Many happy motorists traveling through downtown Hattiesburg might be singing "Train Go Away" as they travel the Hall Avenue overpasses and enjoy a train-free journey The Hall Avenue East overpass will open Wednesday morning after a ribbon-cutting was held Tuesday afternoon which is expected to eliminate lengthy delays caused by stopped trains in the downtown area Plans to build overpasses over downtown Hattiesburg's railroad tracks were approved in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic put a halt to many projects because of a lack of supplies and workforce inflation and the rising cost of construction with Mayor Toby Barker and City Council members working to secure additional funding much of which came from use-tax revenue and federal grants State lawmakers also worked to make the project happen the Hall Avenue West project cost $24 million "A lot of people worked really hard to see this thing through," Barker said Barker said for more than a century, motorists and first responders have been caught by trains, forced to wait for long periods while the trains pass through town "We're glad that future generations will not have to live with it," Barker said The west overpass runs from West Pine Street near Hall Avenue over the railroad tracks and onto Hall Avenue The road will take travelers to a roundabout at the public safety complex The Hall Avenue East overpass opened in November who has been instrumental in helping the city bring the $15 million project to fruition who worked with the city to secure major grants to fund the overpasses Construction update: New Hall Avenue East overpass in downtown Hattiesburg will eliminate many traffic delays Barker said Mississippi's Fourth Congressional District Rep Mike Ezell helped push the project across the finish line by securing the last $3 million needed The congressman said he was proud to be able to help Hattiesburg since the city's leaders and residents work together to improve their city "What I see is people that are committed to their town How to get around: New Hall Avenue East overpass in downtown Hattiesburg will eliminate many traffic delays there are 22 rail crossings without alternate paths if they are blocked by trains Some neighborhoods were cut off from the rest of the city because of the stopped trains The overpasses will not only ease traffic problems but allow first responders to get to an emergency situation much more quickly HATTIESBURG — West Point’s ground game was too much for Gautier to handle The Green Wave won the MHSAA Class 5A state title 28-21 over Gautier Friday night at Southern Miss' M Roberts Stadium behind running back Shamane Clark West Point (11-3) won its 13th state title Louisville plays in the 4A title game Saturday who had 168 rushing yards with two touchdowns West Point's Brett Morgan won a state title in his first season as coach West Point finished with 265 rushing yards on 46 carries and four touchdowns Stream Mississippi HS football games live on NFHS Network Gautier's Kasin Thomas scored from a 5-yard rush with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter Gautier 14: Trey Irving to Kainen Rush for touchdownTrey Irving finds receiver Kainen Rush on a 46-yard score during a fourth down play with 1:25 remaining in the third quarter Shamane Clark scores his third touchdown after a 14-play drive with 4:04 remaining in the third quarter Gautier 7: Shamane Clark second rushing touchdownShamane Clark scores his second rushing touchdown from a 9-yard score with 4:54 remaining in the second quarter Shamane Clark gets his first touchdown of the night with a 1-yard touchdown following a Gautier fumble There's 5:58 remaining in the second quarter gives West Point its first touchdown of the game with 1:54 remaining in the first quarter On Gautier's first drive in a state title game Latrell Pogue rushes for an 11-yard touchdown with 10:03 remaining in the first quarter West Point vs Gautier historySeries: West Point and Gautier have never played each other Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_ We occasionally recommend interesting products and services If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently Home » Sports » West Point wins 13th state title behind Clark’s 3 touchdowns HATTIESBURG — West Point successfully defended its Class 5A crown with a 28-21 victory over Gautier in Hattiesburg on Friday the program’s 13th state title and first under new head coach Brett Morgan The Green Wave’s remarkable success over the past two decades has seen several teams lift trophies and the formula is simple: Run the damn ball “We believe in what we do,” Morgan said after the win “I think we have good schemes and I think running teams win in the playoffs If you look at the teams that have won here West Point’s ball carriers combined for 263 yards led by Shamane Clark’s 168 yards and three touchdowns to give the Green Wave (11-3) control Clark emerged this year as the primary ball carrier finishing the year with over 1,500 yards on the ground after the departure of 2023 stars Kahnen Daniels and Quinterion Tillman-Evans The whole team was locked in on “12-6,” the date of the championship game and building on the legacy of the greats who came before them Clark wore that standard and expectation as a badge of honor and he’ll now have a ring to wear as well we were counted out,” He said after receiving the Player of the Game award The Green Wave had a slow start defensively and they looked set for a long night against the Gators Football Paul Irving led a quick drive to open the scoring in the first two minutes capped by a score from running back Latrell Pogue but that was their last taste of the end zone for the half The Green Wave answered thanks to a 69-yard run from Shamane Clark to set up a Quintin Thompson score and the defense proceeded to force a pair of turnovers on each of the next two drives Clark found the end zone twice in the second quarter as the Green Wave took full command of the game he’s been steady,” Morgan said of Clark’s performance The speedy but diminutive ball carrier had the hot hand and West Point kept feeding him throughout Another defensive stop before the half was followed by a 14-play 71-yard drive that took 7:51 off the clock to build a 28-7 lead for the Green Wave putting the Gators in a near-impossible spot for a comeback as Clark completed his hat-trick but good clock management and gritty defense from West Point kept the prolific challengers at bay long enough to ice the win and give Morgan his first Gatorade bath as head coach Even after nine straight title game appearances It’s expected of them but they love and embrace that in the team culture so much so that they didn’t skip a beat even after the retirement of the legendary Chris Chambless “We knew it wasn’t going to be different,” Clark said of the transition “Coach Morgan was the offensive coordinator and we believe in Coach Morgan Morgan himself embraced the moment in a way befitting of the program culture by already thinking about getting back to work next week and we’re not going to look at it,” He said back in the weight room and probably take up stuff on Monday Coach Welch might give them the day off on Monday G – Latrell Pogue 11 run (Eric Robinson kick) WP – Quintin Thompson 2 run (Jack Carter Taylor kick) G – Kainen Rush 46 pass from Paul Irving (Robinson kick) G – Kasin Thomas 5 run (Robinson kick) (662) 328-2424 cdispatch.com © 2025 – The Commerical Dispatch in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle but we need your help to continue our efforts Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community How to watch Mississippi high school playoff girls basketball: West Harrison vs 14Data SkriveWest Harrison High School will host Hattiesburg High School at 7 p.m How to watch Hattiesburg vs. West Harrison playoff high school girls basketballHattiesburg and West Harrison will take the court on Friday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. CT. Don't miss out on any of the action with NFHS Network The NFHS Network gives you access to live high school sports around the country Follow your favorite team and never miss a game Watch West Harrison vs. Hattiesburg on NFHS! All NFHS Network events are available to watch online at www.NFHSnetwork.com and through the NFHS Network Mobile Apps for iOS and Android and TV Apps for ROKU A new pizza place in Hattiesburg has a familiar name floor-to-ceiling windows an open kitchen and a traditional Italian brick-fire oven