Southwest Mississippi experienced plenty of tragedy in the past few days, but there were also bright spots to be found — good news that can lift our spirits. Below is a look back at some of those positive stories.

• The Brookhaven Bass Club fished its first tournament of the 2019 year at False River in New Roads, Louisiana, on Jan. 12. Garrett Posey finished in first place with a five-fish limit of 14 pounds, 4 ounces. Heath Willard finished in second place with a five-fish limit of 12 pounds, 14 ounces. Corey Smith came in third with four fish totaling 8 pounds, 2 ounces. The Big Bass award went to Matt Martin with a bunker weighing exactly 5 pounds.

• Both of Lincoln County’s representatives on Tuesday voted in favor of a measure that will allow the state’s electric cooperatives to offer high-speed internet.  HB 366 will now move to the Senate for more debate. Reps. Becky Currie and Vince Mangold, both Republicans, voted for the bill that would allow Mississippi’s 25 electric cooperatives to form subsidiaries to offer broadband internet service. They are currently prohibited from doing so by state law. This measure could greatly benefit rural Lincoln Countians.

• Two fallen police officers were honored with a wooden, painted flag created by artist Jason Saulpaw. The families of Cpl. Zach Moak and officer James Kevin White put their handprints on the back of the flag as a way to honor them. “I love knowing that he hasn’t been forgotten,” Laurie White said about her son James, who was known at home as Kevin. “He’s still being honored. I know it’s eventually going to stop but I know that in people’s hearts in Lincoln County, Cpl. Zach and Kevin will always be honored.”

• The most recent addition to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church traveled over 9,000 miles and crossed an ocean to settle in Lincoln County. It’s a long way from his hometown of Warangal, India, to East Cherokee Street in Brookhaven. But for Rev. Vijaya Manohar Reddy Thanugundla, home is wherever he hangs his robe.Thanugundla, who likes to be called Father Mano, was greeted after his first Mass Jan. 5 with friendly smiles, handshakes and hugs.