Hooters of Hattiesburg, MS will open its doors to the public at 11 AM on December 10th, followed by a ribbon cutting celebration on Monday, December 13th.  The store has partnered with Toys for Tots during the opening weekend, offering guests who support the cause with a toy donation a free order of Hooters loaded Tater Tots (Lots-A-Tots).  Located at 101 Carlisle Street off Hardy and 1-59, the Hooters of Hattiesburg is the 5th Hooters location in Mississippi and 1st in the area.

At 10:00 AM on December 13th Hattiesburg Hooters will host a ribbon cutting celebration with the Chamber of Commerce and will be donating all the toys collected over the weekend to the Toys for Tots organization.

“We are excited to bring the Hooters concept of food and fun to Hattiesburg,” stated Tory Bartlett, Vice President of Franchise Operations for Hooters of America.  ”The store is in an excellent location and has many upgraded features that the residents will enjoy.”

The new 5200 square foot location comes equipped with 30 high-definition televisions,  7 booths with personal TVs, free WiFi, seating that can accommodate 200 customers as well as a full liquor bar and an outdoor patio. The Hooters of Hattiesburg can be reached at 601-268-6600.

Popularity: 51% [?]

A man that was spotted butt-naked in a Picayune church cemetery on Monday says he was trying to photograph ghosts.

The seemingly delusional 47 year old Robert Hurst said that he entered the cemetery in his birthday suit because he thinks skin is the best “canvas” to show orbs of energy from spirits.

The camera intended to catch vandals is what caught the man, and he turned himself in to police on Friday. He was charged with misdemeanor indecent exposure and released from jail on $500 bond.

Popularity: 43% [?]

A local trucking company owner is on his way to the joint after being sentenced as a result of drug charges earlier this year.

Marco Johnson was ordered to serve 37 months after being busted with 300 pounds of weed in an 18 wheeler near Veteran’s Boulevard.

The man was the owner of Polo Express Trucking, but not for at least 37 months as he pleaded guilty to possession of more than 100 kilograms of marijuana with intent to distribute.

He will give himself up to authorities January 10, 2010.

Popularity: 55% [?]

A perverted old man  had his appeal of convictions of having sex with minors denied today.

Johnny McCullough, 65 of Blue Springs, was unable to avoid a conviction of 15 years in prison to think about his two counts of gratification of lust. Five other counts were dropped.

McCullough claimed that the inconsistency of his convictions by the jury was grounds for an appeal. However, the Mississippi Court of Appeals said that the counts were all different events.

Popularity: 39% [?]

The airplane symbols that people see on highways across Mississippi are there for a reason that not many people are aware of.

The marks are there to clock your speed, countering popular belief that the roads adorned with the logos are emergency landing areas. Police aircraft hover above and use radar guns to clock your average speed between two of the symbols, which are usually a mile apart.

Due to tight budgets and a crumbling economy, this seemingly over-the-top method of getting out traffic tickets is rarely used. However, police statewide say that it could always make a comeback. It’s obviously a more stealthy way to catch speeders,  so when you see the symbols – slow down.

Popularity: 91% [?]

Today and tomorrow, the Foundation for the Mid South and the National League of Cities (NLC) will host mayors from 19 cities and towns in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana at the King Edward Hotel to focus on reducing childhood obesity in their communities.

The Municipal Leadership for Healthy Southern Cities project, which is sponsored by the NLC’s Institute for Youth, Education and Families, helps municipal leaders use their leadership positions to more effectively influence policy to improve community health.  Specifically, efforts in the 19 communities will focus on increasing residents’ access to recreational opportunities and fresh, nutritious foods.  The project is supported by Leadership for Healthy Communities, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The participating cities and towns will each form their own community action plan to improve policies to reduce childhood obesity.  Over the next two days, mayors will receive guidance from the state municipal leagues, state health departments, NLC, and the Foundation for the Mid South.

The following are the cities and towns participating:

“Our collaboration is focused on helping municipal leaders—from both large and small communities—make health and wellness a priority,” said Necole S. Irvin, Senior Program Officer at the Foundation for the Mid South. “The knowledge and skills shared today and tomorrow will allow leaders to create plans that will keep their communities focused on curbing obesity and improving health, even when the work of Foundation and the National League of Cities is complete.”

“High childhood obesity rates represent a grave threat to public health and often impose a financial burden on cities already struggling to provide residents with essential services,” said Clifford M. Johnson, Executive Director of NLC’s Institute for Youth, Education and Families.   “We commend these cities for taking it upon themselves to help make their communities healthier.”

Popularity: 70% [?]

One of the oldest and most well-preserved buildings in Monroe county has been defaced at the hands of a vandal.

The doors were kicked in and many of the windows of the antiquated Athens Jail were broken sometime overnight. From 1830 to 1849, the jail stood as the county seat, and has had over $100,000 pumped into it to keep it preserved.

For these reasons, local authorities are striving to find those responsible. The guilty party will be charged with burglary of a building and felony malicious mischief. If convicted, they could face up to twelve years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.

The city doesn’t know how long they can keep paying for renovations to the oft-vandalized building, and ask you to call Athens Police if you have any information leading to the apprehension of the criminals.

Popularity: 15% [?]

An altercation at an Itawamba home led to a man being shot in the leg Monday morning.

A man and his ex-girlfriend were fighting, a fight in which the man was threatening the woman’s life verbally. He began to advance towards the woman and her son, at which point the son pulled out a gun and fired once into the air to warn the impending man. The warning wasn’t enough, as the man continued to threateningly walk towards the two. The son then shot the man in the  leg, crippling him.

The man is recovering at a local hospital, and no charges have been formally filed in the incident.

Popularity: 24% [?]

A convicted murderer is possibly breathing a sigh of relief as the Mississippi Supreme Court has called for a new hearing to sentence Kristi Fulgham for capital murder.

A jury found her guilty of the aforementioned crime for shooting her husband, Joey Fulgham to death back in May of 2003. Her half-brother, 13 at the time, was also convicted of murder and sentenced to 53 years in prison.

The woman appealed her case because of the jury excluding parts of the testimony during sentencing. Her conviction remainss, but she will not be sentenced to death courtesy of a social worker’s lack of testimony.

The case is now due to be re-sentenced.

Popularity: 24% [?]

A freight train lugging 110 cars derailed while traveling through Hamilton, MS at around 9 am Monday morning.

In all, two of the lead locomotives and 13 cars left the tracks around Hollivay Road. The main concern with the derailment was the three cars that were transporting hydrogen peroxide, which warranted the call of hazardous material teams from Columbus. Upon investigating the wreckage, they found only two cars to be leaking the substance.

As a precaution, nearby residents were told to  vacate the area, and a portion of Old Highway 45 was closed. Residents have since been allowed to return home, the road has been reopened and a 500 yard buffer zone around the wreck has been canceled.

An investigation is pending as to how the train derailed, and work to put the cars back on the right path could take up to two hours per engine.

Popularity: 20% [?]