For State fans, Thursday night was full of good news. For Ole Miss, not so much. Here in Lincoln County, we’ve got plenty of positive news to go around — Thanksgiving fellowships, a symphony concert and a Christmas parade. If any local Rebel fans are in need of a pick-me-up, have a look at the stories below.

• It’s going to be a sweet Christmas in Brookhaven this year, at least on Dec. 5. That’s when “A Candy Coated Christmas” rolls downtown.

“We’re sticking with the theme, ‘Life is sweet in Brookhaven,’” said Katie Nations, program director of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce. “McLane Southern has donated candy to be thrown during the parade, so there will be plenty of candy for parade goers.” Santa will be on hand, and Miss Merry Christmas Abby Smith, Miss Hospitality Allie Claire Townsend and Miss Mississippi Mary Margaret Hyer will make appearances.

• Larry Davis, owner of Davis Auto, provided hundreds of Thanksgiving meals at his business Wednesday. “I do this as a thank you to the city of Brookhaven for supporting me during the year,” Davis said as he weaved in and out of the line of hungry visitors to his shop. Some were first-time diners who caught wind of Davis’ free lunch and headed over. Some were repeat visitors who come for the fellowship just as much as the food. The line stretched outside the front doors through the garage to the covered tables in the back that were filled with large trays of food and smiling volunteers dishing it out. People filled their take-out covered plates with a selection of meat, potato salad, dressing, baked beans, corn and biscuits.

• The Ole Brook Wind Symphony will have its annual concert at Easthaven Baptist Church Tuesday at 7 p.m. “We would like the public to come and enjoy an evening of Christmas cheer and music at the church,” Director Leroy Smith said. The concert is free for the public to attend. The Ole Brook Wind Symphony is a nonprofit organization — though the symphony does take donations to help offset the cost of the production. “I think we’re gong to have a pretty good variety of music,” Steve Edge said. Edge is a musician for the symphony who plays the tuba. “There’s something there (that people are) going to like.”

• Brookhaven Academy senior defender Lindsey Norton recently signed a letter of intent with the Southwest Mississippi Community College women’s soccer program. Norton was a center back defender for a Lady Cougars program that made the MAIS playoffs in back-to-back years over the past two seasons. Lady Cougar coach Mark LeBlanc says Norton has her best soccer ahead of her.

“Lindsey only started playing soccer as a sophomore in high school,” said LeBlanc. “She has good speed and quickness. Southwest will probably make her an outside defender and she’s got a lot of potential at the next level.”