2017

January 21

• An early morning tornado passed through the Hattiesburg and Petal area, causing damage, injuries, and 4 deaths

March 1

• Moran Pope, mayor of Hattiesburg from 1953 to 1957, died at age 94

May 7

• Cinta, a 5 year old Sumatran tiger at the Hattiesburg Zoo, died after a short illness

June 29

• Toby Barker was sworn in as mayor of Hattiesburg

August 2

• William Carey University held a groundbreaking ceremony for two new buildings, Tatum Court and the Asbury Academic Building

August 28

• A car cause some damage to the old Polk house on River Avenue after driving into it

August 30

• An EF1 tornado caused damage in Petal as the outer bands of Tropical Storm Harvey passed over the area

September 15

• The 50 MW solar power plant on Bonhomie Road officially opened

October 9

• Demolition of part of Mount Carmel Baptist Church on Main Street began

October 29

• Venture Church celebrated the grand opening of its Stone County campus

December 8

• A record 5.5 inches of snow fell in the Hattiesburg area

December 19

• The Hattiesburg city council accepted the donation of the former Hattiesburg American building on Main Street to be turned into a community arts center

Other

These are events that don't have a specific known date

• Planet Fitness opened in January at 6128 Highway 49
• Johnson Hall on the campus of William Carey University was demolished in early February after being damaged by the January tornado
• Versus Strength and Conditioning moved into its new building on Lincoln Road in August
• Construction on St. Fabian Catholic Church on Highway 589 began in early November