Ellington

The Laurel Leader-Call plans to close this week. The paper announced that this Thursday's edition will be the last for the newspaper, which celebrated its 100th birthday last year.

In a statement announcing the closure, publisher Michael D. Lynch said the paper "has been privileged to serve the community for many years."

Six months ago, the Leader-Call went from a daily newspaper to four days per week. The paper employs 18 people.

The Leader-Call began in 1911 as the Laurel Daily Argus, and has been known as the Leader-Call since 1930. In 1999, a subsidiary of Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. purchased the paper.

Laurel, which is located about 30 miles northeast of Hattiesburg, has a population of about 18,500.