High temperatures continued to be varied over the course of the week, ranging from the mid-40s to mid-60s. Overnight lows dropped into the mid-20s for most of the week. No rainfall was recorded.

The Mississippi River rose throughout the week from 16 to 21.6 feet on the Vicksburg gauge. That trend was expected to continue, as forecasters predicted a reading of 22.2 feet for today.

A crowd of 10,000 to 11,000 people was estimated for Main Street’s annual Christmas Parade of Lights. About 50 organizations, including schools, churches and businesses, entered the line-up, down from 70 entries last year.

“Vicksburg, Mississippi, 2011” will be inscribed on a new quarter featuring an image of the USS Cairo on the Yazoo River during the Civil War. The coin will be issued as part of the America The Beautiful Quarters Program.

Renovations are continuing on the Shirley House, Vicksburg National Military Park’s lone surviving structure that dates to the Civil War. Rededication of the 180-year-old structure is planned for the spring.

During a called press conference, Mayor Paul Winfield defended pay raises for city employees and emphasized that he does not anticipate layoffs or furloughs during restructuring of city workers. Winfield called the conference to dispel “misconceptions” about across-the-board raises, which included pay increases for the three elected city officials.

School district officials are supportive of a move to change the qualifying period for seats on the district’s Board of Trustees in order to take elections for those positions off paper ballots. Potential candidates are currently given two months to qualify for school board races locally.

“The Biggest Loser” contestant Patrick House of Vicksburg hosted a party at the Vicksburg Convention Center to thank supporters, showcase his hometown and celebrate being one of three finalists on the NBC TV show, whose finale will be broadcast on NBC Tuesday. House signed autographs and visited with about 400 fans at the gathering.

A masked gunman surprised Bingo players at the American Legion on Monroe Street, where he demanded money before leaving with an undisclosed amount of cash. The incident made for the 25th time police had been called to the hall’s vicinity since July.

Horizon Casino, Vicksburg’s only downtown casino, is being sold by its Las Vegas parent company to one in South Carolina. Delta Investments & Development LLC will purchase the casino for $3.25 million in cash plus certain associated liabilities.

Vicksburg Warren School Board members voted to hire Paula A. Johnson of Baton Rouge as an assistant superintendent overseeing curriculum and instruction, and to hire Dr. Laura Prather as federal programs director.

Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Bill Seratt told his board that 2011 mostly likely won’t be any better than 2010 financially. Financial growth is not expected because of the economy.

Local deaths during the week were Mary Tillman Banks, Henrietta Jackson Kemper, Sandra Pepper Phillips, Brenda D. Robinson, Sophie Smith, Donnie Ray Lowe, Janice Lynn Wigley, Gregory Wayne “Picklehead” Williams, Leola Williams, Henry Dean “Dulolly” Hawkins Jr., Dorothy Opal “Dot” Thrash, Judith “Judy” McCammon, David Meeks, Deloise A. Taylor Williams, Ruth S. Irwin and Robert Lee Logan.