Vicksburg residents are fortunate to reside in a city that offers both opportunity and safety.

It was reported this week that parents of Vicksburg Warren School District students will soon have the chance to participate in a 15-month course starting in the fall that will offer them the chance to help identify areas they are interested in, the career opportunities that align with those interests and what education and certifications they would need to pursue them.

VWSD Director of Innovations Lucy DeRossette said participants would explore their career academies along with doing some financial literacy and some Leader in Me.

Participants will then go into an internship in the area they are interested in, DeRossette said, that will align them with either Hinds and Alcorn to continue their education.

The 15-month program is offered by the VWSD through a partnership with the Mississippi Department of Human Services and the USDA.

The goal at the end of the 15-month program is for each student to be employed full time, enrolled at Hinds in courses to receive a necessary certificate or two-year degree or enrolled at Alcorn State pursuing a four-year degree.

Also reported this week, the Vicksburg Fire Department and the Warren County Volunteer Fire Department are serving the community by giving out free smoke alarms to households in need.

“We have a limited number,” Vicksburg deputy fire chief Craig Danczyk said. “We’re trying to target the households that truly need them more than others. That can be senior citizens, it can be those on a fixed income, maybe if there is somebody in the household with special needs or a disability where they feel the smoke detectors is even more necessary.”

The city and county each have about 100 detectors available, and they will even come out to your house to properly install them and inspect those that are already in place. County fire coordinator Jerry Briggs said there are also fire detectors available for the hearing impaired.

More positives this week in Vicksburg:

• Warren Central High School graduate Trevor Talbot has been honored as a National Merit Scholarship winner. Talbot was honored as one of 15,000 National Merit Finalists among all graduating seniors in the United States. He was also the valedictorian of the Class of 2017 at Warren Central and one of 20 ALL-STAR Scholastic Scholars in Mississippi among the 284 STAR students.

• Vicksburg natives Mary Logue, Ann Corley, and Pam Piazza were honored this weekend with the Trailblazer Award during induction ceremonies at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn. The women were members of the Delta State Lady Statesmen basketball team and were part of the 1975, ’76 and ’77 national championship teams.