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 its audit. No new findings...
CITY OF HATTIESBURG NEWS
Hattiesburg Police Department Opens Applications for Next Academy Recruit Class
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 academy and joined the ranks...
Coach Bobby Halford Named Grand Marshal for 2026 Parade of Champions
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 and universities during the 2025-2026...
City of Hattiesburg Dedicates Dr. Eddie Holloway Drive
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 40th Avenue to Golden Eagle...
Hattiesburg Fire Department Announces Leadership Appointments
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 emergency operations, leadership, and technical...
Major Upgrades Complete at Rebekah Stark Johnson Community Arts Center
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 ramp, new HVAC for the...
Mardi Gras Season Returns to Hattiesburg with Parades, Parties and Community Celebrations
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 unity and cultural richness. Each...
Infrastructure Improvements to Begin in Unified and Irene Chapel Neighborhoods
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 the Unified Neighborhood, as well...
Assistant Chief Chris Carr Named Chief of the Hattiesburg Fire Department
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 part of the leadership team...
Hattiesburg Fire Chief Sherrocko Stewart Announces Retirement After Transformational Tenure
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 was reappointed in 2021 and...
City of Hattiesburg Earns Seventh Consecutive Perfect Score for Drinking Water System
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – The City of Hattiesburg has earned a perfect score on the Mississippi State Department of Health’s (MSDH) annual inspection of its drinking water system for the seventh consecutive year, this time under a newly updated scoring system. This year, MSDH shifted from a 5-point scale to a more detailed 100-point evaluation, providing a fuller picture of operational...
City of Hattiesburg and The University of Southern Mississippi Announce Expanded Employee Education Partnership
Hattiesburg, Mississippi — On Monday, December 1, the City of Hattiesburg and The University of Southern Mississippi announced an expanded employee education program that will broaden educational opportunities for all full-time city employees. The program, originally launched in 2018 for sworn personnel in the Hattiesburg Police and Fire departments, provided up to six undergraduate credit hours each semester for eligible...