at Mercury Pizza you can actually see how it is done with the dough tossed before your eyes as the pizza master shapes the crust The open kitchen allows customers to see their pizza under construction from start to finish Mercury Pizza has been around for nearly nine years in West Hattiesburg at 6481 U.S who is known for his many culinary ventures in the Hub City including Southern Prohibition Brewing and Bakers Burgers Mercury Pizza is now in the capable hands of Jim Thompson another diverse restaurateur who last year reopened Villie's Subs The midtown location opened recently at 3805 West Fourth St The menu includes around two dozen specialty pizzas or you can choose your own sauce and toppings to make the pizza of your dreams There are a few salads and vegetarian options on the menu as well Mercury's Midtown location is open seven days a week The original restaurant is still open to serve customers in West Hattiesburg located in the west wing of a convenience store with a separate entrance and drive-thru window (order online before you pick up) The West Hattiesburg location is open 10:30 a.m Can you believe your eyes? Villie's Subs reopens in Hattiesburg 11 years after tornado Order online at mercurypizzaco.com Want to take a ride and see hundreds of exotic animals? How about hold a fennec fox or a lemur What about dine with a view of peacocks walking around and swans in a pond Well, you can do all those things and more at Little Creek Landing Safari Park The new park is located in West Hattiesburg and is home to hundreds of exotic animals It's an experience geared toward all ages and it's the product of a lifelong love of animals Joy Thurman Wallace said the seed for the park was planted long ago Her mother had a love of animals and shared it with Wallace's son Hummingbird migration: How to attract hundreds to your yard per day this fall "My mother had a love of animals," Wallace said Wallace said her mother's and son's business of buying selling and raising animals was known as The Critter Farm and it was the genesis of the safari park "Back then we did a little of everything," Thurman said "We did more domestics than exotics — more farm animal stuff back then." 'It was huge.' Mississippi man finds rare mammoth tusk, first in the state Mississippi safari park has more than 300 animals including some odditiesHowever "I always liked the unusual," Thurman said Thurman's collection grew to over 300 animals and the park offers the public an opportunity to experience them He even has a few endangered species he raises at the park "It helps the species survive," Thurman said 'I was amazed by it.' Rattlesnakes fighting captured on video in Mississippi Take a tour and have lunch or dinner at his safari parkGuests can tour the park with a guide while they ride on a wagon called a "people mover" pulled by a tractor The tour takes roughly 30 minutes and feed can be purchased to feed animals along the way There is also a self-guided walking tour of the property There is also a petting area as well as special hands-on experiences where guests can hold The park features a restaurant the serves a cafe-style lunch and fine dining dinners on Friday and Saturday nights Restaurant guests on Friday and Saturday nights receive a discount on the admission price to the park area if they want to take a tour "It's really geared toward everybody because we have things for young kids and adults," Thurman said Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHattiesburg West Seventh project brings both dust and hopeby Morgan Gill HATTIESBURG — After years of sewer backups residents along West Seventh Street in Hattiesburg are finally seeing progress In March, the city of Hattiesburg launched the West Seventh Street Rehabilitation Project to address long-standing infrastructure issues and improve the quality of life for those who live and travel through the area The project is part of a broader effort to modernize the city’s aging systems and reduce the burden on neighborhoods that have endured what residents like Marvin Travis call unsafe and unreliable conditions He described frequent flooding and backups that have affected his property and daily routine for years especially the water when it rained — it floods everything out here,” Travis said and since they've been working on this here water system toilets and bathtubs have been backing up." Travis said the construction has added new challenges He regularly washes his vehicles and sprays down his yard to control the dust from construction He said he’s eager for the work to wrap up He has lived in the area for more than a year and said he understands the need for improvement but questions the pace “It seems like it’s taking a long time because some days they’re not even here,” Johnson said Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker said the city has long received complaints about the condition of West Seventh Street particularly its poor drainage and recurring road damage He said he acknowledges the growing pains of such a major infrastructure overhaul you have to give it time to settle because if you don't you'll have this dip in the road that appears after a few months,” Barker said it's going to be a painful project in terms of just having to drive over some really bad roadway once we lay the sewer line.” Barker added that the city has already completed work on other parts of West Seventh Street and that this phase is another step in a long-term plan “If that water collects there for a day or two it's going to erode the roadway,” Barker explained “We've done other work along West Seventh — whether it's near campus or whether it's closer to (U.S.) 49 — with that sewer project this is kind of the next step in trying to sort of totally rehabilitate the roadway on West Seventh Street.” the project involves the replacement of aging pipelines improvements to drainage systems and enhancements to sidewalks for pedestrian safety — Completion date: Spring 2026 (weather permitting) which is one of the oldest roads in our city will (have) brand new infrastructure,” Barker said The project — which also includes work on Eupora, Montague and McLaurin streets — costs approximately $3.78 million. It’s funded primarily through the Mississippi Municipality and County Water Infrastructure grant and money Hattiesburg secured through the American Rescue Plan Act for infrastructure improvements across the city Crews are currently working around the West Seventh and Montague intersection Construction is scheduled to be completed by spring 2026 The West Seventh project is just one of many infrastructure upgrades happening across Hattiesburg Barker said the city is prioritizing progress across all neighborhoods and not just high-traffic areas “We have several projects going on right now –– around midtown “We have other (grant) projects that have been … bids have been accepted We're going to start those in the next few months.” Additional projects include: — Camp Street water and sewer: Currently under construction; temporary water outages and road closures are expected and roads may be covered in gravel during the process — North Avenues water and sewer: Awarded and scheduled to begin within the next few months Dogwood Drive and Corinne Street sewer: Sewer work is complete; paving on Dogwood Drive is scheduled next — Palmers Crossing and Irene Chapel neighborhoods water: Awaiting permit approval from railroad entities — Arcadia-Sunset neighborhood water: Water line installation is nearly complete; final steps include sod replacement and repairs to driveways and roads residents like Johnson are optimistic about the improvements “The construction is an improvement to the neighborhood fire hydrants will all improve the infrastructure of the neighborhood,” Johnson said Travis acknowledged the temporary hardships but said the improvements will be worth the wait “They had to shut everything off a couple of times The power company came by here; they had to cut the power off for about maybe a whole day … then maybe the next day but they got pretty much done with that,” Travis said “Your vehicles get covered up with dust all the time like I just was spraying down the yard with water to keep the dust down the only way you can do that is … you just have to deal with it so you can hope for it to get done as soon as possible,” he said city leaders said they remain focused on improving conditions across the Hub City — even when the progress is slow and messy we try to make sure that every neighborhood sees a little bit of progress every year whether it's something more invasive like water and sewer it's part of our commitment to make sure that a city that's 140 years old can still have state-of-the-art infrastructure,” Barker said This article first appeared on RHCJC and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License Want more WDAM 7 news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter In March, the city of Hattiesburg launched the West Seventh Street Rehabilitation Project to address long-standing infrastructure issues and improve the quality of life for those who live and travel through the area toilets and bathtubs have been backing up.