On Saturday, October 5 join Laurel Main Street for the 2019 Loblolly Festival event in Downtown Laurel to celebrate Laurel’s heritage as a sawmill town. There is no entrance fee, and the festival fills the streets of Downtown Laurel from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

 Talented R&B singer,Tucka will be performing live at Pearl River Resort. The Louisiana native will take the stage on Saturday, October 5 at 8:00 p.m. in the Silver Star Convention Center. Tickets are on sale now and range from $15 - $30.  

The Hattiesburg City Council unanimously approved its fiscal year 2020 budget during a special meeting on Thursday, Sept. 12. However, one member expressed disappointment over what she said were salary inequities.

Bryd Colin Rae, Drug court violation

Anna K. Donald of Jones County has been named a National Merit semifinalist. Initiated in 1955, the National Merit Scholarship Program is a prestigious honor designed to recognize high achieving students and to offer a sizable number of scholarships.

UPDATE: A third suspect is now wanted in the fatal shooting that occurred about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, in the 1100 block of North 25th Avenue.

Two Laurel residents, Tay Baucum and Deidra Baucum, will apparently have their day in court against Petro Harvester Oil & Gas Co., LLC, and several other oilfield companies after approximately five years of wrestling to get their case out of the jurisdiction of the Mississippi State Oil …

Retired Maj. Gen. Jeff Hammond remembers vividly on Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorists forced four airliners into buildings and killed 2,996 Americans in New York City, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon.

The Pine Belt Lions Club, based in Hattiesburg, has a close relationship with a Michigan service that provides leader dogs to individuals with impaired eyesight. The Michigan-to-Mississippi connection has proven to be beneficial for both groups.

Jones County – Republican Senator Michael Watson, a candidate for the office of Mississippi Secretary of State, stopped by to speak to the Jones County Republican Women Wednesday, September 11 during their monthly meeting.  Watson will face Democratic candidate Johnny Dupree in November.

Berry Ronald Demario, Poss. of C/S, assault, aggravated

A Covington County woman who said a neighbor saved her from being mauled by a group of dogs asked the Board of Supervisors for help in being safe around her home.

The sound of wheels squealing and metal crashing could be heard and the song, “I Can’t Drive 55,” played overhead in the banquet room of the Sanderson Farms Corporate Office Thursday morning, September 5, when United Way of the Pine Belt Region Executive Director Rhonda Gilbert, dressed in r…

Hattiesburg Police are investigating the death of a man discovered in his apartment in the 1100 block of North 25th Avenue.

A Seminary man who recruited another local resident to burn a cross to frighten and intimidate black residents in their small town was sentenced Tuesday to serve 11 years on federal charges.

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Wednesday, September 11, the City of Hattiesburg will host its annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at 8:40 a.m. It will take place at Hattiesburg Fire Station #1 (810 North Main Street), and will include the national anthem performed by violinist John Eze Uzodinma II …

The Hattiesburg City Council received the second draft of the city’s proposed animal control ordinance after the American Kennel Club issued an alert less than a week before the ordinance was to be presented.

The demand for more activities and events inside the Hattiesburg Zoo is going to lead to a Kamper Park and splash pad expansion according to Hattiesburg Convention Commission Director Rick Taylor.

(Jones County) The severe weather that moved through the area Monday afternoon, September 9, led to numerous calls for service for the county's volunteer fire departments. Almost every volunteer fire department in Jones County responded to at least one of numerous calls for power lines and t…

Kiwanis Club of Laurel members heard an interesting and educational presentation on the operations of Dixie Electric Power Association and the history of the company at a recent meeting at the Laurel Country Club. Randy Smith, Dixie EPA general manager, discussed the Dixie EPA service areas …

Sports participation has become a significant part of our youth’s adolescent years and for some it continues into their adult years.  

Dr. Jeff Arrington, Pacific West District superintendent, is pleased to announce the selection of Tiffiney Weddle, principal at Humphreys Middle School, as “Principal of the Year” for South East Asia, including the country of Korea, where the Weddles reside. This coveted award is from the Un…

UPDATE (September 9, 2019):

Laurel Police Department officers arrested Devante Malik Boyd (22 years of age) earlier today in connection with an alleged crime that took place over two weeks ago. Boyd stands charged with one count of aggravated assault and one count of attempted armed robbery. Boyd will have his initial …

A six-and-a-half year old charge was thrown out of Circuit Court Thursday in Jones County when the defendant’s lawyer, Leslie Roussell, revealed to Judge Dal Williamson that his client didn’t even know she had a charge against her until she tried to go on a cruise.

