City Hall of Picayune

09/06/2026

I-59 FRONTAGE ROAD PROJECT PUBLIC MEETING

As recently shared in the Picayune Item and other local news media, the City of Picayune, in coordination with MDOT, will host a public meeting on the proposed I-59 Frontage Road Project!

When: Tuesday, Sept. 8 from 4:30 p.m. –to 6:30 p.m.

Where: Mary Helen Richardson Community Center (708 S. Beech St., Picayune)

This will be an informal, open-house style meeting. Residents are invited to drop in anytime between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to review proposed plans, ask questions, and speak directly with city officials and MDOT representatives.

For additional project information, visit www.picayunei59frontageroad.com or https://mdot.ms.gov/portal/environmental. We hope to see you there! https://www.picayunei59frontageroad.com

09/05/2026

Head over to Crosby Commons today, Saturday, September 5, 2026, to support the 1st Annual LOC22 Foundation 5K Glow Run & Car & Bike Show!

​The main event runs from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM, and spectator admission is FREE! Bring the whole family out to enjoy an evening packed with activities:

​- Free water slides, face painting, and more
​- Free DJ & Karaoke Glow Party
​- Free Junior Hero Obstacle Course and games
​- Free 1-Mile Patriot Fun Run for children 12 & under
​- Vendors, food trucks, and information booths
​- A Car & Bike Show

​This event is a fundraiser benefiting 22 Many, supporting military su***de awareness and prevention. Come join the fun and honor our heroes tonight at Crosby Commons!

09/03/2026

City Administrative Offices will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026, in observance of Labor Day.

Normal business operations will resume on Tuesday, September 8 at 8:00 AM.

As always, essential emergency services (Police and Fire) will remain fully operational. We wish everyone in Picayune a safe and restful holiday weekend!

09/02/2026

During last night’s City Council meeting (9/1), Police Chief James Bolton announced Rhonda Poche Johnson as the new Assistant Chief of Police for the Picayune Police Department.

Assistant Chief Johnson was the unanimous choice of the interview panel, bringing years of dedicated service, experience, and leadership to the department.

"I have complete confidence in Assistant Chief Johnson. She has earned the respect of both our department and the community she serves every day," said Chief James Bolton.

The City of Picayune recognizes this as an A+ selection for both the police department and our community. Please join us in congratulating Assistant Chief Rhonda Poche Johnson as she steps into this new leadership role!

08/29/2026

Honoring the Life & Legacy of Ms. Mattie Trust Beck

Today, the City of Picayune pauses to remember and celebrate the beautiful life of Ms. Mattie Beck as she is laid to rest.

For her 100th birthday earlier this summer, Mayor Jim Luke presented Ms. Beck with a special Centenarian Recognition plaque on behalf of the Mayor, City Council, City Administration, and our city employees. The plaque honored her century of life, grace, and enduring spirit, recognizing the deep impact she made across generations of local residents.

From her early career as a dedicated educator to her 79 years of faithful leadership at East Jerusalem Baptist Church, 20 years of service at First Baptist Church of Picayune, and her mentorship teaching local youth etiquette and hospitality, Ms. Mattie embodied the true heart of our community.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Beck family today. Picayune is a better, warmer place for having had Ms. Mattie's light and wisdom for 100 years.

“A life well-lived is a blessing to all.”

08/29/2026

DISASTER ASSISTANCE NOTICE: TROPICAL STORM ARTHUR

Were you or your property affected by Tropical Storm Arthur? In case you missed our previous posts, assistance is still available through FEMA and the SBA for local homeowners, renters, and business owners.

Find complete details, contact numbers, and direct application links on the City’s website:

🔗

Federal disaster assistance is available for residents and business owners in Hancock, Harrison, Pearl River, and Stone counties who were impacted by Tropical Storm Arthur. If you have not yet applied

08/29/2026

We are so proud to share the latest episode of Small Town Chats with Mayor Luke, recorded on location at Highland Community Hospital. In this episode, Mayor Luke sits down with Forrest Health CEO Jeff Cook and Highland Administrator Jimbo Turnage to discuss our local healthcare, the hospital's amazing partnership with the city, and the medical resources available right here in Picayune.

One of our major partnerships with Forrest Health and Highland Community Hospital is the Highland Parkway Lighting Project. We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this initiative (and drone footage) possible, including Mississippi Power, Coast Electric Power Association, Weaver Electric, Fox Trot Films, Debris Tech, Wendell Lumpkin, Jason Parker, Chris McGee, Brooks Wallace, and Eric Morris.

