JEFF BYRD | The Greenwood Commonwealth

Author Role

Staff Writer

The entire Greenwood Fire Department shift unit that responded on Feb. 16 and saved a man from a burning building are: front row, from left, Tajayus Tyler, Antonio Kinnel, Malik Branch, Nathaniel Anderson and Eliot Taylor; back row, Capt. Jamie Simon, Capt. Shun Byrd, Division Training Chief Chris Glass, rescuee Richard McIntee, Lt. Julian Beamon, Capt. Lavar Bolden and Lt. Travell James. Not pictured is Isaiah Riley. (By Johnny Jennings, Copyright 2024 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.)

free content

Greenwood Fire Department: Teamwork
By JEFF BYRD - Staff Writer
Mon,04/29/24-12:00PM , 2507 Reads
On the morning of Feb. 16, Richard McIntee awoke to a frightening scene.

The McLaurin Street building he was living in was on fire.
“I got up and saw smoke. I lived on the second floor, so I headed to the hallway, and then I saw a whole lot of smoke and fire. It was too much,” McIntee said.

READ MORE

Shun Pearson works on hitting with Legacee Miller at T-ball practice Thursday at Clerico Park. The C Spire Braves team is one of the youth programs in which Pearson is involved in Leflore County. (By Jeff Byrd, Copyright 2024 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.)

premium content - for subscribers only
Click to subscribe

Life lessons: Pearson uses his experiences to guide young people
By JEFF BYRD - Staff Writer
Sat,04/27/24-2:00AM , 7245 Reads
What should have been the biggest night of Shun Pearson’s basketball career was one filled with regret.
More than 28 years ago, the former Amanda Elzy High School guard had to watch his team, Mississippi Valley State University, play top-ranked Georgetown, live on CBS, from his dorm room.
READ MORE

Jeff Byrd Bill Clay, director at the Greenwood Mentoring Group, stands by the organization’s building. The mentoring group will host the annual community prayer breakfast at the Leflore County Civic Center. The event starts at 9 a.m. and breakfast will be served at 9:20. (By Jeff Byrd, Copyright 2024 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.)

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

Mentoring group to hold prayer breakfast May 4
By JEFF BYRD - Staff Writer
Fri,04/26/24-2:00AM , 1655 Reads
For the 18th year, the Greenwood Mentoring Group is sponsoring its annual community prayer breakfast, which will be held May 4.
The fundraising event will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Leflore County Civic Center. A donation of $25 is requested, with the funds going toward free services for the community’s children.
READ MORE

premium content - for subscribers only
Click to subscribe

Citizens discuss solutions to crime
By JEFF BYRD - Staff Writer
Tue,04/23/24-2:00AM , 5730 Reads
With three homicides in Leflore County in April and seven overall through the first 3½ months of 2024, a group of concerned citizens met Saturday to discuss solutions.
READ MORE

Subscribe to JEFF BYRD

The E-Edition

Weekend, February 21-22, 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