🌱 Patch AM: How cameras and OnStar helped crack a Hattiesburg murder case

Good morning Hattiesburg! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How cameras and OnStar helped crack a Hattiesburg murder case
• See where Hattiesburg's 70th mural is hiding downtown
• How you can honor Vernon Dahmer at USM this month

Also on today's calendar: Taste of the South Food Truck Festival 2026 and 4 more events.

Today's riddle: Where do math teachers go on vacation? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm, with a high of 91 and low of 75 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Sunday: Partly sunny, a t-storm; warm, temps: high: 94, low: 73.
• Monday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 97 and low of 74 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Part 2: The timeline of Lauren Johansen's final hours (wdam.com) — A detailed new timeline traces how a suspect came to a young woman's Hattiesburg home before dawn, allegedly attacked her, then drove through downtown Hattiesburg and Chain Park toward Petal River Park before fleeing to the Coast. Surveillance footage, OnStar tracking, and cooperation from relatives helped investigators find her car, recover her body, and capture the suspect after a tense manhunt.
   

2. Hattiesburg unveils 70th large-scale mural in downtown alley (hattiesburgamerican.com) — Downtown Hattiesburg just added its 70th large-scale mural, "Scrape the Sky," transforming an alley off West Pine Street and overlooking the Commons at Gordon's Creek. Painted over a month by Biloxi artist Julia Reyes, the 1,700‑square‑foot piece nudges Hattiesburg closer to its "City of 100 Murals" goal and gives residents a new public art spot to explore.
   

3. Southern Miss to Host Documentary Screening Honoring Civil Rights Leader Vernon Dahmer (hubcityspokes.com) — USM's Hattiesburg campus will host a free Sept. 10 screening of "Killed by the Klan," followed by a community discussion honoring civil rights leader and local businessman Vernon Dahmer. Residents can hear from Dahmer's son, the filmmaker, and investigative journalist Jerry Mitchell as they reflect on Dahmer's fight for voting rights in Mississippi.
   

4. Local DAR Chapter works within community to educate ahead of Constitution Week (hubcityspokes.com) — Hattiesburg's Twentieth Star Chapter of the DAR is gearing up for Constitution Week with lessons, materials, and even a popsicle‑motivated preamble challenge for local fourth graders. Members are coordinating programs in Hattiesburg schools and a church, while also supporting veterans, student awards, and year‑round community projects like pollinator gardens and literacy efforts.
   

📸 Around Hattiesburg

Subscribe

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Hattiesburg

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday September 5
• Take Twelve →
  Brewsky's, 3818 W 4th St, Hattiesburg
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Monday September 7
• Track meet @ Hattiesburg, MS Labor Your Legs
  Oak Grove High School Hattiesburg, MS 39402
  7:00 am
• OGMS Volleyball vs. Leaksville at home (gym)
  Oak Grove Middle School Hattiesburg, MS 39402
  5:00 pm
Tuesday September 8
• JV/V Volleyball vs Petal
  Oak Grove High School Hattiesburg, MS 39402
  5:00 pm
• Volleyball vs. Leaksville @ home
  Oak Grove Middle School Hattiesburg, MS 39402
  5:00 pm
Friday September 11
• Varsity Football VS Hattiesburg/Stadium (Band/Dance Senior Night)
  Oak Grove High School Hattiesburg, MS 39402
  7:00 pm
Saturday October 3
• Taste of the South Food Truck Festival 2026 →
  Fairley's Wings & More, 631 Main St, Hattiesburg
  11:00 am

📣 Hattiesburg Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Monday September 7
• Track meet @ Hattiesburg, MS Labor Your Legs
  Oak Grove High School Hattiesburg, MS 39402
  7:00 am
• OGMS Volleyball vs. Leaksville at home (gym)
  Oak Grove Middle School Hattiesburg, MS 39402
  5:00 pm
Tuesday September 8
• JV/V Volleyball vs Petal
  Oak Grove High School Hattiesburg, MS 39402
  5:00 pm
• Volleyball vs. Leaksville @ home
  Oak Grove Middle School Hattiesburg, MS 39402
  5:00 pm
Friday September 11
• Varsity Football VS Hattiesburg/Stadium (Band/Dance Senior Night)
  Oak Grove High School Hattiesburg, MS 39402
  7:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• If you're looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon learning how to create a quilt one block at a time, if you're craving community or need a few laughs with other creative people or if you're looking for some time away from your Sunday to do
  lists.. come sew with us! I'm a fun teacher and my students are pretty ding dang awesome! Every 3rd Sunday afternoon at the RJS Community Arts Center… (Nextdoor 28th and Jamestown)
• "Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste;
  he said to his high officials, "Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?" They replied to the king, "Certainly, O king." He… (Nextdoor Dixie)

• Arby's - Sun Holdings, Inc. posted a job opening for Team Member in Hattiesburg. Apply here.
• Alder Holdings, LLC posted a job opening for Residential Alarm Installation Technician in Hattiesburg. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Hattiesburg here.

Ok Hattiesburg! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Times Square (Thank you Jean K. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook