CHARLIE SMITH | The Greenwood Commonwealth

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Man faces kidnapping charge
By CHARLIE SMITH - News Editor

Thu,01/06/11-12:56PM , 146 Reads
The Leflore County Sheriff’s Department has arrested one suspect allegedly involved in a gruesome kidnapping in Itta Bena and is looking for several more.

Rodriquez D. Ward, 20, 121 Bradley Circle, Indianola, was picked up by federal marshals in Indianola Wednesday, Sheriff Ricky Banks said.
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Leflore County Supervisor Robert Moore, center, makes a point Tuesday during discussion of a health clinic sublease. In the left foreground is Larry Griggs, a representative of the clinic. At right is Supervisor Preston Ratliff.

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Supervisors OK clinic sublease
By CHARLIE SMITH - News Editor

Wed,01/05/11-5:53PM , 120 Reads
The city and county co-own both Greenwood Leflore Hospital and a former vocational building on U.S. 82.

But if the hospital leases part of the vo-tech facility, the rent won’t go to either of its owners.

Instead the funds will be channeled to a nonprofit agency running a new free health clinic.
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County Administrator Sam Abraham, center, speaks during a board meeting Tuesday. At left is Board President Wayne Self. At right is Supervisor Phil Wolfe.

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Board reappoints Abraham, other officials
By CHARLIE SMITH - News Editor

Wed,01/05/11-1:00PM , 369 Reads
Leflore County supervisors voted 3-2 to reappoint county officials Tuesday during their first meeting of the year.

Votes fell along the Board of Supervisors’ normal pattern: Wayne Self, Robert Collins and Phil Wolfe on one side, and Preston Ratliff and Robert Moore on the other.
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Ervin Course tells the story Thursday of how he shot an alleged robber outside his home at 808 Broad St. Course has been charged with aggravated assault, and the case is set to go before a grand jury.

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Crime or self-defense?: Broad Street man shot neighbor who allegedly stole saw
By CHARLIE SMITH - News Editor
Sun,01/02/11-1:00AM , 183 Reads
Ervin Course doesn’t dispute that he shot a man who was on his property at 808 Broad St.

But the 56-year-old longtime Greenwood resident maintains the victim had earlier stolen his saw and was coming back for more. Course said it was self-defense protected by the state’s “castle doctrine” law.
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