CITY OF HATTIESBURG NEWS

August 5 – Daily Update

During today’s briefing with Mayor Toby Barker, he went over several reopening plans for our area schools, universities and colleges.   This information is as of TODAY, and could change. If you have specific questions, we encourage you to reach out directly to your school district for more information. Each website (with plans) can be found below.   Hattiesburg Public...

Hattiesburg Fire Department Secures Class Three Rating

Hattiesburg Fire Department Secures Class Three Rating

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Thursday, July 30, Mayor Toby Barker and the Hattiesburg Fire Department announced its upgraded fire rating, from a Class 4 to a Class 3.  On February 3, 1998, the City of Hattiesburg and Hattiesburg Fire Department received a Class 4 fire rating from the Mississippi State Ratings Bureau. This rating has been maintained for 22 years,...

Hattiesburg Issues New Order to Slow the Spread of COVID-19 Through Gatherings/Crowds

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Wednesday, July 29, Mayor Toby Barker issued new limitations for restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and dance halls through Executive Order 2020-14 in hopes to alleviate the spike of COVID-19 cases throughout Forrest and Lamar Counties.  “From the beginning, we’ve stated that our three goals in response to COVID-19 are to protect our vulnerable, prevent the overrun...

July 29 – Daily Update

Today’s update includes a link to Mayor Barker’s daily briefing, our local data and a new Executive Order to address late-night gatherings/crowds. Local Data Total tests: 37,709 Positive results: 4,176 Negative results: 32,145 Pending tests: 1,377 Hospital Data for Forrest General and Merit Health Wesley: Hospitalizations: 90 (with 15 pending test results) ICU Utilizations: 39 Total Positive Case Data Since...

Hattiesburg Business Leaders and Partners Launch Campaign for Hattiesburg to Mask Up

Hattiesburg Business Leaders and Partners Launch Campaign for Hattiesburg to Mask Up

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Monday morning, business and health care leaders – Bernard Green with GlobalGreen Insurance; Hoppy Cole with The First, A National Banking Association; Abb Payne with Payne Companies; Todd Jackson with The ADP; Traci Rouse with Merit Health Wesley and Dr. Rambod Rouhbakhsh with Forrest General and Hattiesburg Clinic – joined Mayor Toby Barker to launch a...

July 20 – Daily Update

Governor Reeves has extended his safe return order and added Forrest County to his mask order. The City of Hattiesburg’s Executive Order 2020-13 has also been signed to reflect those changes. Hospitalizations/ICU Between our two hospitals, there are 79 COVID-positive patients in the hospital, with 36 of them in ICU. There are 26 patients under investigation. New positive cases over...

July 17 – Daily Update

For today’s briefing with Mayor Barker, see video below. A few points he discusses can also be located below: Local Testing ▪️ Total tests: 31,118 ▪️ Positive tests: 3,156 ▪️ Negative tests: 26,303 ▪️ Pending: 1,611 Hospital Numbers (Forrest General/Merit Health Wesley) ▪️ Hospitalizations: 70, with 21 additional patients waiting results ▪️ ICU Utilizations: 31 Cumulative Case Totals ▪️ Forrest County: 1,162 ▪️ Lamar County: 702 ▪️ Metro Area:...

Council Votes to Name Dewitt Sullivan Park Pavilion After Local Citizen

Council Votes to Name Dewitt Sullivan Park Pavilion After Local Citizen

Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Tuesday, June 30 at a special-called council meeting to receive the 2019 audit, the Hattiesburg City Council also voted unanimously adopted a resolution to name the pavilion at Dewitt Sullivan Park in Palmers Crossing after Mr. Frankie L Benton, Sr. in honor of his commitment to the City of Hattiesburg and the progress of the Palmer’s...

Hattiesburg City Council Receives 2019 Fiscal Year Audit

At a special-called City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 30, the City of Hattiesburg received its 2019 Fiscal Year Audit, completed by Topp, McWhorter, Harvey, PLLC. The Council voted unanimously to receive the audit as-is. Links to the findings letter and the audit report can be accessed below: City of Hattiesburg – FY 2019 Audit Report FY 2019 Audit Communication...

June 29 – Daily Update

Today’s update includes the latest data for Forrest and Lamar Counties, information regarding the Safe Return order that Governor Reeves extended and the extension of masks for the City of Hattiesburg through Exec. Order 2020-11. Local Data Through June 29 Testing Totals ▪️Total tests: 22,417 ▪️Positive tests: 2,050 ▪️Negative tests: 19,660 ▪️Pending: 708 Total Hospitalizations (between Forrest General and Merit...

June 17 – Daily Update

Today’s update includes a link to Mayor Barker’s daily briefing, a quick look at numbers for the Hattiesburg Metro area and a note about an employee who has tested positive for COVID-19. Local Data Positive Cases Forrest County: 697 Lamar County: 300 Metro Area: 997 Hospital Numbers for Forrest General and Merit Health Wesley Hospitalizations: 42 ICU Admissions: 19 Employee...

June 11 – Daily Update

Today’s update includes a few notes about the Back to Business MS Grant Program and another mask distribution opportunity. Back to Business MS This is a $240M grant program that was established to help small businesses in Mississippi with 50 or fewer employees recover from the economic impact of COVID-19, including operating expenses and salaries. A few key dates to...