After a weekend with highs in the upper 70s, the temperature reached the mid-80s on weekdays, leading to a pleasant weather week in Vicksburg. Lows were in the mid-60s most nights, dipping to the week’s low — 54 degrees — Thursday night. No rain was recorded.

The Mississippi River spent the week on the rise, starting at 17.4 feet on the Vicksburg gauge and surging more than 11 feet to 28.5 feet by week’s end. The forecast was for a reading of 28.2 feet today.

A mild panic sent thousands of area residents to gas stations amid reports that a shortage was imminent. The wave of purchases did empty pumps at several stations, but all quickly received new supplies. Prices actually fell during the week.

Porters Chapel and Vicksburg High had little trouble with their opponents, but an exciting victory was turned in by St. Aloysius. The Flashes beat Cathedral 31-28 via an 11-yard touchdown pass with 17 seconds remaining. Warren Central was defeated by Hazlehurst.

“Mayberry CSI” will be staged at First Baptist Church as a dinner theater event and missions fundraiser.

Riverwalk General Manager Rob Long said he was optimistic the casino market will continue to grow after his facilities open in about a month as the city’s fifth hotel-casino complex and the first new venue since June 1994.

Mechanical engineer Joel Brown, at 27, became the youngest person ever to command the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mat Sinking Unit.

The 125-member Carlow Choir performed here as a warmup, of sorts. Next month, the choir is to perform at the Vatican for Pope Benedict XVI.

Residents of Speed Street Apartments were moving out ahead of new owners who had not qualified for rent subsidies from the Mississippi Regional Housing Authority. As they packed, word came that the City of Vicksburg had condemned the century-old structure, formerly a school.

Mary Margaret Brabston was the victor in the weekly Pick The Winner football contest.

A Port Gibson teen, Christopher Vinson, was struck and killed by a vehicle on U.S. 61 South. Authorities said there were few clues in the hit-and-run.

Superintendent James Price said he didn’t really like expanding the Vicksburg Warren School District’s grading policy to a 10-point scale, but that because others were doing it the district here has little choice. District 4 Trustee Jan Daigre called it “dumbing down” the standards. Trustees talked about the change and will vote at their October meeting.

Lacie Wells and Laquita Wells of Vicksburg were chosen as members of the Hinds Community College Homecoming Court.

Energy-efficient mini-trucks the City of Vicksburg purchased secondhand from a dealer in Japan arrived. Officials said the vehicles will trim the city’s gas budget, which grew to $1 million over the past year.

Managers of the NRoute public transportation system says they will expand service from weekdays only to include Saturdays. The system has had nearly 33,000 riders this year, which calculates to 1.6 passengers boarding each operational hour.

As planning continued for a farewell visit by the Delta Queen, word came that another extension of its safety exemption is being considered in Congress. The wooden passenger steamer has had Vicksburg as a port of call for more than 60 years, but does not meet modern Coast Guard standards.

Laura Blackledge and Colin Reid of Vicksburg got word Saturday that they could join 148 of their fellow Ole Miss students in actually attending the presidential debate planned for the campus. Their selection was based on a drawing that followed a student competition.

Deaths during the week included Annie B. Allen, Richard M. Banks Jr., Arlene R. Thomas, Frances Pettway Meadows, Betty Jean McBroom Rushing, Mary Nan Hebler, Mattie Sue Shelby and Dr. Russell F. Theriot.