\" The project — which also includes work on Eupora, Montague and McLaurin streets — costs approximately $3.78 million. It’s funded primarily through the Mississippi Municipality and County Water Infrastructure grant and money Hattiesburg secured through the American Rescue Plan Act for infrastructure improvements across the city The West Seventh project is just one of many infrastructure upgrades happening across Hattiesburg Additional projects include: This article first appeared on RHCJC and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License National Signing Day for 2025 is here. Mississippi high school football players have decided where they will continue their academic and playing careers as student-athletes, and signed with their respective schools on Wednesday Below are some top players around the state who have signed. Many athletes signed during the early signing day period in December If you have a player who has signed and is not included Mid-year junior college players have their own signing dates so National Signing Day has been celebrated for its exclusivity to high school players it was the only signing day for high school football seniors That created a drama-packed 24 hours filled with commitment flips because every player in the nation eyed that as the opening day of the signing period It changed with the addition of a December signing period in 2017 utilize the early date to lock in roster spots But it’s beneficial for some players to wait and recruits can enhance their options with the extra time after the season It's worth noting that the 2025 class is the first that doesn't have national letters of intent. In October 2024, the NCAA elected to eliminate those, which had been part of the signing process since 1964 Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHATTIESBURG (WDAM) - The City of Hattiesburg has big plans for the redevelopment of Broadway Drive a once bustling part of Hattiesburg that now remains mostly empty “It’s been a crucial corridor for a long time,” said City of Hattiesburg Senior Planner “It’s at a pivotal point where things can really take off and we want to make sure we’re going in the right direction with it.” the city created the “Right Down Broadway” planning process for redevelopment for the future “It’s an exciting study that we’re trying to capture some information about what direction do we as a city want to go with for the next steps for Broadway,” said Satcher This process will re-envision the Broadway Drive and West Pine Street Corridors as vibrant Leaders are using meetings and online surveys to get feedback and suggestions from residents Satcher feels this is an important aspect of any project “If you don’t involve the public in your planning process then you may come up with a product that no one likes or enjoys,” said Satcher “So we want to make sure that everyone has buy-in into this process and what we’re doing here.” Grin Coffee has resided on Broadway Drive since 2018 admits people thought they wouldn’t be able to stay long “We were discouraged to move here at one time,” says Teepell “We were told that if we moved there that our business would fold up and we decided to take the chance anyway.” “It seems like people have come up in droves “It’s not like something that hit and then went away We have felt it every day we were open that we have been simply amazed of the people that have showed up.” I think it’s exciting to think what we could do with Broadway Drive and what it could really become,” says Satcher To take the “Right Down Broadway” survey head here (WDAM) - A substation outage put almost 1,800 West Hattiesburgers in the dark for a couple hours Wednesday morning communications and member services at Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association said technicians immediately began working to restore power to affected customers The affected area included several miles along the U.S 98/Hardy Street corridor and adjacent streets in West Hattiesburg the traffic lights were out at the intersections of Weathersby Rd The Hattiesburg Police Department stationed officers to help direct traffic HATTIESBURG — Hattiesburg football coach Tony Vance told his team before Thursday night’s game that there would be two different ways they would wake up Friday morning Hattiesburg (7-3, 3-1 region) fell at home 37-7 to West Jones (10-0, 4-0) in a winner-take-all matchup with the regional title on the line “We’ll wake up in the morning and we’ll regret what could’ve been and what wasn’t,” Vance said We got a lot to learn from a 37-7 whopping at home.” KEVIN OATIS: Hattiesburg 4-star Kevin Oatis is one of Mississippi's top recruits. He's a chef, too WEEK 11 SCORES: Mississippi high school football scores for 2023 MHSAA Week 11 Hattiesburg finishes in second place in the region Region 3 is matched up with Region 4 to open the playoffs next week led by four-star defensive lineman and Ole Miss commit Jeffery Rush The other two playoff games from the region are Terry (6-4 The winner of Hattiesburg-Pascagoula will play the winner of Picayune-Forest Hill on Nov How it happenedWest Jones entered the night with a powerful defense that allowed only 29 points in nine games and had shut out its past three opponents highlighted by a blocked punt that set up West Jones deep in Hattiesburg territory and West Jones led 16-0 before Hattiesburg picked up a first down West Jones running back Caleb Holmes bolted for a 50-yard rushing touchdown on the very next play to push the lead to 23-0 entering the second quarter Hattiesburg responded with a drive that ate nearly half of the second quarter capped off by a 1-yard rushing touchdown from running back Tavares Wade But that was all the points Hattiesburg was able to muster “They did a great job up front,” Vance said of West Jones’ defense Hattiesburg was able to hold West Jones scoreless in the second and third quarters to keep it a two-possession game but two defensive penalties extended a West Jones drive in the fourth quarter Senior Rase Jones scored a rushing touchdown from two yards out to give West Jones a 30-7 lead with 8:46 remaining The loss snapped Hattiesburg's six-game winning streak “We’ve got a good football team,” Vance said “This score isn’t indicative of who we are and our team We’ll bounce back and expect to be ready to go next week.” Sam Sklar is the Southern Miss beat reporter for the Hattiesburg American Email him at ssklar@hattiesb.gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_ Super Bowl Sunday is just around the corner and some fans who aren't traveling to the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans are still trying to decide where to go to watch the game Returning champions the Kansas City Chiefs will try for a threepeat with back-to-back wins in Super Bowls LVIII and LVII this year taking on the Philadelphia Eagles It will be the seventh Super Bowl appearance for the Chiefs who have won four of the six championship games they've played in including a rematch with the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII Staying home? Super Bowl 2025 will not be on Nickelodeon this year: Where to watch the big game instead Football fans in the Hub City have plenty of options for watching the game We put together a list of five sports venues to watch the 59th NFL championship game live on TV and added a few places you might not think about: Mugshots Grill and BarLocated at 204 North 40th Ave. The flagship Mugshots restaurant offers around two dozen large-screen TVs for watching the game with the family or a group of friends Pop in for some appetizers or your favorite burger and a beer while you watch the game Sidelines is located in West Hattiesburg at 2763 Oak Grove Road The venue offers multiple TVs for viewing the game as well as pub fare and a full-service bar Try some