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3 months 1 week ago
Everyone who follows football in the area likely assumed this season would be a transition year for Hattiesburg after legendary head coach Tony Vance announced his retirement last year.
Vance finished his career with a 157-64 coaching record, and Hattiesburg was also losing star quarterback Deuce Vance.
In February, Hattiesburg High School announced it would hire Kendall Lacey as the school’s next head coach, bringing him over from Valdosta High School in Georgia.
Most around the area believed it would certainly be a rebuilding year — everyone except Lacey.
By DIMA MIXON on
3 months 1 week ago
When debates about the birthplace of rock and roll surface, Hattiesburg is rarely part of the conversation. The omission is familiar, and it’s telling. We tend to remember where music was packaged and sold, not always where it was created.
By Cathy Eaker on
3 months 1 week ago
Photo by Russ Cloy, © 2025 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
It was a terrible shooting night for Southern Miss on Thursday. Not to mention losing their leading scorer, the Golden Eagles shot just 31% from the floor. It spent much of Thursday’s contest just trying to find any way to score the basketball and holding off upset minded Louisiana.
Still, the Golden Eagles found a way.
Relying on defense, rebounding and a late free-throw surge, Southern Miss held off the Cajuns for a 62-54 win at Reed Green Coliseum, opening Sun Belt Conference play with a gritty victory.
By DIMA MIXON on
3 months 1 week ago
Photo by Russ Cloy, © 2025 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
It was a game of runs, and the Lady Eagles had the final say with a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull away from South Alabama and open Sun Belt Conference play with a 84-65 win.
“To start 1-0 in conference play is what matters,” Southern Miss coach Missy Bilderback said. “This is what the nonconference is for — to get us ready for Sun Belt play. I thought South Alabama has a great team.”
The Lady Eagles (8-4, 1-0 Sun Belt) were fueled by a big night from Jakayla Johnson, who scored 20 points while shooting 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.
By DIMA MIXON on
3 months 1 week ago
As a confessed, out of the closet bibliophile, I could tell you some interesting stories about my life with books. For example, I found a sailor’s dead body in the ship’s library one morning. Apparently, it was a drug deal gone bad.
By Benny Hornsby on
3 months 1 week ago
Photo by Amanda D. Lee, © 2025 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Hattiesburg Police Department, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and concerned citizens gathered at the scene following Friday afternoon’s accident.
, To clarify any confusion sparked by an AI-generated image that circulated on social media, the tree stands in the roundabout with no brick retaining wall.
The Christmas tree in the roundabout on Hardy Street and Adeline was struck Friday afternoon for the second time since the tree’s first appearance in 2023. Thankfully, the Texas driver suffered no injuries, and the Christmas tree’s damage was limited to the bottom tiers.
Hattiesburg Police Department closed all roads leading to the roundabout to extract the vehicle and for repairs to be made to the tree. Hattiesburg’s Parks and Recreation Department was able to lift the tree, remove the damaged tiers and set the tree back down, keeping the Hub City tradition intact.
By Amanda D. Lee - Reporter on
3 months 1 week ago
Jail dockets for Forrest and Lamar counties are provided to the Pine Belt News as a public records service. Arrest records are current for the week prior to publication.
Hattiesburg Police:
Meredith Austin, Jr.- disturbing the peace
Charles Broady Baughtman- DUI (first offense), disregard for traffic control device
Derek Brown- domestic violence (simple assault)
Christopher Bryant- trespassing, probation violation
Justin Forrest Burton- public drunk, willful and malicious trespassing
Christopher Clark- disorderly conduct (interfering with a business/customers), trespassing upon the enclosed land of another
By Staff reports on
3 months 2 weeks ago
Photo by Dima Mixon, © 2025 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
As I stood inside the Trent Lott Center during Blake Anderson’s introductory press conference Monday, it was hard not to think about where we had all been exactly one year earlier — standing in the same building for Charles Huff’s introduction.