Another partnership with our hospital system, and many other local businesses and the Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce, will be at Christmas time this year! Join the City of Picayune for Christmas on the Rails on November 28, 2026. Main Street will follow up with Christmas on Canal on December 4th! So many businesses and people are chipping in to make our city the place to be during the Christmas season. The whole city is going to look beautiful, and we look forward to seeing all of the wonderful holiday decorations put up by our local businesses, too.

Catch up & Listen In: You can find all of our previous episodes, watch on YouTube, and listen to the podcast on Spotify! You can watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/xTlJg1jDa4U or listen directly on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0YN10BYzXEUgHcuxh5ZkgX?si=T7PozrfLQMe7kg75iFBSiA .

Visit the City of Picayune's official website at www.picayune.ms.us, where you’ll find direct links to our social media pages for even more city related content. Thank you for connecting with us, and we can't wait for you to listen in on our next episode!

Forrest Health

This episode of Small Town Chats with Mayor Luke was recorded on lo...

08/20/2026

City of Picayune Names Assistant Chief James Bolton as New Chief of Police

PICAYUNE, Miss. — The City of Picayune is proud to announce the appointment of Assistant Chief James Bolton as the city’s new Chief of Police. Following a competitive interview process conducted by a selection committee, City Manager Harvey Miller officially named Assistant Chief Bolton to lead the Picayune Police Department into its next chapter.
Bolton brings 35 years of law enforcement experience to the role. He began his public service career in Louisiana in 1991, working in corrections before moving to road patrol in 1995. In 2006, Bolton joined the Picayune Police Department, dedicating the last two decades directly to serving and protecting the Picayune community.

Over his 20-year tenure with Picayune PD, Bolton has served at nearly every level of the department, including Street, K-9, and Motor Patrols; Narcotics and Field Training Officer; Patrol Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain/Commander; before his appointment as Assistant Chief of Police in 2020. Throughout his time with the department, Bolton has also played an active role in identifying, writing, and managing departmental grants to secure critical resources and funding for public safety operations and equipment.

Strong community relations and public safety have remained central to Bolton’s leadership throughout his career. His appointment follows widespread support from local residents and business owners who contacted city leadership to advocate on his behalf. During the interview process, Bolton presented a clear vision to lead the department forward while reinforcing his lifelong commitment to public service.

"When I came to Picayune 20 years ago, my goal was to build my career here, serve this community, and eventually retire here. Serving as Chief of Police has always been a dream of mine," said Chief Bolton. "I got into law enforcement to treat people with dignity and respect, lead by example, and ensure our city remains a safe place to live and raise a family. I am deeply honored by this opportunity and look forward to continuing to serve Picayune to the best of my ability."

City leadership expressed complete confidence in Bolton’s ability to lead the department, pointing to his decades of proven service, leadership, and community dedication.

"Assistant Chief Bolton has proven his heart for this community time and time again over the past 20 years," said City Manager Harvey Miller. "We are confident he will continue to serve Picayune with honor and distinction as our next Chief of Police."

Current Chief Joe Quave announced in June that he will retire in September. The City of Picayune sincerely thanks Chief Quave for his dedicated service and leadership to our community.

Media Contact:
Lisa Albritton
Public Information Officer
City of Picayune
601-798-9079
[email protected]

08/17/2026

Celebrating Excellence at the City of Picayune!

We are proud to recognize two outstanding members of the City of Picayune team who were honored at our most recent City Council meeting!

🏆 Employee of the Year – 2026: Taylor Stockstill
Taylor was recognized for her proactive leadership, outstanding dedication, and willingness to go above and beyond for the City. Her “let’s get it done” attitude, teamwork, initiative, and commitment to keeping city operations running smoothly make her an invaluable part of our team.

⭐ Employee of the Quarter – 2nd Quarter 2026: Anthony Moore
Anthony was recognized for his outstanding dedication, hard work, and service to the City and the Public Works Department. His initiative, problem-solving abilities, proactive attitude, and commitment to excellence exemplify the very best of public service.

Please join us in congratulating Taylor and Anthony on these well-deserved honors! 🎉

Your dedication and hard work make a difference every day, and the City of Picayune is proud to have you on our team!

Congratulations, Taylor & Anthony! 👏👏

08/16/2026

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency will open five Disaster Service Centers at noon on Tuesday, August 18, to serve residents who suffered damage during Tropical Storm Arthur on June 18–20, 2026 (DR-4930-MS).

The centers will provide application assistance to residents in these four counties: Hancock, Harrison, Pearl River and Stone.

If a resident is unable to apply in person, individuals can apply for assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. For more information, read more here: https://www.msema.org/news/five-disaster-service-centers-open-survivors-tropical-storm-arthur