Cory Johnson
WKRG
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Past articles by Cory:
24/7 Arby’s, Love’s hiring 50 workers in George County
LUCEDALE, Miss. (WKRG) – A new truck stop in George County will employ 50 to 60 workers when it is operational later this summer. Site plans for the Love’s Travel Center under construction at U.S. 98 and Hwy 198 in east Lucedale include a 6,836 square-foot retail store with an Arby’s restaurant, separate car and […] → Read More
Encore Rehab opens in old Lucedale post office
LUCEDALE, Miss. (WKRG) – The old Lucedale post office is getting new life with the relocation of an area business to Main Street. Encore Rehabilitation has operated in Lucedale for 40 years but made the move from its old space on Mill Street Ext., where it had been since 1994, to the new facility in […] → Read More
Woman convicted of helping South Mississippi inmates get unemployment benefits
A south Mississippi woman was convicted Wednesday, March 1 of applying for and distributing unemployment benefits to a group of prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic. → Read More
Bill will fully fund Mississippi public schools for first time in 15 years: Sen. DeBar
GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG) – Mississippi’s public grade schools could be fully funded for the first time since 2008 if the state legislature follows one senator’s recommendation. State Sen. Dennis DeBar (R- Leakesville), the chair of the chamber’s education committee, told committee members Tuesday, Feb. 28 he intends to lead efforts to fully fund public […] → Read More
New reservation system launches for Mississippi state parks
WAVELAND, Miss. (WKRG) – A new state system is live to reserve spaces at Mississippi’s state parks. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks announced the new website on Wednesday, March 1. It allows users to select what spaces to book on an interactive map of the property or on a grid view showing […] → Read More
Thousands expected at Black History Parade in Greene County
KNOBTOWN, Miss. (WKRG) – Thousands of locals and visitors from all across the country are expected to gather in Greene County on Saturday, Feb. 25 to celebrate Black History Month. It is the 27th year of the Knobtown Black History Parade in the unincorporated community of about 200. This year’s theme is “On the Shoulders […] → Read More
Parks and rec sales tax could be put to George County voters
GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG) – A parks and recreation sales tax could be decided by George County voters if the Mississippi Legislature allows it. Resolutions passed by both the Lucedale Board of Aldermen and George County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Feb. 21 call for a 1% sales tax on dining and 3% on lodging. […] → Read More
Lucedale shop serves sewing, quilting community
LUCEDALE, Miss. (WKRG) – A new small business in Lucedale is serving the sewing and quilting community on the Gulf Coast and recruiting others to join. Elva Pflug opened Quilting & Stitches in January after moving to Lucedale last spring and not finding a place to buy fabric in the area. A lifelong stitcher and […] → Read More
George Regional not on Mississippi’s hospital crisis list, but challenges remain
GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG) – The hospital system serving George and Greene counties is not in danger of closing in the near future, according to new national data and the hospital’s CEO. George Regional Health System (GRHS) is one of the few rural hospitals in Mississippi to consistently be deemed safe over the past year. […] → Read More
SpaceX ditches plan to launch rockets from Mississippi Gulf Coast
PASCAGOULA, Miss. (WKRG) – SpaceX will not launch rockets from the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the near future, the company’s president says. Two oil rigs had been docked at the Port of Pascagoula for the past two years to be fitted by SpaceX to serve as launch pads for its Starship spacecraft. SpaceX bought the […] → Read More
State sending $265,000 to George, Greene county industrial parks
GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG) – Grants will fund improvements to the industrial parks in George and Greene counties in a statewide campaign to attract new industries. Governor Tate Reeves announced the grants during a press conference Thursday, Feb. 16. $57 million from Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) and Appalachian Regional Commission will go toward developing “project-ready […] → Read More
Town hall scheduled for 1,000 acre George County solar farm
GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG) – George County residents will have a chance to ask questions and learn more about a solar farm planned in the Rocky Creek community. The project is proposed by Sunflower Solar, LLC and parent company Pine Gate Renewables, based in Asheville, N.C. The company has 1,000 acres under contract for development. […] → Read More
Amphitheater part of 55-acre downtown Gautier overhaul
GAUTIER, Miss. (WKRG) – A new 6,500 capacity amphitheater could bring major concerts to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, a production company says. The City of Gautier and 46 Entertainment broke ground for The Sound Amphitheater during a ceremony on Monday, Feb. 13. “We were looking for one word that represents both our area and our […] → Read More
Missing stage speaker latest instance of vandalism in Lucedale
LUCEDALE, Miss. (WKRG) – A missing speaker from the stage on Main Street in Lucedale points to the latest case of vandalism in the city. “That’s not the first thing they stole. If you see something, say something. Just as fast as we put things together, they’re tearing it up,” said Mayor Doug Lee. The […] → Read More
Fentanyl dealer sentenced after death at Keesler Air Force Base
GULFPORT, Miss. (WKRG) – A Biloxi man was sentenced on Thursday, Feb. 9 after pleading guilty to a charge connected to the death of an airman. Dean Fender, 26, was ordered to serve 36 months in federal prison by a U.S. District Court judge for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Fender pleaded guilty to […] → Read More
Second Saturday returns to Lucedale for 2023 season
LUCEDALE, Miss. (WKRG) – Second Saturday returns to downtown Lucedale on Feb. 11 for the 2023 season. Part of Main Street will be closed off to vehicle traffic as visitors flood the street with local vendors and food trucks set up. Many businesses along Main Street will also be open extended hours from 5 p.m. […] → Read More
Lucedale bringing back state inmates to fill worker shortage
LUCEDALE, Miss. (WKRG) – The City of Lucedale is turning to state inmates cleared for work release to fill gaps created by vacant positions. Mayor Doug Lee first approached the George County Board of Supervisors in September to ask about receiving inmates. Supervisors offered the city a block of 24 beds in the regional jail […] → Read More
Leakesville man living dream as amateur wrestler at 47
GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG) – Every few months, wrestlers from across the region converge at the George County Fairgrounds to put on a show. Fans gather to cheer on their favorite performers. One of the audience favorites is a hometown man: Wildcat. “Just knowing that you have a big performance coming up, the adrenaline goes […] → Read More
Mississippi Arbor Day to be celebrated in Lucedale
LUCEDALE, Miss. (WKRG) – Arbor Day will be celebrated in Lucedale on Friday, Feb. 10. The Tree City USA Committee will host the event at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall. George County students, grades K-6, can enter a poster contest. Entries around the theme “Trees are Terrific” are due to the student’s school or City […] → Read More
First George County morgue and coroner’s office complete
GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG) – The first stand-alone office for the county coroner, complete with a space for a morgue, is now open in George County. For years, the county has rented cooler space in area funeral homes when the need arises for human remains to be held until claimed by family members. ”We’ve waited […] → Read More