The week's good news: September 27, 2018

1. Minnesota firefighter leaves his own wedding to battle a blaze

When their wedding venue fell through at the last minute, Krista and Jeremy Bourasa decided to hold the ceremony at the groom's fire station in St. Paul Park, Minnesota, knowing it was possible an alarm could disrupt things. They made it through their ceremony earlier this month without a hitch, but while taking photos before the reception, an urgent call came in for mutual aid to knock out a fire engulfing a house in a nearby town. Krista told her new husband to go ahead and fight the fire. "I've got the rest of my life with him," she told KARE-11. "They needed him for that moment." Three hours later, Jeremy returned to the reception, and the bride and groom had their first dance. "That just kind of put the icing on the cake that I know she's the one for the rest of my life," he said.

KARE-11

2. 4-year-old named Florence helps those affected by the hurricane

Florence Wisniewski isn't going to let a hurricane sully her good name. The 4-year-old lives in Chicago, far from where Hurricane Florence caused so much devastation. Her mother, Tricia Wisniewski, told WLS-TV that she explained to her daughter what was going on in the Carolinas, and showed her video of the flooding and houses underwater. "She wanted to help," Tricia said. So Florence, who goes by Flo, helped her mother set up a donation bin on their porch. They took a map of the hurricane's path and covered it with photos of Flo, and then shared the image on Facebook, asking for donations. The family has collected food, diapers, toiletries, and money for people affected by Hurricane Florence, which "speaks volumes of the neighborhood," Tricia said. Flo told WLS-TV it was important for her to give back because "it's right to do, to help people."

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WLS-TV

3. Nepal has nearly doubled its tiger population in less than a decade

Thanks to sustained and successful conservation efforts, Nepal is on track to hit its goal of doubling the country's tiger population by 2022. A recent tiger survey found that there are an estimated 235 tigers living in the wild in Nepal, up from 121 in 2009. In 2010, representatives from the 13 countries where tigers roam wild met in St. Petersburg for a summit, and agreed to try to double the world's tiger population within 12 years. It's believed that worldwide, there are only 3,900 tigers in the wild. The main threats tigers face are poaching and a loss of habitat, and Nepal has increased its anti-poaching efforts and policing at national parks. Bishwa Nath Oli, secretary of Nepal's ministry of forests and environment, said that "protecting tigers is a top priority of the government."

The Independent

4. World War II vet with a sweet tooth hands out chocolate bars around Iowa town

They don't call Bob Williams of Long Grove, Iowa, the "Candy Man" for nothing. Every day, the 94-year-old retired high school teacher and World War II veteran passes out Hershey's chocolate bars to people he meets around town. He got the idea 15 years ago, after reading in the newspaper about random acts of kindness and paying it forward. He has always eaten half a chocolate bar every day, and started buying a few extra to hand out to people he comes across. Over the last 15 years, Williams has given out more than 6,000 candy bars. "You'd think I'd given them keys to a new car," he told the Des Moines Register. "Honest to God, these people were thunderstruck." To make sure he always has enough chocolate, Williams keeps his fridge stocked and buys two cases of Hershey's every week.

The Des Moines Register

5. Wisconsin man spends every day napping with cats at local rescue

As Terry Lauerman can attest, there's no better place to enjoy a cat nap than at an animal rescue. Lauerman, 75, visits the Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary in Green Bay, Wisconsin, every day. The shelter's founder, Elizabeth Feldhausen, told HuffPost that Lauerman walked into the facility about six months ago, armed with a cat brush, and said he wanted to help with grooming. Safe Haven rescues cats with disabilities that otherwise would likely be euthanized, and Lauerman spends about three hours a day there. During each visit, Lauerman will pick up a cat, start brushing it, and then doze off, still holding the feline. Lauerman will sleep "for about an hour, then he'll wake up and switch cats," Feldhausen said. He knows all the cats, she said, and told her volunteering is "as great of an experience for him as it is for them."

HuffPost