🌱 Silver Alert Issued For Lamar Co. Teen + Raise For HPD And Others

Good morning, hello. I'm back with your fresh copy of the Hattiesburg Patch newsletter. Let's get this Thursday started off right, with a quick dive into everything you need to know about what's going on around town.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: A morning thunderstorm or two. High: 92 Low: 71.
• Friday: Humid with heavy t-storms. High: 92 Low: 71.

Here are the top three stories today in Hattiesburg:

1. Authorities have issued a Silver Alert for Alyssa Long, an 18-year-old from nearby Lumberton. She was last seen on Jun. 4 in the 5600 block of Highway 13, walking in an unknown direction. Long, who has a medical condition affecting her judgment, is described as a white female with brown hair, blue eyes, and was wearing a dark gray T-shirt, blue jeans, and leopard print shoes. If anyone has information about her location, they are urged to contact the Lamar County Sheriff's Department at (601) 794-8610. (Vicksburg News)
2. In case you missed it, the Hattiesburg City Council unanimously approved a budget amendment to provide a mid-year raise to sworn officers in the Hattiesburg Police Department and equipment operators/drivers in the sanitation division of Public Works. The amendment includes increased starting pay for patrol officers, adjusted pay scales for various ranks, and additional raises for professional development benchmarks. These increases aim to attract and retain quality professionals in both law enforcement and sanitation. The budget amendment is projected to be sustainable based on sales-tax revenue projections, and the raises will take effect in July. (City of Hattiesburg)
3. Early Sunday morning, a shooting at a park in nearby Lumberton resulted in the death of one person. The incident occurred at the intersection of Kings Avenue and Oak Street around 1:50 a.m. on Jun. 11. The deceased individual, identified as Tramel Javon Holder, aged 37, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Currently, no arrests or suspects have been publicly announced. (WDAM 7 News)

Interested in reaching our local readers with targeted messaging that drives traffic to your business? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Today and tomorrow in Hattiesburg:

Thursday, June 15

• Low-Impact Aerobics At Lt. Ben Mcnair Recreation Center (9:30 AM)

Friday, June 16

• Tacos And Tequila At Hattiesburg Zoo (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Check out the new mural, "Noche de Encanto" located at the corner of North Main and 7th streets. This is the newest addition to the Public Art Trail, which includes numerous other murals. You can learn more about the trail here. (City of Hattiesburg-Government via Facebook)
• Popsicles in the Park will take place on Wednesday, Jun. 21 at Robertson Place. This is a chance for local youth to interact with the Hattiesburg Police Department while playing games and, of course, enjoying a popsicle! (City of Hattiesburg-Government via Facebook)
• REMINDER: The Hattiesburg Farmers Market will take place today (Jun. 15) from 3:00 -6:00 p.m. at Town Square Park. The market will take place each Thursday until September. (Hattiesburg Farmers Market)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all soon for another update!

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.