This week in Vicksburg U.S. Army Corps chaplain Col. Mitchell Lewis, the Rev. Sam Godfrey, rector of Christ Episcopal Church and the Rev. P.J. Curley, pastor of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, took turns blessing boats as they passed by during the annul blessing of the fleet, which was held at the Vicksburg waterfront on Monday.

The annual event, which is held to bless the fleet of towboats and equipment for a safe deployment, dates back to medieval times.

“Over the years, nations have depended upon professional fleets to maintain and protect their waterways,” said Corps Vicksburg District Commander Col. Michael DeRosier. “Our fleet is going out to maintain a waterway that is vital to the U.S. economy and has an impact to economies around the globe.”

Also this week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District office negotiated another 12-year lease agreement with General Services Administration and Los Angeles-based Saban Capital Group, to secure the offices they currently occupy on East Clay Street.

More positives in Vicksburg this week:

• The St. Aloysius swim team beat Jackson Prep 38-30 Thursday in a dual meet at City Pool. Adrienne Eckstein won four events, and Victoria Gong and Leah Larson each won two. Eckstein won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 27.74 seconds, and the 50 backstroke in 31.49 seconds. She was also part of the winning 200 freestyle and 200 medley relay teams, along with Gong, Larson and Sarah Copes. In the boys meet, St. Al won all but one event as it routed Prep 57-7. Charlie Martin finished first in the 50 breaststroke and 50 butterfly, Tommy Martin won the 100-yard individual medley, Connor Clark won the 50 backstroke, and Matthew Copes won the 100-yard freestyle. The same quartet also finished first in both the 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays.

• On Tuesday, the Vicksburg-Warren Board of Realtors honored Dixie Breithaupt as the first Realtor Emeritus in the county. The distinction is presented by the National Board of Realtors, recognizing realtors with at least 40 years experience and serving as an officer with the local, state or national association.