High water and a little snow did not put a halt to productive happenings in Vicksburg this week. On Monday, locals celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King with a full day of service, which concluded with the 30th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Birthday Celebration. During the event, which was held at the Vicksburg Auditorium, the president of the General Missionary Baptist State Convention of Mississippi Inc., Dr. Isiac Jackson Jr. served as the guest speaker and Warren Central High School senior Lylen Colby Fisher served as the mistress of ceremonies. Eddie Howard, Nathan Mosley and Brandon Scott of the Calvary’s Worship, Praise and Harmony – under the direction of Mr. Travanti Hill – sang two spiritual selections between greetings and the introduction of Jackson. The event was all made possible with the coordination of the Corps of Engineers officers, law enforcement, the city and county board of supervisors and greek-lettered organizations.

On Tuesday, the Omicron Rho Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. held its 27th annual scholarship breakfast in Dr. King’s name. Members presented a community service award, a $100 scholarship to seventh-graders of the Vicksburg Warren School District and a $250 book scholarship to a member of the Project Alpha Leadership Club. The Omicron Rho Lambda educational foundation is our scholarship foundation that serves the community of Vicksburg and Warren County through scholarship contests, service events, and the youth through leadership clubs and mentorship. Other events that merit praise this week include Beechwood Elementary School’s Leadership Day, which highlighted what the Leader In Me initiative has done for the school. The day included a trip around the world, taking business owners, public officials and other community leaders to areas of the school modeled after far away places such as Antarctica, the Caribbean and tropical rainforests to learn about Steven Covey’s 7 habits: be proactive; begin with the end in mind; put first things first; think win-win; think first to understand; then to be understood; synergize; and sharpen the saw. The Leader In Me initiative is modeled after Covey’s 7 habits of Highly Effective books, which teach 21st century leadership and life skills to students and creates a culture of student empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader.

• President of the Mississippi State Medical Association and Vicksburg internist Dr. Dan Edney, presented the Annual Public Health Report card with healthcare professionals and medical students at the Capitol on Friday. The report card is presented to the legislature through a collaborative effort between the MSMA and the Mississippi State Department of Health.

• The recently retired Vicksburg Warren School District’s athletic director, Lum Wright Jr., took a position as Atwood’s business development manager. Wright spent 19 years as the WVSD athletic director.