cherringtonwdam

I'm a native of Hattiesburg and have been a reporter/photographer at WDAM for more than 30 years.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

It’s a big Municipal Election Day across Mississippi. In Hattiesburg, there several races to watch, including the one for mayor and three council seats.

Incumbent mayor Toby Barker is running against LaKeylah White.

And races in wards 1, 3 and 4 are also taking place.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

The Hattiesburg Zoo was packed with visitors Saturday as an expanded Africa exhibit was officially opened.

“Experience Africa” now has seven new buildings and six new animal exhibits, including a hyena, Colobus monkeys and two giraffes, named Sue Ellen and Alberta.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

Two companies have submitted bids to operate the new jail kitchen at the Covington County Law Enforcement Complex.

Covington Co. Supervisors opened bids Friday from Tiger Correctional Services of Jonesboro, Arkansas and Summit Jail Food Service from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

Some photos from plane crash site on Annie Christie Drive

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

Qualified students at Laurel High School will soon be able to get their high school diploma and a two-year college degree at the same time.

It’s all part of new Middle College Program involving Laurel High School and Jones College.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

The Hattiesburg Zoo has announced the grand opening/ribbon-cutting of the expanded Africa exhibit, featuring new giraffe and hyena will be May 15 at 11:45.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

Covington Co. supervisors are seeking a company to operate the jail kitchen at the county law enforcement complex.

They are advertising for bids over the next two weeks.

The full-service facility was built in 2020 and county officials hope it will be in operation by June 1.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

1,400 runners left downtown Hattiesburg and made their way through various parts of the Hub City Saturday for the annual Hattiesburg Half-Marathon.

The start time for the event was postponed from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. because of the stormy weather that came through overnight.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

Several streets in the city of Petal are about to be repaved.

The city has awarded Warren Paving the contract for nearly $400,000 to overlay Old Corinth Road and Hillcrest Loop, from E. Central Avenue to Old Corinth Road.

Three other streets will also have work done.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

The founders of the recently-established New Hope Animal Rescue are opening a new thrift store in downtown Petal.

Opening day is Thursday, April 8, at 304 E. Central Avenue.

Hours for the store, which will be called the New Hope Chest, will be Thurs.-Sat., from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

The members of Hattiesburg’s VFW Post 3036 and its honor society called the Military Order of the Cootie have renewed a monthly tradition that was suspended a year ago because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Friday, the VFW hosted a “Good Friday Fish Fry.”

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

The College of Osteopathic Medicine at William Carey University has received top rankings from US News and World Report for its efforts to place graduates into rural and underserved areas and primary care.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

The congregation of Venture Church is making a special effort to feed hungry people this Easter holiday.

Members at the Hunt Club and Lincoln Rd. campuses have collected more than 500 grocery bags of non-perishable food for the food pantry at Edwards Street Fellowship Center.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

A reception Saturday afternoon in Columbia will officially open the “Crossroads” exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution and will also show off a newly-expanded museum.

It takes place from 4-6 p.m. at the Marion County Museum & Archives in downtown Columbia.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

Covington County Hospital has opened a temporary drive-thru clinic where people can get COVID-19 vaccines without needing an appointment.

It’s located in the hospital’s Express Care Building next to the Collins Civic Center.

It will be open from Thurs.-Sunday of this week.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

The 4 candidates running for mayor of Petal took part in a forum Tuesday night at the Petal Civic Center. It was hosted by the Petal Area Chamber of Commerce. They answered questions about traffic issues, downtown revitalization and goals for their first 90 days in office.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

Work at the Blackwell Memorial Library to improve access for people with disabilities has been finished.

The library closed for about 6 months while renovations were done.

Work included installation of new automatic doors, as well as improvements to restrooms and parking.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

Irish eyes are smiling on a new, temporary exhibit in Hattiesburg that focuses on the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday.

It’s in the storefront of the former Kress Department Store on Main Street.

It’s a collaboration between the H’burg Downtown Assn. and USM Archives.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

Students at USM will soon have a new place to go on campus to get free clothes that can be used for job or internship interviews.

Seymour’s Career Closet will offer used men’s and women’s business-style clothing. It opens next month by appointment only in Bolton Hall.

[cherringtonwdam @cherringtonwdam]

Photos of Mississippi civil rights leaders, political posters and artifacts from famed Hattiesburg washerwoman-turned-philanthropist Oseola McCarty are on display this week in the store front of the old Kress store in downtown Hattiesburg.

The exhibit runs through Sunday..