Christmas came and went last week in the Miss-Lou with plenty of good news throughout our community.

But before you start taking down decorations, let’s look back at some of the highlights of the week:

Hundreds of children gathered at Braden Auditorium to receive presents as part of the annual Natchez Children’s Christmas Tree Fund distribution. The tradition traces back to 1928 when a group of local businessmen decided they wanted to ensure less-fortunate children enjoyed Christmas. We hope all the children in our area had a merry Christmas.

The staff and guests at Holiday Inn Express partnered with other locations in the state to collect more than $1,000 worth of toys to give to patients at Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children in Jackson. The last-minute holiday charitable effort was a great example of residents coming together to help those in need.

Members of Word of Faith Ambassadors Worship Center enjoyed their first Christmas in the church’s new facility, which opened in October. The facility gives members of the congregation more legroom. We wish the church well as it starts a new beginning in its facility.

Bryce Murray was one of 79 students at Mississippi College to be inducted as a new member of the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges, which is one of the nation’s premier honor societies. The Adams County Christian School graduate has one more year at the school before applying for graduate schools in the fall. We congratulate Murray on the induction and wish him well with his future endeavors.

Start preparing your New Year’s resolutions because the countdown to the year 2014 is only one day away.