Uncategorized - City of Laurel

March of the Mayors: A Powerful Showing of Community Impact

Each year, communities across Mississippi come together for one shared purpose—to fight hunger and support neighbors in need. The 2026 March of the Mayors campaign once again proved what is possible when people unite around that mission.

Take a look at the impact made possible this year:

1 mission – 5 regions
63 mayors supporting 69 food pantries
11,160 boxes packed in 2026
44,512 boxes packed over six years—providing more than 1.3 million meals

This year’s effort marked a significant increase from 2025. Together, communities packed more than 3,000 additional food boxes, resulting in an estimated 334,000 meals for Mississippi families—a nearly 32% increase in impact.

Here in Laurel, that same spirit of generosity was on full display. Residents, businesses, and community partners rallied together to collect more than 2,400 cans of tuna in support of the campaign, surpassing local goals and making a meaningful contribution to the statewide effort.

March of the Mayors continues to demonstrate that even small acts—like donating a single can—can add up to something extraordinary. Behind every number is a family who will have food on the table because of the compassion and commitment shown by communities like ours.

We are grateful to everyone who volunteered, donated, and supported this year’s campaign. Laurel gives big—and together, we are making a difference.

As we look forward to summer’s last hurrah on Memorial Day weekend, Ms. Shirley Jordan, former councilwoman for Ward 7, wanted to thank Tiffanie Brown, Thee Elite Prancing Diamonds, and the community of Ward 7 for making this year’s summer camp a success that provided hours of summer fun for our local children.

Ms. Jordan sent the following message:

Tiffanie Brown of the Queensburg Community deserves to be commended for the remarkable success of the Ward 7 Summer Camp, held at the Oak Park Alumni Building. According to Ms. Brown, this year's camp saw the attendance of approximately 100 or more children and sponsored by Tiffanie Brown and Thee Elite Prancing Diamonds. When asked if she was accepting donations, she replied, "no ma'am, but I would love for you to come by," which I did, but never came empty-handed. It’s about the children and what she had purpose for the kids. She ensured the kids were engaged in different activities every day, bringing joy and excitement to their summer. Not only did she sponsor and host the camp, but she also provided transportation for the kids who lacked it, ensuring they received breakfast before starting their activities. Tiffanie Brown, a mother of four children, truly has a heart of gold and is an unsung hero in the Queensburg Community!

Thank you, Tiffanie!

As Mayor Johnny Magee embarks on his new term, he has plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future of Laurel and Jones County. Some have to do with the outstanding young people in this community and their dedication to service.

In his remarks during the city’s inauguration program last month, Mayor Magee shared a moving story about how two of the city’s youngest residents helped restore his optimism.

Mayor Magee explained that running a campaign has its highs and lows and some days are quite low indeed. “If you have never run a campaign, you don’t know what those days are like,” he said. “On May 23^rd, I was having one of those days.”

His gloomy day was turned upside down when two young ladies, Diana Peffley (11), and her sister Claire Peffley (9), dropped by to pay him a visit. He explained that he has always maintained an open-door policy and that day, the siblings, accompanied by their grandmother, came to visit because the homeschooled girls were interested in seeing City Hall and meeting the city’s mayor.

During their meeting, they presented him with a drawing they’d made featuring a rainbow and the words “Best Mayor Ever” and made each girl made a cash contribution to his campaign to show their support.

“I couldn’t argue with her,” Magee said as he held up the artwork during his inaugural address. He was moved by their kind words and support. “When this happened, it was like somebody just poured onion juice in my eyes,” he said.

To show his appreciation for their words of kindness and encouragement, he invited them to join him and his daughter, Bernadette Magee Henderson, onstage as he took his oath of office.

Also, in May, Mayor Magee presented a Key to the City to Jayden Olson, 17, who has been working diligently to learn more about local government and encouraging his peers to do the same. Olson received the honor on May 22, the day after graduating 5^th in his class at West Jones High School.

The plaque presented by Mayor Magee read:

Key to the City of Laurel, Mississippi presented to Jayden Olson May 22, 2025 By Mayor Johnny Magee in recognition of your dedication to youth engagement in local government. Your commitment to community involvement exemplifies the spirit of Laurel. As you embark on new endeavors, may this key be a symbol of the doors you will open and a reminder that Laurel will always welcome you home.

In addition to completing over 300 hours of volunteer work outside of church duties, Olson has served on the student council and created the Mayor’s Youth Council for the City of Laurel.

Olson brought his idea for a youth council to Mayor Magee this spring and Mayor Magee recommended it to the city council. They approved it on May 6^th.

The MYC will feature two students from each ward and one student as a member at-large who will meet to learn about things that are going on in the city and to provide their feedback to the mayor about all things Laurel. Students selected must be in grades 10-12^th and must be in good standing in their communities and school.