of Sidelines' nachos or wings and maybe a po'boy or burger you can sit outside and watch the Super Bowl from a giant screen on the back deck or a big screen on the patio at The Keg there are plenty of areas to watch the game as well See the cute baby Clydesdale: There's a new star of Budweiser's iconic Super Bowl ads Ever since the venue opened in Hattiesburg has become one of the city's favorite hangouts for watching sporting events Perhaps it's the restaurant's ties to former Saints quarterback Drew Brees It could even be because of the food that fans will flock there for Sunday's game has been a Hattiesburg sports-viewing staple for years sandwiches and salads in addition to the wings as well as a full-service bar and plenty of TVs NFL: Super Bowl 59 will include 'more visible' law enforcement after New Orleans attack If you're looking for a place to hang out that might be a little more casual we've handpicked a few places that might fit the bill rewritten or redistributed without permission https://www.hubcityspokes.com/local-content/hattiesburg-counties-receive-75-million-hall-avenue-west-overpass-eagle-one-mega-site Click here for additional copyright information about this article Local news coverage is critical for a strong and vibrant community local publications are dying because of monopolistic Big Tech Over 30% of all newspapers are expected to close within the next three years Help support local news by making a donation today You would be supporting a local institution founded upon principles of integrity and strong editorial standards and have roots embedded in our local community Realtime Radar Hourly Forecast 7-Day Forecast Based on data from National Weather Service and OpenWeather If you are an existing Print subscriber click HERE for your login info you can also easily register or login with an existing Google If you are an existing Print subscriber click HERE for your login info you can also easily use an existing Google User Help/Support Page Copyright christina@hubcityspokes.com © Copyright 2025 HubCitySPOKES, 525 N. Main St.- Hattiesburg, MS 39401  | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy People in the Pine Belt have plenty of options to choose from when it comes thrift shopping From major outlets such as the Salvation Army to more local ones like Southern Pines’ Second Chance Thrift Shop these stores help people save money on retail goods the thrifting scene in the Hattiesburg area is expanding Southern Pines’ Second Chance Thrift Shop has been in business for more than 12 years benefitting the Southern Pines Animal Shelter Store director Rebecca Brown said the place was built after the board of directors decided they wanted to open a thrift store to help supplement income and create a nest egg for the organization “The number one reason I think people shop with Southern Pines Second Chance Thrift is to support our amazing organization and help give second chances to pets in need in our community,” Brown said people turn to thrift stores for clothes and other items “Times especially lately have been hard on everyone and it seems like the prices on everything goes up it’s really beneficial to them,” said assistant manager Elizabeth Shows Southern Pines and 360 Thrift Store in Oak Grove opened new locations in west and east Hattiesburg respectively The new locations not only represent a sign of growth for both businesses but they give customers new places to shop “It really didn’t take us long to get the west Hattiesburg location up and running It took several months to lock down a location after that it took about two weeks to get set up for opening,” Brown explained The thrift store industry has become increasingly profitable. A report published by IBISWorld states industry revenue grew to $14.2 billion by 2018 and has kept increasing since “I think a lot of people simply can’t afford to buy name brand products anyplace else and there’s a lot to be said for thrift stores because it really helps a lot of people,” said Lamar County resident David Broome William Lowery is a Hattiesburg-based freelance writer Hattiesburg Clinic has opened of its first dialysis facility in Lamar County “Like our other dialysis units throughout South Mississippi this new unit is serviced by a team of nephrologists dietitians and other specialized personnel who will work closely with each patient to implement individualized dialysis treatment and plan of care,” said Chief Dialysis Officer Tammy Gargis is to provide convenient access to dialysis services for Stage 5 kidney patients residing in Lamar County The facility is the clinic’s second dialysis unit in Hattiesburg and its 13th in South Mississippi "Hattiesburg Clinic has made a commitment to taking care of the community and those dealing with kidney disease in our area,” said Dr Hattiesburg Clinic nephrologist and medical director More than 661,000 Americans have kidney failure according to the National Kidney Foundation Hattiesburg Clinic treats approximately 900 dialysis patients across its 13 dialysis units in Mississippi Local officials say access to a dialysis facility in the Lamar County area is a major benefit to residents “It is always best when patients can receive care as near to their home as possible," said Sen and some patients require multiple weekly visits This clinic just adds another layer of convenience to an already cumbersome task of treatment for Lamar County residents." said he is encouraged to see Hattiesburg Clinic increase its physical footprint farther into Lamar County He said the new development would contribute to the area’s overall economy and quality of life “New employment opportunities and access to quality health care are both important components in maintaining a strong residents of Lamar County will directly benefit from both.” West Hattiesburg Dialysis Unit, 6855 Lincoln Road Extension, Suite 60, in Hattiesburg, is open from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and can be reached at (601) 261-3024. For more information about this facility or Hattiesburg Clinic’s other dialysis locations,  visit www.hattiesburgclinic.com/dialysis Voting precincts in Lamar County are divided by the supervisors' districts Find your polling place in the list below: Hattiesburg-area:What's on ballot for the Hattiesburg-area midterm election? Congressmen, judges, alcohol Hattiesburg Public School District Central Office Hardy Street Baptist Church Activity Center – The first time West Jones football played Terry this season nor a night cut short by inclement weather It was a legitimate 2-0 score with a safety in the second quarter and nothing else Friday night, when the teams met again in the second round of the MHSAA Class 6A state playoffs “It honestly motivated us that the score was 2-0 to play even better,” West Jones senior linebacker Rase Jones who scored a rushing touchdown in the third quarter MHSAA SCORES: Mississippi high school football scores: MHSAA playoffs quarterfinals scoreboard 2023 MAIS SCORES: MAIS football championship game scores for Mississippi high school playoffs 2023 West Jones’ undefeated season continues under first-year coach Cory Reynolds It also puts West Jones (12-0) in the South State Championship for the first time since 2020 That’s the last time West Jones won a state title West Jones will host Picayune (10-2) after it pounded Pascagoula 38-0 on Friday night That will be a rematch of last year’s second-round playoff matchup which Picayune won 28-17 on its path to winning the state championship The winner of West Jones-Picayune will face the North State champion between South Panola and Grenada “It’s gonna be a heck of a game next week,” Reynolds said REGION TITLE: Hattiesburg falls to West Jones in high school football region title game. Here’s what it means How it happenedWest Jones and Terry (7-5) played to a scoreless first quarter before West Jones freshman quarterback Kymaurtion “Tootie” Lindsey had an interception returned for a touchdown The pass went out to the flat and senior safety Michael Phillips jumped the route and returned it 47 yards for the TD West Jones responded on the back of sophomore running back Caleb Holmes who bolted for 50 yards on the next play from scrimmage before reaching the end zone three carries later it’s how you handle what happens to you,” Reynolds said “I heard that echoing on the sideline and I knew we were fine.” Lindsey ran for a 9-yard touchdown shortly before halftime to make it 14-7 Jones scored his 15-yard touchdown to give