Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Have you seen Meridian native Bettina Johnson or heard any clue?
Also, don't miss THIRD THURSDAYS – Meridian Council For The Arts on the Meridian Patch calendar
Hi Meridian! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Have you seen Meridian native Bettina Johnson or heard any clue?
- How one Meridian officer became Mississippi's top school safety leader
- What's next for Meridian's 97OKK morning host Quinn Alexander?
Also on today's calendar: Mississippi Science Festival is Back!.
Today's riddle: What has a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
Today's Meridian Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Meridian Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Meridian. 
- Saturday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 95 and low of 72 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Sunday: A t-storm around in the p.m., temps: high: 91, low: 71.
- Monday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 94 and low of 73 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Meridian Woman Bettina Johnson Reported Missing in West Virginia (queencitynewsfeed.com) — A woman with strong ties to Meridian, 42-year-old Bettina Johnson, has been reported missing after traveling to Martinsburg, West Virginia, and her family is urgently asking for help from back home. She was last seen near a Long John Silver's and Exxon on August 26 and is described as 5'8", about 170 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, last wearing all black. Anyone with information is asked to call or text 601-462-1365, even if it seems minor. 
• Meridian school safety officer wins statewide award (meridianstar.com) — Meridian Public School District's own James Miles has been named Mississippi's School Safety Officer of the Year, beating out candidates from larger districts statewide. After three years with MPSD, Miles is praised for his work ethic, campus security role, and positive impact on students and staff, and says the honor motivates him to keep raising the bar.
• Quinn Alexander Joins WUSJ For Mornings (radioinsight.com) — Morning radio listeners in Meridian will soon notice a change as 97OKK host Quinn Alexander leaves town to co-host mornings on US 96.3 in the Jackson area starting September 1. Alexander, who's been on Meridian airwaves for about 20 months, shared that he's excited for the move and asked listeners to keep his new on-air partner, Traci Lee, in their thoughts.
📸 Around Meridian
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 Meridian
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- THIRD THURSDAYS – Meridian Council For The Arts →
Dumont Plaza, 400 22nd Ave, Meridian
5:30 pm
Thursday September 17
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Football vs Stringer @ Home
Clarkdale High School Meridian, MS 39301
7:00 pm - Mississippi Science Festival is Back! →
Mississippi Children's Museum - Meridian, 403 22nd Ave, Meridian
10:00 am
Friday September 4
Saturday September 19
📣 Meridian 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
- Volleyball vs. Newton County
West Lauderdale High School Collinsville, MS 39325
5:00 pm - Volleyball vs. Northeast
West Lauderdale High School Collinsville, MS 39325
4:30 pm - Football vs. Morton (home)
West Lauderdale High School Collinsville, MS 39325
7:00 pm - ABC Come Play with Me →
Mississippi Children's Museum - Meridian, 403 22nd Ave, Meridian
10:00 am - Volleyball vs. Neshoba Central
West Lauderdale High School Collinsville, MS 39325
4:30 pm - Comic Commons at The MAX →
Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX), 2155 Front St, Meridian
10:00 am - 32nd Annual Coors Light Fall Classic Night One →
Whynot Motorsports Park, 4680 Old Hwy 19 SE, Meridian
7:00 pm - Do The Halloween Pub Crawl in Meridian! →
Brickhaus Brewtique, 2206 Front St, Meridian
4:30 pm - Mimosas & Merrehope →
Merrehope, 905 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Meridian
10:00 am
Monday August 31
Tuesday September 1
Friday September 4
Tuesday September 8
Saturday October 10
Friday October 23
Saturday October 24
Saturday December 12
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
- Drury Hotels Company, LLC posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Meridian. Apply here.
- Pizza Hut, Inc. posted a job opening for Team Member in Meridian. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Meridian here.
🗞 Nearby News
Lauderdale
- Law Enforcement Reports for Aug. 29 (meridianstar.com)
Newton
- Newton County High School Yearbook Staff Earns Gallery of Excellence Award (newtoncountyappeal.com)
- A Newton Teenager Has Been Sentenced For An April Threat At Newton High School (kniakrls.com)
- Newton students return to Aurora Heights Elementary despite unfinished construction (kcci.com)
Ok Meridian! 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: A bottle (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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