KATHRYN EASTBURN | The Greenwood Commonwealth

Leflore County volunteer first responders man stations in Itta Bena, Minter City, Morgan City, Schlater, Phillipston, Sidon, Money and one just outside the Greenwood city limits on Mississippi 7. Pictured are 15 who were first responders at the plane crash in western Leflore County last week: front row, from left, Kyle Mueller, Rob Grantham, Chris Denley, Chris Walker, Leflore County Fire Coordinator Bobby Norwood, Dave Kelly, Doug Clark and Brice Fulgham; back row, Chris Kelly, Jason Doyle, Trey Kelly, Paul Haley, Michael Walker, William Tucker and Virgil Scallion.

registered content - login required to view
Click to register / login

Thank you, first responders
By KATHRYN EASTBURN - Staff Writer

Tue,07/18/17-6:06PM , 319 Reads
First on the scene whenever there is an emergency beyond Greenwood city limits, including at the military plane crash in western Leflore County on July 10, are a dedicated group of highly trained volunteer firefighters you may or may not know.

Chances are you don’t.
READ MORE

Dr. Jerryl Briggs, acting president of Mississippi Valley State University, tells the Greenwood Rotary Club on Monday that he has not decided whether he will put himself in the running to be the new president of Valley.

free content

Valley leader owes it all to mother
By KATHRYN EASTBURN - Staff Writer

Tue,07/18/17-6:06PM , 174 Reads
Dr. Jerryl Briggs, acting president of Mississippi Valley State University, says he is a “self-proclaimed Mama’s boy.”
READ MORE

free content

Marine mission: search, preserve
By KATHRYN EASTBURN -
Staff Writer

Tue,07/18/17-6:06PM , 119 Reads
Officials say the current focus on the investigation of a July 10 plane crash in western Leflore County is on “preservation of equipment and impact sites” — namely, retrieving and archiving all pieces of the aircraft and its cargo at the crash sites and maintaining the integrity of the scene.
READ MORE

Navy Cmdr. James Mucha, a chaplain from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, prays Sunday evening during a vigil at Darby Park to remember the 16 servicemen killed on July 10 in a plane crash in western Leflore County. Mucha thanked the local community and the state of Mississippi for the generosity expressed in the past week.

premium content - for subscribers only
Click to subscribe

Vigil for the fallen
By KATHRYN EASTBURN - Staff Writer

Mon,07/17/17-6:37PM , 186 Reads
About 100 people gathered Sunday evening in Itta Bena to honor the 16 servicemen who died in a military plane crash in western Leflore County on July 10.
READ MORE

Subscribe to KATHRYN EASTBURN

The E-Edition

Weekend, March 07-08, 2026

Join Those Who Support Local News

Local news matters to Greenwood. It keeps the people informed and connected. It asks the questions they want answered. It elevates what’s good, and it exposes what’s not.

To do that work well takes skilled reporters and editors, as many as a community can support through advertising, subscriptions and philanthropy.

The Greenwood Commonwealth expanded its newsroom in 2025 by adding Gerard Edic as a reporter covering public safety and other stories of interest to the community.

His position is partially funded by a two-year grant from Report for America, a national nonprofit. Generous supporters in the community donated the matching funds in the first year. We are now raising funds for Year 2.

Will you join this effort with a tax-deductible contribution?

Donate