West Jones a two-possession lead West Jones’ defense has only allowed 56 points this season Friday night was the unit's seventh shutout of 2023 It had two offensive possessions reach West Jones’ side of the field “They believe in what they do and they really get after it A house in Hattiesburg where a shooting incident allegedly began Wednesday night caught fire late Thursday night Hattiesburg Fire Department officials are calling the fire "suspicious." The State Fire Marshal’s Office will assist in the investigation The shooting took place in the 100 block of West Fifth Street Residents there said some kind of incident began in the house and made its way out to the street where two people were killed and three injured Related: 2 people killed, 3 others injured in downtown Hattiesburg shooting Multiple shots were fired during the shooting incident killing 48-year-old Ricardo Hollingsworth and 57-year-old Sherry Strickland The following evening Hattiesburg firefighters were called to the scene in the 100 block of West Fifth Street to put out the fire they made an interior attack on the home and an attack from roof access Hattiesburg Police Department spokesman Ryan Moore said in a news release It is unclear whether the homicides and the fire are connected No suspects for the murder or the fire were in custody as of Friday morning and police have not released a motive in the shooting Anyone with information about Wednesday's shooting or Thursday's fire is asked to call Metro Crime Stoppers at 601-582-7867 This is a developing story and may be updated Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge The Hub City has a rich restaurant culture with dozens of locally owned businesses serving a variety of dishes with new restaurants and franchises opening in recent months a salad bar with dozens of toppings and sushi rolls named for rock bands We take a look at some of the newest restaurants to locate in Hattiesburg Location is a key factor to many a business' success but that doesn't always mean they have to be on Main Street or in the mall Vikki Layne never owned a restaurant until she opened Vikki Layne's Bar and Grill near Camp Shelby's south gate seafood and soul food with daily blue plate specials for the mostly military crowd Things were looking up for Layne until the Jan tornado caused serious damage to the building she was renting and she was forced to shut down but got a call to serve food from a small restaurant kitchen on Timothy Lane She agreed to do it to see how it would be received and sold out of everything the first day Her food was in such demand she decided to open another restaurant this time in an old Ward's building on Old Highway 42 Related: Looking for somewhere new to eat in Hattiesburg? Try these restaurants including Sundays when the restaurant is closed Her menu includes ribeye steaks, jambalaya-stuffed catfish and burgers She added a line of vegetarian and vegan dishes and has some gluten-free options that are creative and flavorful a southwestern Buddha bowl or vegan "wings" made from cauliflower Layne is the daughter of the late Clemon Terrell longtime parks and recreation director for the city of Hattiesburg The restaurant is open for lunch 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m PIE by Pizza Inn103 Campbell Loop, pizzainn.com Mississippi's second PIE by Pizza Inn opened Nov 1 in Hattiesburg inside the Minit Mart at 103 Campbell Loop Pizza Inn officials said PIE gives customers a fast convenient experience. The kiosk-style eatery makes hot-and-ready pizzas available to travelers who may not have time to stop for a meal Brass Hat and the Midtowner are a few new chain restaurants at The District at Midtown located across from the University of Southern Mississippi there is a restaurant that features mostly chicken salad — a dozen varieties — as a salad or sandwich The chicken salad started in 2008 in the kitchen of Auburn who developed the product and later opened a carry-out restaurant with her husband with more than 100 restaurants throughout the Southeast The restaurant is open 10:30 a.m.- 8 p.m The restaurant offers specialty or personalized gourmet pizzas with more than 40 toppings Some toppings are traditional for American-style pizzas black bean and corn salsa and gorgonzola or vegan cheese The chain was started in 2013 in Memphis by Chad Foreman and Kirk Cotham The restaurant chain features a menu of sushi rolls Related: Hattiesburg's Midtown District a 'dynamic and diverse area' in Pine Belt region In addition to the many traditional sushi rolls and ones honoring rock 'n' roll celebrities like Cyndi Lauper the restaurant offers appetizers, hibachi-style grilled items and desserts Founded in 2010 in Mobile by Lance Hallmark and Gerry Mach the chain now has a dozen locations in Mississippi and Alabama Downtown Hattiesburg is home to several unique locally owned restaurants gelato bar and cafes that would delight any gastronome Joining the ranks are the culinary creations of Nelson Haskin and his wife, Felicia so Haskin moved to a new location a block away The restaurant serves a selection of nacho appetizers Sandwiches and entrees include a variety of burgers sandwiches, fried catfish and shrimp po'boys Diners may enjoy a selection of hand-crafted cocktails and a full bar selection and live music on some nights The restaurant was open only for dinner and Saturday brunch but on Monday started offering weekday lunch hours The Haskins opened a second restaurant in Blu Jazz's original location but the menu features quality hand-breaded chicken tenders and wings a few side items and several flavored daiquiris Walk-On’s Bistreaux and Bar is a sports bar and restaurant that dishes up authentic Louisiana cuisine made from scratch The chain's first Hattiesburg location opened in September Walk-On’s was named ESPN’s “Best Sports Bar in North America" in 2015 and was the sponsor of Southern Miss football's most recent bowl game in Shreveport Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday The Front Porch has been around for years but has new owners Bonnie and Blaine Tyrone took over the restaurant in February and have been making slight improvements to the menu to make the dishes tastier and healthier including offering better quality products and cooking in oils without trans fats The restaurant offers a buffet of traditional Southern cuisine The Tyrones also have been updating the restaurant's look with some renovations Pier 98 moved from its location on U.S 98 to the former Suvin Thai restaurant location on Old Highway 11.  opened by friends Josh Glausier and Caleb Harvey, serves seafood along with a selection of appetizers and salads The seafood restaurant gets its fish fresh from the gulf weekly and serves fresh crawfish when it's in season Fernando's of Hattiesburg is part of a chain of family-owned restaurants in Mississippi The family has been dishing up traditional Mexican cuisine in Mississippi for more than 30 years "We proudly bring to you our own recipes directly from Mexico," the restaurant owners say on Facebook. "Authenticity is our commitment." The business is located in the former Manola's Fajita Factory in front of Target Monday and Wednesday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m Owner John Neal opened his first Keg and Barrel on Hardy Street in 2005 The west Hattiesburg location held its official grand opening Nov The restaurant is a popular hangout and eatery a selection of specialty pizzas and entrees and more than 100 craft beers to choose from The same menu is offered at both restaurants designed to look similar to the original restaurant, is in the former Willy T's building behind Turtle Creek Mall The Salad Station recently opened in Hattiesburg making it the chain’s 10th location Hattiesburg's franchise is owned by Pine Belt natives Nick Smith and Alex Riser The restaurant features a self-serve salad bar with dozens of fresh vegetables in a pay-by-the-pound concept diners can choose from a number of hot items The Salad Station concept is designed to offer more access to locally sourced produce in season in an effort to build healthier communities with locations in Mississippi and Louisiana, was founded in 2012 by mother and son duo Scott and Cindy Henderson Hattiesburg's restaurant scene continues to change with closures —  some permanent and others temporary — amid the pandemic There were some favorites that left the scene but new restaurants are garnering interest from patrons.  