In just one year, Southern Miss found itself back in a familiar position, introducing a new head football coach and attempting to steady the program once again.
Athletic director Jeremy McClain even acknowledged the quick turnaround in his opening remarks.
By DIMA MIXON on
3 months 2 weeks ago
As beloved jam band, moe. wraps up a milestone year celebrating their 35th anniversary, they have announced the Born To Fly Tour – 2026, which is coming to Hattiesburg’s Historic Saenger Theater May 15th.
By Staff Report on
3 months 2 weeks ago
The University of Southern Mississippi’s story in 2025 was one of ambition, innovation and impact—a year in which the university advanced its mission of inspired teaching, collaborative research, creative activity, service to society and producing graduates who are Ready for Life. Across our campuses and communities, students, faculty, staff and supporters shaped a year defined by excellence—from national recognition and groundbreaking research to inspiring student accomplishments and transformative partnerships.
By Jennifer Rigney on
3 months 2 weeks ago
Photo by Dima Mixon, © 2025 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Southern Miss Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain was driving home from work when he reached a conclusion that would shape the immediate future of Southern Miss football: Blake Anderson was the right choice to lead the program.
It was an agonizing wait for Blake Anderson, who, as soon as first-year head coach Charles Huff announced he was leaving for Memphis, called McClain to voice his interest in the job.
“You’re going to have to wait,” McClain told him.
By DIMA MIXON on
3 months 2 weeks ago
Folk music is an entity based on tradition. With that tradition, there is a purity in holding the songs in their best possible state to transcend generations. However, the process of preservation (or even memory) is subject to the influences and inspirations of the player. Travelling from place to place, songcatchers like Lead Belly could collect at least 500 songs.
By Mik Davis on
3 months 2 weeks ago
Photo by Dima Mixon, © 2025 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Southern Miss has its next leader.
Blake Anderson was named the next Southern Miss head football coach on Thursday afternoon. Anderson, Southern Miss’ offensive coordinator under Charles Huff in 2025, was named the interim head coach following Huff’s departure to Memphis.
After just a five-day search, Southern Miss athletic director Jeremy McClain named Anderson the full-time head coach.
By DIMA MIXON on
3 months 2 weeks ago
Jail dockets for Forrest and Lamar counties are provided to the Pine Belt News as a public records service. Arrest records are current for the week prior to publication.
Hattiesburg Police:
Breyen Kamere Anderson Warric- possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm
Ahmad Arrington- possession, sale, etc. of a stolen firearm, foreign warrant (fugitive)
Lyric Bolton- contempt of court, resisting arrest
By Staff reports on
3 months 2 weeks ago
Photo by Amanda D. Lee, © 2025 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Eyrthbeat Coffee Company, downtown Hattiesburg’s newest addition, brings a fun, artistic, modern twist to the traditional coffee shop. Complete with local art, board games, company merchandise, ice cream, pastries and options to satisfy every variation of coffee-drinker, Eyrthbeat is everything one could need in a coffee shop with an added twist- drums.
By Amanda D. Lee - Reporter on
3 months 3 weeks ago
Forrest General Hospital has been named Best Hospital in the Mississippi Business Journal’s inaugural Best of the Best 2025. Voting occurred via the publication’s website and social media during a recent one-month period with people from across the state casting votes in 47 categories.
By Staff Report on
3 months 3 weeks ago
Photo by Dima Mixon, © 2025 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
The news hit fast.
Within a matter of hours, the Southern Miss football staff went from rumors to reality when Charles Huff announced his decision to leave the program and head to Memphis after just one season leading the school.
What followed just as quickly was an immediate, unified response inside the locker room: The Golden Eagles were still playing their bowl game — and they were playing to win it.
By DIMA MIXON on
3 months 3 weeks ago
BRANDON — Petal begins region play with a key road win.
Behind the play of Jayden Lee along with Eli Causey the Panthers were able to outlast Brandon 57-54 in overtime in the Region 3-7A opener on Tuesday night.
By Brandon Shields on
