Dear Fellow Meridianite:

I have been busy over the past year developing various legislative and community outreach initiatives to benefit you. During that time, this website has been assembled in an effort to provide you with information on these items along with important City information that can help you identify and utilize your city services. Please check back on this website regularly for new information.

From 2005 to the present, my office put forth several initiatives which served as the foundation for efforts to revitalize our downtown area and neighborhoods throughout the City.
As your Councilmember for Ward 5, I am working hard to address these and other issues. And of course, I always welcome an invitation to your neighborhood meetings to learn more about you and discuss the latest legislative and community outreach initiatives from my office!

Rest assured that I want to know what your concerns are relating to issues in your community and items that you would like to see on this website. So please contact my office at 601-485-1959 or e-mail me at johnharris@meridianms.org .

Yours for a Better Meridian,

John C. Harris
John C. Harris, Councilman Ward 5




May 2006 Yard of the Month
David and Kathy Stehle reside at 3021 29th Avenue.

June 2006 Yard of the Month
Bobby and Pat Jarrett

August 2006 Yard of the Month
Lucky and Carolyn Lisenbe
1101 29th Ave

May 2007 Yard of the Month
Jesse and Joan Foster
2610 29th Ave

July 2007 Yard of the Month
Jinnell Miller

August 2007 Yard of the Month
Mrs. Billy Neville
3111-36th Street

April 2008 Yard of the Month
Pranee Fredrick
3902 Highland Ave

June’s Ward 5 Yard of the Month
Mrs. Reatha Powe
1717- 34th ave. 39301

Ward 5 Neighborhood Association Scholarship Check Awarded Pictured Left to Right: Councilman John C. Harris, Ward 5, Brittany Simmons, Freshman MCC, Dr. Tommy Mc Donald, Vice-President of Operations-MCC

Councilman John C. Harris with Secretary of State Eric Clark at the Mississippi Economic Council's "Hobnob" event

Gov Barbour’s visit to Meridian after 2005 Katrina. Picture taken at Fire Station #1

Councilman Harris at the Mission Meridian’s Fourth Annual Mayor’s Leadership Prayer Breakfast @ St. Patrick/St. Joseph Catholic Church. The Speakers were Judge Charles Pickering, Sr. Former Appellate Judge, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and Rev. Neddie Winters Executive Director, Mission Mississippi

Judge Charles Pickering, Sr.



June 8, 2006 Ward 5 meeting. Left to right: The Slays, Councilman Harris, Steve McCartney, James Harwell, Al Willis. Not pictured was Larry Primeaux and Charlotte Scott.
A few of the topics discussed at the Ward 5
meeting are listed below.
1. Police presence in the neighborhoods (speeding, crime).
2. Trash/City cleanliness (junk and abandon cars, burned and condemned homes).
3. City infrastructure needs (street paving, signage,
lights, and street markings).
4. Animal control (barking dogs).
5. The enforcement of City Ordinances (run down properties, vacant lots, radio noise) and
new legislation where it is applicable.
6. Accountability at all levels of City Government (city vehicles and gas usage, spending)

Boys and Girls Club Fundraiser
Rickey Hood-Director
Councilman Harris
Mayor Smith
Duce McAllister-Saints

This is the ground breaking of the 2007 Meridian Crossroads.

Newton County Medgar Ever's Unveiling of Historical Marker
January 15, 2007
Commeration Committee is pictured above.

Front--Reena Evers Everette, Daughter of Medgar Evers
Top Left-- Charles Evers, Brother of Medgar Evers
Top Left-- John C. Harris, Meridian City Councilman Ward 5
Top Center-- James (Jim) Evans, MS House of Rep District 70
Top Center--- James E. Graves, MS Supreme Court Justice
Bottom Right---- Bill May, Attorney and Master of Order/Co-Chair

Councilman Harris at the Jimmie Rodgers Blues Trail dedication

Jimmie Rodgers Blues Trail Marker

The West Alabama-East Mississippi Regional Initiative Governors' Summit
Alabama Southern Community College
May 14, 2007

Councilman Harris with Governor Bob Riley
(photo courtesy of Ken Smith, DBA Mockingbird photography, Monroeville, AL 251-564-7873)

Councilman Harris with Governor Haley Barbour and 1st Lady Marsha Barbour
(photo courtesy of Ken Smith, DBA Mockingbird photography, Monroeville, AL 251-564-7873)

Love's Kitchen
The Milken Festival of Youth Community Service Celebration
Pictured are (left to right);

Rev. Greg Proctor of St. Paul Episcopal Church
Ruthy Irwin, Exec. Director of Love's Kitchen
Ward 5 Councilman, John C. Harris
Mandy Goldman, 2004 Milken Education Award Recipient
Greg Gallagher with the Milken Family Foundation

Councilman Harris with Senator Trent Lott at the ribbon cutting of the HOPE 6 project, May 19, 2007

Councilman Harris with Congressman Chip Pickering at the ribbon cutting of the HOPE 6 project, May 19, 2007

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The Push America "Journey of Hope" bike tour stopped in Meridian the weekend of July 24, 2007. This was day 49 of their tour. The pictures below are of their arrival, and Councilman Harris joining them in prayer as they set off for their next stop. The group stayed at the MCC Myrtle Estes Dormitory. See their itinerary at PushAmerica.org

Councilman Harris at a reception for
Meco and Mrs. Beasley Denson,
held at the Union Station, sponsored by EMBDC
and the Meridian ARTS Council in November 2007.

Councilman Harris with Oprah, during her recent visit to Meridian.

Councilman Harris and Oprah's personal trainer, Bob Green, during his recent visit to Meridian with Oprah.

Pictured from left to right:

Mrs. Nita Neville, Love's Kitchen Board President, Tametria Conner, WTOK reporter, Mr. John C. Harris, Ward 5 City Councilman.
Back: Ruthie Irvin, Love's Kitchen Executive Director.
Love's Kitchen in its new location at 801 18th Ave.

Hazardous Waste Pick-up Day.

Back row left Eddie Durr.
Left to right Councilman Harris, David Buckner, John King,
Al Kennedy, and David Tamayo.

Former President Bill Clinton’s 2008 visit to Meridian with Councilman Harris
The event took place at the Meridian Community College.

Author and Writer John Grisham and Councilman Harris

Meridian Police Officers Steve Thomas and Guton Montgomery, Meridian Community College Campus Police Officer George Riordan and John C. Harris, Meridian Ward 5 Councilman/MCC Chief of Campus Police at the 2008 Graduation of Class # 222(MLETOA-Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy).

Meridian Police Officers Steve Thomas and Guton Montgomery, Meridian Community College Campus Police Officer George Riordan and John C. Harris, Meridian Ward 5 Councilman/MCC Chief of Campus Police at the 2008 Graduation of Class # 222(MLETOA-Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy).

This is a photo of a group introducing the City’s 2008
“Week of Reconciliation” on July 6th-12th in memory of the Lockheed victims of July 2003.
The proclamation was issued by Meridian’s Mayor John Robert Smith.
Pictured from left to right are;
Mrs. Jinnelle Miller, the wife of the late Rev. Charles J. Miller.
Danielle Winningham, Public Relations Coordinator
East Mississippi Business Development Corporation.
Ward 5 City Councilman/ Mission Meridian’s President, John C. Harris.
Charlotte Scott, Executive Director of Mission Meridian (A Reconciliation Ministry).
Stacy Miller, the daughter of the late Rev. Charles J. Miller.

Fire Station # 8.
This is the newest station in Ward 5.

Ribbon cutting at Fire Station # 8.

Grand Opening of Fire Station # 8.