High temperatures were steady around the 80 degree mark throughout the week, and brisk overnight lows ranged from the mid 50s to upper 60s. A trace of rain was reported.

The Mississippi River dropped steadily through the week, dipping to 15 1/2-feet from 22 feet. Forecasters predicted the river would remain steady and called for a reading of just above 15 feet for today.

Two more people filed papers to run for Vicksburg Warren School District school board positions, although only one qualified as a potential candidate. Filing papers were Jesse Trotter, who did not have the 150 signatures required from voters in his district to qualify for the race, and Kimble D. Slaton, a self-employed land surveyor who will join Katrina Johnson and Joe Loviza in the race for District 4.

An endowment fund set up by the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation will allow the 1868 Sisters of Mercy convent on Crawford Street to get structural repairs. A $5,000 donation received from the family of Mother Mary Clementine Phelan, former mother superior at the convent, provided the start-up funds for the endowment.

Hundreds of Carr Central graduates returned to Vicksburg to gather on the lawn of the former Cherry Street school to hear plans for the building from its new owners. School alumni toured the building, which has undergone extensive maintenance by Webber and Carolyn Brewer in their quest to create condos in the structure.

Managers of Vicksburg-area pecan orchards are concerned about low yields following a spring freeze, summer drought and active fall hurricanes. Industry experts estimate a 25 percent reduction in normal yields.

Billie Abraham, a former hospital chaplain and Vicksburg school teacher, has been selected by St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Bovina as its new priest. Abraham spent years on her journey to the priesthood and was ordained at St. Alban’s in September.

An agreement between Warren County and a Greenville law firm was reached just before court preceedings began concerning operating hours of the Kings Point Ferry. Warren County will pay $4,415.58 in legal fees to Henderson Dantone, P.A.

Superintendent Dr. James Price said he was pleased with the results of Vicksburg Warren School District’s first intercession week. More than 600 students attended the session, which is part of a new schedule designed to help students who fall behind during the nine weeks catch up throughout the year rather than during summer school.

The Vicksburg Zoning Board of Appeals denied the owner of a nightclub on North Washington Street a special exemption to reopen. Tyrone King, who said he operated a club at the 3961 N. Washington site, had hoped to open an R&B lounge featuring live music. The denial was administered because the business had been closed for more than 60 days and the previous operator did not want to renew his privilege license when asked in May.

Donald Smith, a former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employee, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of embezzlement. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine as a result of activities stemming from his time at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg. Sentencing is set for Dec. 16.

No verified cases of the potentially deadly West Nile virus have been reported this year in Warren County. Though numerous patients have been given blood tests at River Region Medical Center after complaining of virus symptoms, no tests have confirmed West Nile, a hospital spokesman said..

Local deaths during the week were Frances L. Beard, Walter Jones Jr., Edna Earline Smith, Wilbert “Joe” Thames, Hazel C. Fairchild, Geneva Richardson Westbrooks, Faye Willoughby Aspinall, Sidney Hill Neal and Aveon Juan “Peanut” Jones.