Good morning, Hattiesburg.

VetFest 2026 will celebrate veterans and their families at Town Square Park on Main Street on Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free event will include resource booths, live music, a kids’ zone, and more to honor service members.

The 190-year-old John Barnes Pittman cabin built in 1831 is being rebuilt at Ford Home in Sandy Hook, set as an agri-tourism heritage site; the Marion County Historical Society plans a Labor Day event and expects reassembly by year end.

Mississippi’s most popular baby names for 2025 saw longtime favorite Ava drop to second as Amelia became the top girl name and James rose to lead among boys — changes shown by the Social Security Administration’s list after Ava held No. 1 for 11 years.

Today, the University of Southern Mississippi will have its first two RISE program graduates walk across the stage.

Robert Carley and his classmate credit the program with helping them overcome challenges and stay focused on their goals.

A swarm of termites interrupted a softball championship game at the Southern Miss Softball Complex on May 12 when play was suspended in the fourth inning.

Termite swarms were reported across South Mississippi this week, prompting experts to advise homeowners to inspect damage and consult pest professionals for treatment.

The State Department of Health offered free tetanus shots and printed essential documents for cleanup volunteers and veterans yesterday at a mobile clinic outside the Red Cross Storm Shelter at 1154 Beltline Drive; they may extend service hours into the weekend.

At the Southern Miss Softball Complex, high school teams clinched state titles during the MHSAA playoffs from May 12 through today in 5A, 2A, and 1AA categories — standout pitchers including Grace Dreher, Lucy Cochran and Addison Collum earned MVP honors.

Hattiesburg Futbol Club will launch its third pre-professional soccer season this summer with HFC Thunder and HFC Storm playing free home matches, starting May 30 for the women’s team and June 6 for the men’s team.

Club leaders want to build local support and create a family-friendly game day atmosphere.