They shared some of their upcoming plans for making Vicksburg a more beautiful place for residents to live and tourists to visit, and inspired me to think about what I could do, and what The Post can do, to complement their work.

This week, The Post is starting a campaign to refurbish newspaper racks around the city and county. Five racks at a time, we’ll repaint and place fresh decals, faceplates and windows that will give the racks a like-new appearance. Our hope is the freshened look will build a better brand for us and for Vicksburg.

We are fortunate to have those who volunteer their time on the Vicksburg Beautification Committee. But the responsibility of keeping our community clean does not rest solely on their shoulders. As I go about my days, I’ll join in their work by picking up trash I come across.

I encourage you and your neighbors to do the same, and to think about other ways you can play a part in making Vicksburg a better place to live, work, play and visit.

Catherine Boone Hadaway is publisher of The Vicksburg Post. She can be reached at catherine.hadaway@vicksburgpost.com.