“Y’all should print more good news stories” is a line we hear often at the newspaper. Our response is usually the same: “We print as many positive stories as we know about.” Below is a sample of those stories from this past week.

If you know of a good news story, please let us know. We rarely — if ever — turn down a chance to write an uplifting story about someone in the community. We like to write those stories as much as you like to read them.

• Brookhaven’s Kim Bridge is now a professional Kris Kringle. The 65-year-old registered nurse and community education coordinator for King’s Daughters Medical Center has the red suits; the old-world wooly, white beard; the belts and buckles and boots and the “ho, ho, ho” from the bottom of his gut that make him, for a few weeks every December, Brookhaven’s own Saint Nicholas. He’s even been to school for it — he’s a 2018 graduate of the Professional Santa Claus School, available for hire for parades, parties and photo sessions. But it’s Christmas spirit, not cash, that turns Bridge into Kringle. “I just love the smiles on people’s faces. It makes it all worth while,” he said.

• Red Christmas stockings — nearly 130 of them — will soon be headed overseas filled with cards, letters and lots of love to brighten the holidays for troops from the Brookhaven unit of the Mississippi National Guard. The Brookhaven unit of the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team is in the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield.  “It’s like sending a little piece of home,” said Lori Byrne, chairwoman for the Family Readiness Group of India Co. 106 BSB. “They’re definitely homesick.” To donate, contact Lori Byrne by email at loriree08@yahoo.com or leave a message at 601-754-9107.

• Brookhaven High senior baseball player Jacob Porter signed a letter of intent with Copiah-Lincoln Community College in a ceremony on Nov. 6 in the school library. He was joined by his parents, Bo Porter and Lori Case.

• Volunteers are working this week to sort, organize and ship thousands of shoeboxes through Operation Christmas Child. First Baptist Brookhaven, the area drop-off location, is collecting filled boxes from churches, businesses and organizations, and individuals from 2 to 4 p.m. today and Sunday.

• Two local businesses are relocating to new offices after busy years left them with a need for more room.  The local U.S. Lawns franchise and Ole Brook Heating and Cooling have both opened new locations, almost across the road from each other on Industrial Park Road Northeast.  Both owners said the new space was necessary to accommodate their growing workloads and house all the equipment and inventory they need to service expanding client lists.

• Wreaths Across America will make a stop in Brookhaven next month. The wreaths of American balsam, each hand-tied with a red velvet bow, roll through Brookhaven on their way to Houston for wreath-laying ceremonies to be held nationally Dec. 15. Area veterans, their families and anyone with a patriotic spirit are encouraged to attend a wreath-passing ceremony at 10 a.m. Dec. 13 at Easthaven Baptist Church as part of the national Wreaths Across America project.