Tis the season for giving and Vicksburg is not short on locals helping those in need. Angel Jenkins started the Weekend BackPack Program and now she and a host of volunteers and local organizations are helping feed children in our community who were not eating on the weekends. The volunteers meet once a week to load up backpacks that go home with more than 100 children living in Warren County.

Jan Cooper crocheted more than 100 hats for Christmas on the River, a program where boxes are packed with items for towboat crewmembers who work during the holiday. The Church of the Holy Trinity has been involved for 11 years with this project. In addition to the handmade hats, items packed inside the boxes for the crew also included Chap Stick, candy, children-made Christmas cards, paperback books, DVDs and cookbooks.

There is much to be thankful for in Vicksburg.

• An agreement with River Hills Bank opens the way for the city to seek its final permit from the Mississippi Department of Transportation to allow construction of the Wisconsin /North Frontage connecting road. The project will link Wisconsin Avenue and North Frontage Road with a road crossing the remainder of the Battlefield Mall property and intersecting with North Frontage between River Hills Bank and the future site of Cannon Honda. The city has a $1.3 million Mississippi Development Authority capital improvement loan to build the road.

• Members of the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce held a membership drive on Tuesday and following the group’s push to attract new businesses and individuals to join the organization, the group celebrated with candy and balloons. In addition to serving as an ambassador for the city, the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce helps businesses and individuals with networking and promotional opportunities. The new members, who joined on Tuesday, will be featured in the chamber’s monthly newsletter and receive a goody bag donated by Paper Plus. Those who paid their membership fees were also entered into a drawing to receive a free week of advertising on the chamber’s marquee.

• Tallulah Academy won its first eight-man championship for Tallulah and first state title since winning the MAIS Class A championship in 1992. Tallulah won 34-25 over Christian Collegiate during the championship game, which was held at Millsaps College.