As we pause to remember the contributions of Martin Luther King Jr. and await the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump, let us take a few moments to highlight some of last week’s good news. 

–Natchez Early College Academy student Morgan Baskin knows what it takes to be a leader. The Natchez teen was recently tapped by Southwest Mississippi Electric Cooperative to serve in the organization’s Youth Leadership Program. Baskin is one of three students in the region who earned a trip to Washington, D.C. With aspirations to work in government and an eye toward the United Nations, Baskins is well on her way to leadership success.

–Thanks to the Mississippi Department of Health and Compassus, local caregivers and health professionals gained insight into the world of dementia. Using various tools and tasks a program offered at Merit Health Natchez gave caregivers a hint of what patients or family members with dementia and Alzheimer’s deal with on a daily basis.

–The Historic Natchez Foundation and the preservation community had many reasons to celebrate last week. The organization received a $50,000 grant for surveying the area’s civil rights sites. The Foundation also honored local residents who have made lasting contributions to our community during its annual meeting. Those honored were, David Garner and Lee Glover for work on the antebellum house Choctaw, the Natchez National Historic Park for its restoration of the log cabin on Canal Street, Jim Barnett for creating a map of the Watkins Street Cemetery, Stratton Bull and Jennifer Ogden for the Natchez Tricentennial, Marcia McCullough and the Garden Lovers of Natchez for helping beautify downtown with hanging flower baskets and Burnley Cook for the restoration of the Baker Grand theater organ.

As we head into another week, let us always celebrate the good things happening in our community.