The good news from last week is we have a new U.S. Senator after a long election season that included a runoff last week.

Now is time to put the campaign rhetoric behind us and rally behind our newly elected U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who is Mississippi’s first elected female U.S. Senator.

Congratulations!

We trust Hyde-Smith will serve our state well.

Regardless, voters will have a chance to weigh in on her performance again in two more years, as that is the amount of time left on the seat since she is filling the unexpired term of Thad Cochran who retired last March for health reasons.

Other good news from the past week:

4 Fred and Melinda Kent, owners of the historic former Prentiss Club building, have transferred ownership of the fire-damaged building to the Historic Natchez Foundation.

Along with the property, the Kents are also giving the Foundation $47,000 and making a loan of $250,000 to the Foundation to fund the work necessary to restore the exterior of the building.

That is a great gift to Natchez, and we’re sure the building is in good hands with the Foundation.

4 The Christmas season is in full swing in the Miss-Lou now that both Natchez and Vidalia have held festive Christmas parades.

Both cities have decked the area’s halls with a giant new Christmas tree on Main Street in Natchez, the historic International Paper holiday displays at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center and a display at the foot of the Mississippi River bridge in Vidalia.

Several residents also have decorated their properties for the season.

Get out and take in the sights of the season.