This past week’s warm, summer-like weather wasn’t the only thing worth celebrating in Brookhaven and Lincoln County. The pages of The Daily Leader were full of positive and encouraging news.

Below are a few of those “good news” stories.

• Jim Dyess, a 70-year-old retired engineer, was recently surprised with the 66th annual Golden Deeds bronze plaque and recognition for his service to the community.

“This award is the highest award the club can present an individual for the deeds he or she has done for the community,” said club member Ricky Lagrone, the Golden Deeds committee chair.

Others who were honored during the banquet held April 27 at the Thames Conference Center at Copiah-Lincoln Community College include President-Elect Steve Smith, who received the John L. Leary Memorial Award for service, and Brookhaven High School senior Allie  Claire Townsend, who received the Exchange Club scholarship.

• Dozens gathered on the steps of the Lincoln County-Brookhaven Government Complex for the annual National Day of Prayer.

“God has said prayer works and we need to practice it,” said Rev. Steve Jackson, director of missions for the Lincoln Baptist Association.

Lincoln County Chancery Clerk Tillmon Bishop prayed for government, and about 70 people in attendance bowed their heads.

He lifted up the president and his cabinet, the vice president and the U.S. Supreme Court for wisdom and obedience, and the U.S. Senate and House for peace and direction. He prayed for unity among the country, state, county and city leaders.

Bishop said “a house divided cannot stand.”

• Wesson’s Kim San recently signed a tennis scholarship with Southwest Community College. Kim is currently a senior on Wesson’s district championship tennis team where she competes in girls’ singles competition.

• A Union Church woman was recognized for her service to the National Weather Service. Bertha Varnado has been checking the rain gauge for 30 years, measuring the precipitation and reporting her data to the National Weather Service in Jackson. The federal agency relies on weather observers like her to validate its computers’ predictions.