Hattiesburg, Mississippi — On Friday, June 26, the Hattiesburg City Council held a special meeting to review the Fiscal Year 2025 audit by Topp, McWhorter, Harvey, PLLC. The council approved the audit with a unanimous vote. Highlights from the audit include: The City received an unmodified opinion, the best opinion an agency can receive for...
Hattiesburg, Mississippi — Mayor Toby Barker, joined by Police Chief Hardy Sims and Hattiesburg Police Department personnel, announced Thursday, June 25, that applications are now open for the department’s next police academy recruit class. The announcement follows the graduation of Police Academy Class 45 on June 22, when 13 new officers completed the department’s 17-week...
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Thursday, April 23, 2026, Mayor Toby Barker announced that Bobby Halford, longtime head baseball coach at William Carey University, will serve as the Grand Marshal for this year’s Parade of Champions. Scheduled for Monday, May 4, the parade honors the academic, athletic and extracurricular achievements of students from across Hattiesburg’s schools...
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – Mayor Toby Barker, University of Southern Mississippi officials and community members gathered Monday morning to celebrate the dedication of Dr. Eddie Holloway Drive, honoring a lifetime of leadership and service by Dr. Eddie Holloway. The ceremony was held at The University of Southern Mississippi, where the newly named roadway spans from North...
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – Hattiesburg Fire Chief Chris Carr has announced two leadership appointments within the Hattiesburg Fire Department. Captain Kerry Hardges has been appointed Interim Assistant Chief. Hardges has nearly 14 years of fire service experience and has served as a captain for the past two and a half years, bringing a strong background in...
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – A series of upgrades at the Rebekah Stark Johnson Community Arts Center are now complete, thanks to a $300,000 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Building Fund for the Arts program. The completed improvements include a new clay studio for pottery and handbuilding, a new kiln and storage room, a new ADA-accessible...
Hattiesburg, Mississippi — The 2026 Mardi Gras season in Hattiesburg was officially announced today, January 15, during a press conference with Mayor Toby Barker, highlighting a full calendar of events that celebrate the city’s culture, creativity and community spirit. Mardi Gras in Hattiesburg is more than just a celebration; it’s a reflection of the community’s...
Hattiesburg, Mississippi — The City of Hattiesburg is beginning construction on a major infrastructure and drainage improvement project in the Unified and Irene Chapel neighborhoods to address long-standing drainage issues, upgrade aging utilities and improve safety and accessibility. The project includes improvements along Magnolia Avenue near Cherry Street, Cedar Street and William Carey Parkway in...
Hattiesburg, Mississippi — Mayor Toby Barker announced Monday, Jan. 5, the appointment of Chris Carr as chief of the Hattiesburg Fire Department, succeeding Chief Sherrocko Stewart, who retired Dec. 31, 2025. “Chris Carr brings deep experience, strong operational knowledge and a proven commitment to training and professional development,” Barker said. “He has been a key...
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – Hattiesburg Fire Chief Sherrocko Stewart will retire effective Dec. 31, 2025, concluding a distinguished career in fire service and nearly eight years of leadership with the Hattiesburg Fire Department. Stewart was first appointed fire chief in 2018 following a unanimous vote of the Hattiesburg City Council approving Mayor Toby Barker’s nomination. He...