Firefighters with M & M, Glade and Powers volunteer fire departments had an early morning on Friday when a structure fire involving a single family brick home was reported shortly after 1:00 a.m. at 70 Shamrock Drive in the Dixie Hills subdivision.  

On Saturday, August 31 at approximately 10:30 a.m., Laurel Police Department officers responded to a “shots fired” call in the area of Masonite Drive and Elm Street. Witnesses reported that a male victim had been allegedly shot and forced into a vehicle. The victim was later released in Hatt…

Back in the spring of this year on April 26, the Laurel Police Department received a report of a credit card fraud where it was alleged that the suspect used a stolen credit card at several local businesses.

For the 16th consecutive year, the millage rate in Lamar County will remain the same after the Board of Supervisors approved the fiscal 2020 budget at its meeting on Tuesday morning.

A collision on Highway 84 east delayed commuters Wednesday morning just after 8:00 a.m. Debris from the two car collision with rollover littered the right lane of westbound 84 just east of Magnolia Road.  The Cadillac involved in the rollover had stalled on the highway and was nearly stopped…

Several Jones County volunteer fire departments responded to a structure fire at 289 New Zion Road last night about 8:30 p.m.  Residents of the two story home were upstairs when smoke began filling the home.  Upon arrival of the first fire apparatus, firefighters quickly contained and exting…

The Laurel City Council has approved an ordinance this month that will increase the rental fees for city facilities being used for 12 or more hours.

A 28-year-old rape suspect who had been eluding Lamar County law enforcement officials for the past six months is now sitting in the Forrest County Jail.

The Jones County Board of Supervisors adopted a $50 million budget on Tuesday for the next fiscal year, which will begin October 1. Of the total amount, $29.9 million will be appropriated for county operations and funds, while $20.7 million is allocated for school purposes, including the Jon…

Glade, M & M and Powers volunteer fire departments responded to 201 Township Road in the Glade community for a structure fire about 9:15 Tuesday morning, September 3.

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart says it will stop selling handgun and short-barrel rifle ammunition, while requesting that customers not openly carry firearms in its stores, even where state laws allow it.

Covington County Sheriff’s Department officials are continuing to look for help and search out information in the shooting death of a 66-year-old man who lived alone near Hot Coffee.

A 37-year-old Texas man accused of shooting at Covington County deputies and stealing a patrol car on Thursday, Aug. 30, has been arrested and charged with the murder of a Mount Olive woman.

A heated dispute over a parking space in Hattiesburg sent one man to the hospital with a gunshot wound during the Labor Day weekend. Hattiesburg police officials are looking for the person who fired the shot.

Two people who were killed in a head-on collision late Friday, Aug. 30, in Hattiesburg’s Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop J district were the only traffic fatalities reported in the state during the Labor Day Holiday weekend from Friday, Aug. 30-Monday, Sept. 2.

For Ray Purser of Mount Olive, the Lord works in mysterious ways.

Jones County - It was a rough drive home for commuters on I-59 northbound yesterday evening.  Shortly before 5:00 p.m. the driver of a Toyota Corolla lost control of his vehicle at the 78-mile marker and was t-boned.  While there were no injuries in the incident, the left lane of I-59 northb…

Two individuals tragically lost their lives Friday, August 30, in a two-vehicle accident near the Jones-Perry county line.  

The Lamar County Board of Supervisors hopes to start improving county roads by issuing no more than $7 million in bonds.

State Attorney General Jim Hood, the Democratic candidate for governor, said Thursday in Hattiesburg the recent Republican runoff between Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and former state Chief Justice Bill Waller showed Mississippians believe it’s time for a change in government.

“Martha grew up in Laurel from the time she was four years old and thought she knew all there was to know about her home town, until she realized that she actually didn’t. It was when she discovered that Laurel had once had a resort lake and park that she began to research what else might ha…