As host to the Miss Mississippi pageant, locals should be feeling proud after 2016 Miss Mississippi Laura Lee Lewis was named fourth runner to Miss America on Sunday night in Atlantic City.

“Laura Lee was so deserving of fourth runner up. We are extremely proud of her efforts,” the executive director of the Miss Mississippi Pageant David Blackledge said.

Lewis was one of 52 contestants vying for the crown with Miss Arkansas Savvy Shields being crowned the winner.

Following the national competition, Lewis will return to Mississippi and finish out her reign.

“Laura Lee will continue to be another outstanding Miss Mississippi. We are very fortunate to have her represent all of our great state,” Blackledge said.

More positive happenings in Vicksburg this week:

• Vicksburg residents, Sheila Pantin, her daughter Kristi Pantin Smith and members of the Patrick Smith Band were all part of the new season of the Thacker Mountain Radio show, Saturday. The show, which features weekly author readings and a variety of musical performances highlighted “Trials of the Earth,” a memoir written by Mary Hamilton, from whom Pantin and Pantin Smith directly descend.

• Shoppers were able to help lower the cost of their clothing budget by shopping at the Sassy Seconds consignment sale that got underway this week in Vicksburg. Organizer and co-owner of the consignment sale India Gregg said they had more than 100 vendors participate in the biannual sale and items ranged from children’s clothing to games and toys.

• Vicksburg native Jeff Flathau along with his wife Heather received the Governor’s Award for Exporting Achievement during the 2016 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Exporting. Flathau, who owns Flathau Fine Foods, exports to small shops and to global chains, like Chile’s Wal-Mart, called Lider, and the European version of TJ Maxx, called TK Maxx. They also sell to 15 to 20 companies in Canada and a few in Mexico.

• Courtland Wells has joined the staff of The Vicksburg Post as a photojournalist. Wells, a native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., is 2016 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned a degree in photojournalism.

• LSU cross country runner K.K. McCarley, a former Warren Central star, finished 60th out of 120 runners Friday in her first college meet, the Rice Invitation in Houston.