It’s been one of those weeks in the newsroom. Obviously, some days are slower than others. Sometimes it seems like the whole world is quiet and nothing of any real significance is going on. Other days, it seems we can’t finish covering one story or event before another one begins. This week, especially if you ask our Editor Andrew, it seems to have been the latter.

Sadly, we saw several accidents over the weekend, including a wreck on I-65 that claimed two lives. We’ve seen everything from arrests to school bus rodeos this week and you can read about them all in today’s edition of the paper. But, our area has also seen our normal seasonal happenings: the weather can’t make up its mind, but has stayed nice enough for us to enjoy Mardi Gras parades; it seems like everyone at least knows someone who is fighting off the flu or some other illness; and most people enjoyed a long weekend due to President’s Day on Monday. So, it’s been a mixed bag lately.

In the sports world, most of our local high schools are transitioning from basketball to baseball season, so crowds of parents and fans are getting ready to leave the gyms for the baseball diamonds.

This week also brought our area a visit from one of the world’s richest men – the fifth richest to be specific – when Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife began their 50-state “tour” in Mobile. Not only was the couple seen taking in a parade, hanging out on Dolphin Street and eating in Bayou La Batre, but they also decided to check out some local newspapers, including the Monroe Journal and the Selma Times-Journal. In Selma, the couple was photographed leaving the paper with the Sunday edition in hand and Zuckerberg even went as far to post a message supporting journalists.

“It seems like a good time to say thank you to all the journalists around the world who work tirelessly and sometimes put their lives in danger to surface the truth,” he wrote. “I don’t always agree with everything you say, but that’s how democracy is supposed to work. I know I join many people in America and across the world in thanking you for your work.”

Now, Zuckerberg very well may be laying the ground work for another billionaire run at the White House, but at a time when the country’s leadership has branded many reputable news organizations as “fake,” it’s nice to see a public figure thanking the media for the work being done.

So, like I said, it’s been a busy week in our neck of the woods. And, as spring approaches, we all know it’s going to get busier and busier. So, bring on the baseball games, the proms, the beauty pageants and the beach trips. It’s going to be a fun season.