Lamar County News

It was a typical Fourth of July cookout at the Hattiesburg Jaycees Hut early Saturday afternoon, with the standard holiday fare: hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad.

American Staff Writer tdoherty@hattiesburgamerican.com PURVIS - Three new sites for new fire stations.

Each year for the past 13 years, the Lamar County School District had asked for a 4 percent increase in ad valorem taxes.

Israel Torillo, 26, sat under a shade tree Tuesday outside Thalia Mara Hall. With empty plastic water bottles beside him, he briefly avoided the mid-day sun before returning to help others complete construction on the building's roof.

PURVIS - With new evacuation guidelines adopted for the current hurricane season, Lamar County has become one of the first isles of relief along the Interstate 59 corridor for those fleeing the Gulf Coast and New Orleans.

The public is invited to come by, check it out and learn how to get your own FCC radio license before the next disaster strikes.

Hot, dry conditions that continue to torment the Pine Belt forced officials in Forrest and Lamar counties to issue burn bans that take effect today.

The Southern Monster Truck Showdown will be at 6 p.m. June 26-27 and noon June 28 at the Lamar County Multipurpose Center in Purvis.

After 32 years as a teacher in Lamar County, Sue Traylor received an award she'd only seen others receive - teacher of the year.

AT&T has put its 'More bars in more places' slogan into action in Lamar County. The telecommunications giant is enhancing its wireless coverage with a new site in Sumrall that 'really boosts the signal so that you get the full bars up through there,' said Sue Sperry, spokeswoman for AT&T Mississippi.

A Hancock County Deputy died during an off duty motorcycle accident on Saturday.

From coast to coast, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined hands with friends and neighbors to clean up and serve their communities in a far-reaching day of service.

Officials at Camp Shelby said two cadets in Class 30 of the Youth Challenge Program who tested positive for swine flu Thursday were released to their parents Friday morning.

One man's loss is another man's gain, but in the case of state superintendent Hank Bounds' impending job switch, local officials hope that both the state's K-12 and higher education fields can profit from the change.

State Senator from Lamar County Joey Fillingane says this years battle over the state budget is unusual.

Hattiesburg residents have one last chance to voice their opinions and give insight on the city's next franchise agreement with Comcast of Southern Mississippi.

We note that voters in the Rankin County city of Flowood on Tuesday approved a measure that allows liquor to be sold by the glass.

Unofficial election results in Lumberton show Miriam Holder will be the next mayor of this Lamar County city.

PURVIS - James Smith got a nice surprise Friday afternoon, and in turn, Lamar County will be able to do additional tweaks to its emergency response system, courtesy of the federal government.

First-year superintendents Ben Burnett, Debbie Burt and Elizabeth Yankay have had a lot on their plates this year in Lamar and Forrest county schools.