Here’s a recap of which restaurants closed and opened in 2020 along with a look at which restaurants have already opened this year or are planning to open.  After 22 years of serving the Hattiesburg community, the Farmers Market buffet closed permanently. Co-owners Bob and Sherry Strack closed the restaurant May 22 we have closed the doors permanently," Farmer's Market buffet owners posted to Facebook "We want to thank each and every one of you for your support." Robert St. John decided to close his first restaurant, the Purple Parrot Cafe 3810 Hardy St., after 32 years of business John opened the restaurant in an old dress shop in 1987 and it flourished as a place to celebrate birthdays The decision to close was more to do with a change of pace than the pandemic His new idea was to open an authentic Tex-Mex restaurant, El Rayo "I was debating on whether to keep the Parrot open or not and this new concept has a large outdoor seating area that I've been working with the city on already," St "It's way more casual than what we are doing now Fine dining is a whole different business model and for years it's been trending downward." Purple Parrot: Why it closed and what is opening in its place Cotton Blues owner Chris Ortego announced Dec. 23 that he would close the restaurant at 6116 U.S He first opened in 2012 and a few years later was able to sell Cotton Blues cheesecakes at local grocery stores.  Ortego opened a new Cheesecake Kitchen in Waynesboro which produces and ships cheesecakes to more than 250 grocery stores in nine states Ortego said opening the Cheesecake Kitchen was a factor in deciding to close Cotton Blues restaurant Cotton Blues owner: Restaurant closing but national cheesecake sales thriving About a week after Cotton Blues' announced its closure, La Fiesta Brava owner Mariano Arellano announced that he decided to close the Hattiesburg location of La Fiesta Brava Arellano operated the business for more than 25 years and said the financial hardships caused by the pandemic factored into his decision to close.  "It hurt my business pretty bad," Arellano said in a previous interview "We made about 30% of sales that we normally do which is not enough to keep up with the expenses." La Fiesta Brava closure: COVID-19 'hurt my business pretty bad,' owner says The Jimmy Johns franchise closest to the University of Southern Mississippi another franchise remains open at 4960 Hardy St.  Midtown Donuts and The BranchSt. John opened Midtown Donuts in September 2018 in Midtown Hattiesburg across from the University of Mississippi campus Shortly after the pandemic hit the state in March John decided to close Midtown Donuts and The Branch Shoney's, 6121 U.S. 49, closed in March for safety protocols during the pandemic. The restaurant has yet to reopen. According to Shoney's website The Thirsty HippoPopular restaurant and bar, the Thirsty Hippo closed dine-in services March 20 and closed indefinitely March 21 there is no indication of whether the restaurant will reopen The Shrimp Basket Shrimp Basket officials had no comment regarding the closure The building now houses Don Chuy's Mexican Grill & Bar slated to open this month or in early February Restaurants that opened in 2020:Steak 'n ShakeTo the delight of many residents, Steak 'n Shake opened a new restaurant Jan The franchise owners built a brand new facility to house the restaurant on U.S The grand opening saw a packed restaurant with customers ordering Steakburgers and Shake lovers unite!: Steak 'n Shake opens in Hattiesburg Hattiesburg residents Jeff and Katey Wilson opened their own Main Squeeze Juice Co. franchise at 109 South 31st Ave. 11 in Hattiesburg and plan to open nine more locations across Mississippi to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m acai bowls and toasts with a variety of healthy toppings Main Squeeze Juice Co.: Here's what owners have to say about new store Krab Queenz, a New Orleans-based restaurant opened to much fanfare in Hattiesburg in October.  had a line around the block for its grand opening The restaurant serves seafood and daiquiris and other Creole favorites A&B Discount Grocery Chinese Takeout reopened its doors in October after temporarily closing for several months during the pandemic The restaurant serves Chinese takeout favorites daily from 10 a.m A Slice of the Apple a New York-style deli chain, opened Feb the owner announced a move to a new location July 16 The restaurant was originally located near 5910 U.S Keg and Barrel West HattiesburgThe Keg and Barrel's West Hattiesburg location the west location is still temporarily closed The restaurant posted an update to its Facebook page that it planned to reopen the west location in February.  Although Robert St. John said goodbye to the Purple Parrot Cafe, in its place he designated a spot for his newest restaurant concept, El Rayo St. John said he spent a lot of time on research and design of El Rayo by traveling to Texas Montana and Wyoming on fact-finding and food-tasting missions "We went to the source, and Texas is really where the heart of (Tex-Mex) is," St. John said. He said he drew much of his inspiration from Atlanta chef Ford Fry Innovations and Comfort Foods From Both Sides of the Border." He shadowed his kitchens and learned from staff to cultivate his concept Authentic Tex-Mex hits Hattiesburg: El Rayo, Robert St. John's newest restaurant, now open A new Mexican restaurant, Don Chuy's Mexican Grill & Bar, opened this week at the former Shrimp Basket Twenty-one-year-old Daniel Carvajal, junior business major at the University of Southern Mississippi said he is excited about the business venture with his father The restaurant serves familiar dishes as well as one featured dish of authentic Mexican cuisine each week The restaurant will be closed Sundays.  Don Chuy's Mexican Grill & Bar: Hattiesburg family with roots in Mexico opening restaurant After La Fiesta Brava closed, a new restaurant, Fat Boys Pizza from New Orleans purchased the building at 6168 U.S Owner Gabe Corchiai is currently renovating the 7,000-square-foot building with a game room They hope to open by the end of April and will begin hiring staff in March Fat Boys Pizza: Here's the plan for former La Fiesta Brava location in Hattiesburg Fran Biba, of Arkansas, is opening Sfuzzi Italian and Greek restaurant in downtown Hattiesburg at the old Walnut Circle Grill location who has previously owned two restaurants in Arkansas He said he will employ 15-18 people and the hours will be roughly 11 a.m The price range for dishes should be between $10 to $30 Opening downtown: Sfuzzí Italian and Greek Kitchen to open in old Walnut Circle Grill site Raising Canes Chicken Fingers in Hattiesburg will move from its current location 3509 Hardy St., less than a block away to the former Applebee's lot at 3703 Hardy St The chain anticipates moving into a new restaurant being built at a new location by June Out of 540 Raising Cane's restaurants across 29 states the eatery will feature a unique look not seen at current franchises Raising Cane's regional vice president, said it had become apparent that "the sales we were experiencing just didn't fit the site." The restaurant Raising Cane's on the move: What new restaurant and location will mean for Hattiesburg and it became a more curbside and takeout business," Massey said "We had to get to a lot that had more parking and property to route the cars through safely."  Massey said the company had been looking for a location and "when the Applebee's lot became available The location will include a new multi-lane drive-thru with double entrances and exits on Hardy Street and 36th Street Did we miss any? Contact Cam Bonelli at cbonelli@gannett.com to add to the list. Follow her on Twitter @cambonelli.  members of Crosspoint Community Church have taken a little time to walk a few miles in Jesus' shoes when about 35 members of Crosspoint and surrounding churches carried a 120-pound wooden cross through West Hattiesburg "Some churches do cantatas and musicals for Easter and some churches do sunrise services," Crosspoint pastor Dean Register said If the world is looking for a definition of 'love,' we don't really have to pick up a dictionary — we just have to look at the cross." Members of the walk helped each other out along the way with the procession stopping about every 80 yards or so to switch possession of the cross "It was very humbling — it's reminded me of the weight that Jesus had on his shoulders when he was crucified," Michael Yoder said of the cross-carrying experience because I know that what he suffered through I'm never going to go through anything comparable to what he's done "It's kind of a reminder for me to thank him I'm thanking Jesus for what he's done for me." who first started carrying a cross made of railroad ties in 1978 in Brunswick And other than a small brush with the Georgia law early on "(An) officer had come to find out what was going on and he said he needed me to get off the street and onto the sidewalk," Register said and I'll get on the sidewalk in just one more block.' 