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From the beginning of time, dads have been known for dispensing advice. Whether solicited or unsolicited, this advice has helped children deal with whatever situation they are facing. It may be given during a conversation before an important life event, while taking care of household chores, or even while just driving around town. No matter how it’s given, it often stays with us long after being spoken, and more poignantly, it becomes a cherished memory once dad is no longer here.

The Heirloom Hotel in downtown Laurel, Mississippi, is a boutique hotel created by HGTV’s Home Town stars Erin and Ben Napier, along with their business partners. The massive restoration transformed the historic 1930s Kress department store into a 29-bedroom hotel. Unfortunately, a devastating accidental electrical fire in August 2025 heavily damaged the property, leaving the insurance claim and rebuilding process ongoing. The entire restoration and ultimate demise of the building were featured on the HGTV series Home Town: Inn This Together, starring the Napirs and the vested families, Joshua and Emily Nowell, and Jim and Mallorie Rasberry.

Breanna O’Leary, an Alcorn State University graduate, is a professional NASCAR pit crew member who made sports history by breaking gender barriers in a heavily male-dominated motorsport. O’Leary’s trajectory connects her collegiate background at Alcorn State University to a trailblazing career on NASCAR’s pit road.

I am somewhat ashamed to admit this, but I had no idea that Mississippi has an annual Pickle Fest. Much to my amazement, the Pickle Fest, held each year at the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum, was voted the “Best Small Festival in Mississippi” in 2022 by the Mississippi Tourism Association. No wonder it is billed as a “Kind of a Big Dill!”

Jake Gibbs enrolled at the University of Mississippi in 1957. Sixty-nine years and one legendary career later, cheering for the Rebels has become a family tradition that he shares with his sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A second opportunity is not given to make a first impression, so it is important that the first impression be one to remember. With I-10 as the gateway to coastal Mississippi from Alabama with more than 40,000 guests annually, there was a need to upgrade the current Mississippi Welcome Center to help create a positive impression for guests.

The wainscoting walls, 14-foot ceilings and heart pine floors of the Pascagoula Train depot have a story to tell, and thanks to redevelopment grants and the foresight of local developers, a new chapter is being written in the 1904 structure.

Most of us don’t spend a lot of time thinking about energy—at least not until we flip a light switch, fill up the car, charge a phone, or crank up the air conditioning during a Mississippi summer.

Let’s be honest—everything feels a little more expensive these days. From groceries to gas, many Mississippi families are keeping a closer eye on their budgets this summer. The good news? You don’t have to spend a fortune to make great memories.

Southern Miss baseball is hosting Virginia, Jacksonville State and Little Rock for the second consecutive Hattiesburg Regional at Pete Taylor Park. The six confirmed games are May 29-31, with a possible Game 7 on June 1. 

Peaches and summertime are a perfect pair. The fuzzy, sun-kissed fruit is loved for its sweet, juicy bite and bright, floral aroma. For many, sinking your teeth into a ripe peach over the sink or out in front of you while the sweet, tangy juice drips down your hands is a quintessential summer experience. And peaches taste even better when they’re grown in Mississippi.

The 2026 Mississippi High School Baseball Championship tournament starts this week in Pearl, Mississippi, at Trustmark Park. The tournament will run from Tuesday, May 19, through Saturday, May 23, with four to five games slated each day, as needed in these “best 2 out of 3” matchups.

High school softball took center stage this week (May 12-May 15) in Hattiesburg at the Southern Miss Softball Complex on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi. The action started at high noon on Tuesday, May 12, when Mississippi’s top 14 high school teams began battling for the 2026 State Softball Championship title. 

Bop’s Frozen Custard is aiming for an early 2027 return to Hardy Street after more than a decade. The new location will be the first in Hattiesburg since December 2018. 

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, has sparked immense interest, with more American sports fans becoming interested in soccer. And while Mississippi doesn’t have a professional soccer team, the Magnolia State does have several teams advancing to higher levels of play and making a name for our state.

It is teacher appreciation week and there are certainly many great teachers working in today’s classrooms to inspire today’s youth. They work far more than 40 hours a week and have passion and energy to burn. I have worked with teachers across the K-12 range over the years and I appreciate them all. Kindergarten teachers have the challenge of guiding 5-year-olds through the basics of good behavior and paying attention that will get them ready to learn. Learning to be a “line leader” is no cake walk. Middle school and high school teachers deal with the drama of teens as they come of age. God Bless them all!