When tragedy strikes, the Miss-Lou responds. After Hurricane ravaged Houston and the Texas coast, residents reached into their pockets last week to give to victims of the disaster everything from bottled water to gently-used clothing. Local churches, businesses and organizations, including the City of Natchez and county volunteer firefighters, organized disaster relief drives. In the coming days, the truckloads of donations will be shipped to Houston and the surrounding region.

As storm relief efforts continue, let us take a look at other good news from last week:

• Cathedral science teacher Denise Thibodeaux has a difficult time describing her summer filled with awards and honors. In May Thibodeaux was honored with a Coaching Excellence Award at the National Science Olympiad. Thibodeaux was one of four teachers to receive the award out of the 60 teams that competed in the contest in Dayton, Ohio. In July, Thibodeaux was announced as Mississippi’s Outstanding Biology Teacher of the Year for 2017. Thibodeaux said she is honored to receive both awards. Thibodeaux said she is more determined to work harder to be worthy of the award and the support from her peers. Congratulations to Thibodeaux for the well-deserved attention.
• The lesser-known story of slaves who labored to produce the cotton wealth of Natchez has been added to the Fall Pilgrimage lineup this year. Debbie Cosey and her husband Gregory will open their bed and breakfast Concord Quarters for two tours this year. Built as one of two brick dependencies for the 1794 Concord Plantation, the last remaining structure of the mansion will offer tourists a unique view of slavery. The two tours are a welcome addition to Natchez efforts to tell the whole story of the antebellum South.

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