'I just wanted you to know that there was not all the power in the world that would have made me arrest you today.' And 95 percent of it is overwhelmingly positive — people will say were taking part in the walk for the first time (it reminds you) Jesus paid all for our sins and something I can do to keep me motivated to learn the works of Jesus." said he felt privileged to be able to participate in the proceedings "It's the love that I have for Jesus Christ and what he did for us," he said "It's an honor to get just a taste of carrying the cross who has participated in the walk three times to try to let people be aware that Jesus died for our sins," he said "We want to be a witness to him today and every day Register said it's also a way to help take away a little of the commercialization of Easter and remind people of the true meaning of the holiday "You can't separate the cross from Christianity," he said 'Jesus paid a debt he didn't owe because I have a sin debt that I couldn't pay.' Good Friday is all about what Jesus did on the cross and that message of love and hope is what we try to get out to the community." Hattiesburg has its fair share of watering holes that serve decent food I’d heard about Keg and Barrel’s lively music and bar scene, but was unaware of the interesting food menu filled with creative dishes That changed when I met Gulf Coast animal rescuers there a few years ago to adopt a dog – yes I found out Keg and Barrel — with two locations in Hattiesburg and a new one in Ocean Springs — serves delicious food ranging from creative appetizers burgers and pizzas to seafood and chicken dishes.  After meeting at the original Hardy Street location (Keg and Barrel West opened in 2018) we ordered appetizers outside on the wraparound porch at the bustling Victorian-style restaurant I sampled crispy homemade ones topped with an assortment of melted cheeses and fried bacon ($9.50) My new rescue friends tried the debris fries ($12) smothered in slow cooked roast beef cheeses and onions and served with horseradish sauce To say we weren’t disappointed is an understatement Other appetizers include the house nachos ($13.50) topped with almost everything imaginable and choice of chicken and beef wings served in a variety of sauces ($10) and chips and queso ($7.50) One of Keg and Barrel’s most popular appetizers was removed from the menu during the pandemic Homemade hummus and feta dip served with warm pita fresh vegetables and homemade chips was a favorite of the masses I’m happy to report the dip duo will soon be back due to popular demand Burgers made of beef locally sourced from a Perkinston cattle farm are plentiful on the menu Favorites in the $14 range include the Keg stand topped with bacon steak sauce and vegetables and served on a jalapeno cheddar bun; dirty Diana a cheese and bacon-centric version on a brioche bun and black & bleu topped with bleu cheese and caramelized onions Woodstock is a homemade vegan patty topped with cheeses and garlic mayonnaise The Hattiesburg locations serve a number of pizzas topped with delicacies like hickory-smoked bacon accompanied by a plethora of grilled vegetables Thick and hearty sandwiches like the K&B Reuben sweet and smoky turkey and chicken tenders with dipping sauce ($11-$14 range) are called “pub grub,” but are unlike regular bar food offerings turkey and ham ($12-$15) are also offered up as healthy options but overlooking the entrees section would mean missing out on creatively prepared dishes resembling those served on white tablecloths.  Keg and Barrel is perhaps best known for its Hattiesburg hot chicken ($12.50) Fried chicken is tossed in the restaurant’s signature hot sauce and served over sourdough bread with pickles and bacon ranch potato salad.  Another crowd favorite is chicken and waffles which can be tricky to execute due to the propensity of the latter ingredient to become soggy from the weight of moist chicken and syrup Keg and Barrel’s chefs avoid this error presenting crispy fried chicken on an equally crispy waffle drizzled with maple syrup ($12.50).  Other offerings include Thai lettuce wraps ($10.50) fish tacos ($13.50-$16.50) and another specialty dish The classic dish ($16) is given a Bayou twist courtesy of large shrimp and Cajun sausage in a garlic cream sauce Served over delicious Grit Girl stone-ground grits Never tried charcuturie?: These two Mississippi restaurants are a place to start One last notable fact about Keg and Barrel After the success of the west Hattiesburg location plans were made to introduce Keg and Barrel to the Gulf Coast Despite the pandemic and hardships that caused many restaurants to close their doors owner John Neal soldiered on and opened the new location a few months ago it’s now offering Coast residents and tourists with the same amazing fare that has delighted Hattiesburg residents college students and others for many years.  Kara Kimbrough is a freelance food and travel writer from Mississippi. Contact her at kkprco@yahoo.com.  A fourth suspect in a double homicide in Hattiesburg was arrested Thursday and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence Twenty-year-old Malik Moore of Hattiesburg was taken into custody by Hattiesburg Police with assistance from Forrest County Sheriff’s Department Police say an argument turned into a fistfight which escalated into multiple people shooting guns Hattiesburg police:Double homicide began as argument between neighbors Moore is the fourth suspect charged in the shooting He was booked into the Forrest County Jail Others charged in the double homicide include: Hattiesburg:What do neighbors have to say about double homicide on West Fifth Street? Hattiesburg:House where shooting allegedly started catches fire a day after double homicide Hattiesburg police are asking anyone who may have information about the shooting or anyone who may have been involved to call police at 601-544-7900 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 601-582-7867 Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge  Click on map above to see entire event tracks and damage point notation where some limbs and small trees were downed producing significant damage as it moved through the West Lake Serene area The tornado reached its maximum intensity in the area around and just southwest of Oak Grove High School There was a brick home in a subdivision southwest of the high school that was completely leveled with all interior and exterior walls down and a fair amount of large debris was blown downstream very high end timber damage occurred in this location with a number of trees showing debarking and denuding Several other homes in this subdivision also sustained EF-2 to EF-3 damage it produced extensive damage on the campus of Oak Grove High School The field house adjoining the football stadium was destroyed the baseball stadium and a large metal building adjoining the stadium were essentially destroyed and several large steel/concrete light standards were snapped at both the baseball and football stadiums A vehicle was thrown from the parking lot adjoining the baseball stadium up a small hill and was deposited near the pitching mound in the middle of the baseball field The main building of the high school also suffered some roof damage Thanks to recent dual-pol upgrades at area Doppler radar sites we could also confirm the presence of tornadic debris AL radar at 5:13 pm as the tornado was moving through the West Hattiesburg/Oak Grove area The more traditional radar products shown at the top (base reflectivity storm relative velocity) were showing a severe thunderstorm with strong and tight rotation at just over 7,000 feet above the ground It was the dual-pol products on the bottom of this image that provided additional confirmation that this rotation must have been extending to the ground The correlation coefficient (CC) product in the bottom-right helps to provide an idea of the consistency of the shape of the targets being reflected