To celebrate Disability Awareness Month, the City of Meridian participated in a friendly, yet competitive game of wheelchair basketball on Saturday. “The team that we’re playing are from USM, the Golden Eagles wheelchair basketball team. They travel and play in the league and throughout the country. They’re very good, very, very good,” said Parks and Recreation Athletic Director Thomas Adams. City leaders got to see what it’s like living with a disability. Various members o

A reduced city budget is causing the City of Meridian to cut hours for part-time workers employed through the Parks and Recreation Department. “We didn’t cut any programs. We didn’t cut any staff, we just had to reduce some of the hours until we can see where we are within our budget,” said Kelvin McGruder, executive director of the department. Some of those affected include referees for local sports. City leaders say budget cuts were needed due to unforeseen city expenses

If you’re looking for a different way to trick-or-treat this Halloween…. The City of Meridian may have just what you’re looking for. The city is hosting its annual spook-tacular Candy Crawl. “It’s always just a great family-fun environment for the kids and the adults,” said Laura Carmichael, the cultural affairs director for the city. The event is Tuesday, October 24, on City Hall Lawn and starts at 4:30 p.m. Adults and children are encouraged to wear their favorite Hallowe

The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation has awarded the City of Meridian $25,000 for being one of the healthiest cities in the state. Yesterday, the city threw a celebration. “We are so excited to be chosen as one Mississippi’s 2017 Healthy Hometowns,” said Laura Carmichael, the city’s cultural affairs director. Meridian was one of four cities in the state to receive an award. “It’s a very competitive process. The application itself has a focus on healthy eat

Residents can expect to see some changes in city leadership soon. City of Meridian Community Development Director Bunky Partridge is set to retire in December. Partridge has been serving as the community development director since 2015. He was first appointed as the city’s public safety director in 2013, when Mayor Percy Bland was first elected. Before that Partridge was a former fire chief and 29-year veteran with the Meridian Fire Department. He says he has enjoyed wor

Drivers should plan for a few detours. The City of Meridian will have a street closure starting next Monday. Sixth Street, between the intersection of 23rd Avenue and 26th Avenue, will be closed for approximately one week. Public works crews will be making repairs. #CityofMeridian

The City of Meridian is working to cut costs and perhaps save some money. Tuesday city council members approved a contract with energy services company – McNeil Rhoades—to find ways on how the city can be more efficient in using power and water. “We’re looking at where we can save tax payers dollars and how we can stretch the money that we do have,” said Richie McAlister, the chief administrative officer for the city. With the new project, the city hopes to improve the effic

City council members and the mayor plan to stay within budget in the upcoming 2018 fiscal year. “You have to have a budget. If we don’t have a budget starting October 1, you can’t pay bills, you can’t make payroll, you can’t do anything.” Last night, council members, the mayor, and city department heads met longer than normal to approve an operating budget of roughly $55.4 million dollars. “We are now adding more police officers; it made our budget increase a little more tha

In yesterday’s city council meeting, city council members voted “yes” to increasing water, sewer, and garbage rates. “This is based on two things. One, we’ve been running short. We’ve not been charging enough money to cover costs of the water-sewer fund. At this time, we’re looking at an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency over our wastewater treatment plant and what we have to do to meet new federal standards,” said Ward 1 City Councilman Dr. George Thomas.

City officials say residents can expect to see an increase in water rates. Currently, the minimum bill for water utilities is $28.96 per month, which includes sewer and garbage fees. Officials say the increased rates will ensure city compliance with the EPA’s Clean Water Act. They say the hike is also due to higher electricity rates. “When your electrical rates go up at your house, then the electrical rates at the facility or plant, they also go up. The cost of materials,

At the Mississippi Municipal League Conference, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi selected Meridian as one of Meridian’s healthy hometowns. As a result, the city received a $25,000 to continue its healthy initiatives. “Meridian is home to the Magnolia Marathon, the Sunfish Triathlon, the Divas on the Run 5k, and all these great runs that we have every year. With all those things going on in our community, in addition to our walking trails and our parks and recreation, w

There’s quite a few empty and overgrown lots scattered around the city, but residents may soon have a chance to put them to use. “We’re developing a plan right now, so that if you live next to that lot, for a little bit of nothing you can possess that lot,” said Ward 4 City Councilwoman Kim Houston. It’s called the Adopt-A-Lot plan and city council members discussed putting it into effect in yesterday’s work session. Council members said the plan is a way to address vacant an

A new water project may be coming to town. In yesterday’s city council meeting, council members applied for a $8.1 million loan that would improve the city’s drinking water system. “These projects are not just about the service aspect to the citizens of Meridian. It’s also about making Meridian a viable location for economic development,” said Public Works Director Hugh Smith. He added that industries looking to move to Meridian are typically concerned about the city’s wate

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Independence Day, why not join the City of Meridian? “Just come and bring the family. Bring your lawn chairs and come and enjoy an old fashioned Fourth of July,” said Laura Carmichael, the city’s cultural affairs coordinator. The city’s Fourth of July festivities will take place at Bonita Lakes Park on Tuesday beginning at 3:30 p.m. “At 4:00 we have food vendors and other vendors who will begin selling great food, barbecue, hotdogs, e

A day before National Homeownership Month begins, Mayor Percy Bland is inviting residents to consider buying a home. “What we’re trying to do is raise awareness to our citizens who are either renting a home or renting an apartment,” said Bland. The city is hosting a housing initiative expo tomorrow at the Frank Cochran Center from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. “If they’re spending between $450 to $800 a month on rent, they can own a home, and we want them to own a home,” said Bland. Real

The City of Meridian is looking to hire Meridian High School seniors. Mayor Percy Bland stopped by the school yesterday, encouraging students to apply. “They can work in any of our departments. They’re mentored by someone in that department,” said Bland. The job opportunity is a part of the Graduate Advancement Program, also known as GAP. The purpose of the program is to expose students to a work environment that will help them develop life skills through employment. “They’

#CityofMeridian

#CityofMeridian #BonitaLakesMall

#CityofMeridian #LauderdaleCounty

A Democrat, Tyrone Johnson is running for the city council seat for Ward 2. “I’m a native of the Ward 2 district. I went to school at Mississippi State University. I’m also in the Air Force. I just came home from a deployment last month,” said Johnson. Dustin Markham, who’s running for mayor, currently holds the seat. So far, Johnson is running unopposed. Johnson said he’s running for city council because he’s ready to serve the community and wants to solve some of the is