Olson explained that he got the idea when he attended Loblolly with his family. “I had a lot of fun at Loblolly. I noticed that we had a lot of fun but that was only one day a year. There’s nothing for young people to do,” he said. This observation, led him to think of creating a group designed to provide feedback to community leaders about the concerns that young people in Laurel and Jones County have about the quality-of-life issues that matter most to them.

In the fall, Olson plans on attending the University of Mississippi to major in business.

Receiving a key to the city is a symbolic gesture that dates back to medieval Europe when cities were fortified and a key to the city signified that the bearer, usually a guest to the city, was free to enter and exit at will. Today, cities bestow keys on individuals to recognize a special service or a notable accomplishment.

Kind, thoughtful, and service minded young people like Olson and the Peffleys continue to give Mayor Magee optimism about the future.

“This is the reason that Laurel continues to grow,” he said during his inauguration remarks, pointing out that the city has some of the best people in it. “This is the reason that Laurel continues to prosper. Laurel will continue to be the best City in the State of Mississippi.”

On Tuesday, July 8^th at 10 a.m. members of the community gathered at Mason Park to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the Laurel-Jones County Story Walk at Mason Park. The Story Walk features laminated book pages on stands that allow young readers to read a story as they enjoy a walking trail in the popular park. To view the event, visit: https://www.facebook.com/jonescountychamber/videos/588619420711608

In order to enhance public safety, especially that of the city’s young people, Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee issued an executive order on Wednesday, July 9^th to expand the city’s curfew for minors. Currently, the curfew for minors is from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.

The new executive order will expand the curfew so that it applies to all seven days of the week.

However, several exceptions will still apply. A minor will not be deemed to be in violation of the curfew if they are:

With their parent or legal guardian.
Running an errand directly for their parent or guardian, without making any stops along the way.
In a car traveling across state lines.
Going to or coming from a job, as long as it’s within 45 minutes before or after their work shift, and they have a written statement from their employer showing they are employed.
Dealing with an emergency.
On the sidewalk right outside their home or a next-door neighbor’s home—unless that neighbor has reported them to the police.
Attending a school, church, city-sponsored, or civic event supervised by adults, as long as the event is held at a location owned or leased by the sponsoring group, or at a business where adults are in charge and are responsible for the minor. The minor must stay inside the building during curfew hours unless they’re going straight there or heading straight home afterward without stopping anywhere else.
Participating in a First Amendment activity, like attending a religious service, speaking at a protest, or joining a peaceful assembly.
Married, previously married, legally emancipated, or otherwise recognized as independent under Mississippi law.
Covered under any of the exceptions listed in Mississippi’s Compulsory School Attendance Law (Section 37-13-91 of the Mississippi Code).
Attending the South Mississippi Fair during its annual week at the Laurel Fairgrounds, or traveling directly to or from the fair without stopping anywhere else.

“We want to make sure that our young people are safe every night and are being properly supervised by their parents and caregivers. We believe that expanding the curfew to apply to every night of the week, will help us keep everyone safe and secure so that Laurel can continue to be a great place to live, work, and play,” Mayor Magee explained.

More information can be found in the City of Laurel’s Code of Ordinances.

Laurel resident Frank Dunn recently paid a visit to City Hall to praise the work that the water department did in fixing an issue he was having. “They could not have handled it better,” he said. “When people do a good job, it needs to be told.”

During his visit with Mayor Magee, he had high praise for the city in general. Dunn, an Ansonia, Connecticut native, has lived in Arizona and Florida and was living in Arizona when he retired a few years ago.

Since he and his wife have children (and grandchildren) living in Virginia, Florida, Missouri, and Arizona, they decided to look at a map, chose a location that would be most central to those areas, and decided to come to Mississippi.

At first, the only city they were aware of in the state was Jackson, but they soon learned about Laurel from HGTV’s Home Town and decided to check it out.

It was the right call. “We love it here,” Dunn said. They knew they made the right choice when, after a long day of unpacking in their new home, their new neighbors brought over a dinner of pork chops, brownies, and sweet tea.

As far as the Dunn’s are concerned, Laurel isn’t just The City Beautiful- it’s the City Hospitable, too!

(Photo by Caroline Burks)

On Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at 10 a.m. members of the community gathered to celebrate the inauguration of Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee and the members of the city council.

The program and a subsequent reception, hosted by Laurel Main Street, were held at the Y.W.C.O. in downtown Laurel where Mr. Malik Davis served as the master of ceremonies for the event.

The presentation of colors was provided by Troop 29 of the Boy Scouts of America (Second Allen AME Church) and Troop 33 (First Methodist Church of Laurel) led the pledge of allegiance.