back to the radar Higher values shows greater consistency (for instance while lower values show less consistency (a mixture of targets) which is actually an indication of tornadic debris of various shapes and sizes the differential reflectivity product indicated values close to 0 which would also be expected with tornadic debris Dual-pol continues to prove to be a powerful tool in our arsenal of technology enabling us to track severe weather Home » Sports » High School Sports » West Point offensive line paves way to Hattiesburg WEST POINT — In a steady rain and on a muddy surface acceleration and cuts were at a premium Friday night at McCallister Field It was easy to toss out the modern era’s finesse brand of football the old-fashioned style of bruising strength was the better option Those conditions allowed the West Point High School football team’s offensive line the ability to shine and Daveion Reives displayed their ability in the trenches by creating enormous holes despite the sloppy conditions West Point had 54 carries for 450 yards in a 35-0 victory against Olive Branch in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A semifinals and we knew we were going to play our brand of football no matter the conditions,” West Point coach Chris Chambless said We had fun doing what we do — playing West Point football.” the two-time reigning MHSAA Class 5A State champion will make its 12th state title appearance against West Jones (12-2) at 7 p.m West Jones beat Picayune 21-13 on Friday to earn its first trip to a state title game West Point punched its ticket thanks to its second victory against Olive Branch the Green Wave edged the Conquistadors 34-33 The win also marked the second-straight season West Point beat Olive Branch to reach the state championship game Brandon Harris had 18 carries for 233 yards and two touchdowns a junior athlete who had 172 yards at halftime praised the effort of his offensive line for his career-best game “My offensive line is full of hogs,” Harris said “Hogs are going to be nasty up front and set the line of scrimmage in front of them They blocked and got up field to the next level “All I saw tonight was green grass and water We kept moving our feet through the mud and didn’t stop.” The Green Wave entered the postseason averaging 246 rushing yards per game “We have an offensive line that can roll you off the football,” Chambless said “Our running backs can take a beating and it’s great to have three or four backs who are willing to do the pounding Coach (Brett) Morgan and Coach (Casey) Welch and the entire offensive staff do a great job of preparing our guys for Friday nights West Point scored on its first play when Harris took a direct-snap sweep He used excellent blocks to get loose and then relied on a convoy of pulling linemen to create space down the sideline “We had to play better than we did against Lafayette,” Harris said ‘The first team to flinch is the one that is going to lose.’ We didn’t flinch first tonight.” Dantariyus Cannon scored in a 59-yard sweep that helped seal the deal The Green Wave continued to pound in the second quarter Jaylun Eggerson capped an eight-play series with a fourth-down West Point put the game out of reach with Harris’ 7-yard touchdown in the final quarter many West Point players slid through the mud in celebration The burden of reaching the championship game was finally off their shoulders Though many outside observers predicted West Point wouldn’t make it back to the MHSAA Class 5A State Championship Even after losing the stars of last year’s team West Point has continued to play its brand of football “It’s a common phrase in the West Point football program — ‘refuse to lose’,” Chambless said “They have always survived and advanced This group has defied a lot of naysayers to get to this point Even against Olive Branch earlier this season It seems this bunch is refusing to lose throughout this season “Not many guys out there thought we would get to this point You just don’t know how proud I am of this bunch.” “It feels good to get this opportunity at a three-peat A lot of people said we wouldn’t make it this far the Hattiesburg Tigers clinched a perfect 11-0 record in regular season play to go along with a Region 4-5A championship and this time it was achieved with a dominant 58-6 victory over West Harrison on Friday night “To win the division was one of our goals We’ve certainly accomplished that now,” Hattiesburg coach Tony Vance said “I always tell our players the only way you make sure to do that is to win them all The Hattiesburg offense decided to go pass-heavy for the first half Senior quarterback Jarod Conner opened up scoring on Hattiesburg’s first possession with a 20-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Darius Ruffin Conner also threw an eight-yard score to senior wide receiver Jairus McFarland and a 25-yard strike to Ruffin to give the Tigers a quick 21-0 lead Hattiesburg later added a field goal and another touchdown pass to McFarland in the second quarter to enter halftime with a 30-0 lead Conner completed 12-of-18 passes in the half to go with four touchdown passes.  the Tigers decided to focus more on the run in the second half Senior running back Drexlan Allen opened the second half with an 18-yard touchdown run on the Tigers’ first drive of the half a blocked punt set up a 13-yard rushing score from Jamal Donaldson The Hattiesburg defense continued to control the run-heavy West Harrison offense in the second half along with a three-and-out that set up the blocked punt.  Vance talked about the change he has seen in his defense after the unit allowed just nine points over the last two weeks of the regular season “I just think attention to detail,” Vance said “Guys knowing what time of year it is Just having a veteran team that’s been there before so I think that’s a big part of it." After a Hattiesburg touchdown in the fourth quarter made it a 51-0 ball game West Harrison quarterback Keith Holloway scored on a 22-yard touchdown run with 1:36 left to play sophomore running back Camron Lott broke free for a 48-yard scoring dash with 26 seconds left to play to put a final stamp on the victory.  the Tigers will remain at home for the first round of the playoffs West Hattiesburg residents recently got another option for their pharmaceutical and medical supply needs courtesy of Highland Specialty Pharmacy in the Bellegrass subdivision The pharmacy — which is run by pharmacist/manager Brooke Oglesby and pharmacy technician Samantha Sparkman — opened June 2 at 23 Town Center Square in Hattiesburg The business will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting July 10 with guests Deuce McAllister and Reggie Collier Oglesby recently sat down to share some advice on managing a new business • What made you first want to open your own business I was very excited at the opportunity to manage a new It feels more personal than chain pharmacies on so many levels and I am so happy to be a part of this kind of environment • What are some of your more popular products or services We carry an array of over-the-counter items and have a comprehensive inventory of prescription medications If we don’t have a particular medication in stock we can order it and have it the next day for the patient what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced The biggest challenge for me has just been being patient It’s so exciting to get a new business up and running but you’re at the constant mercy of other parties involved You may have a date in mind that you want everything done and ready to go but there are always hiccups along the way and know that everything will take care of itself as long as you stay on top of things • What tips or advice would you give to other aspiring business owners You can accomplish anything with a good team of motivated people Find people you trust to get the job at hand done or where do you see the business going from here I see the business expanding and offering new exciting pharmaceutical services along the way We’re definitely looking forward to serving the local community and providing the friendly care that our patients value the most • Offers over-the-counter items and prescription medications • A grand opening celebration is planned from 4-6 p.m • In Business is a monthly series highlighting businesses in the Pine Belt and the lessons business owners have learned Have a business you would like to nominate Contact staff writer Haskel Burns at gburns@hattiesburgamerican.com.