Area News

Special to The Leland Progress Leland High School senior Horacito Clark signed to attend Mississippi Delta Community Collegeduring a ceremony April 15 at Leland High School. Clark was joined by family members, including his grandmother, Shelia Whitt, and mother, Stephanie Woodruff, along with school and district officials. Those in attendance included Superintendent Jessie King, Principal…

Special to The Leland Progress A new memoir by Rhonda Lynn DiBiase explores grief, faith and the long process of letting go after the loss of a parent. DiBiase, a Hollandale native now living in Leland, will sign copies of her book, Fear Finds Faith, at the Torry Woods Memorial Library in Hollandale on April 25…

Students in the Leland School District participated in a college and career fair March 20, connecting with universities, workforce programs, local businesses and first responders. The event provided students with opportunities to explore post-secondary options, ask questions and learn about career pathways. Participating institutions included the University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi Valley State University, Rust…

Edna M. Scott Elementary School students recently filled their school with blue to show their love and support for autism awareness. School officials say that “seeing everyone come together to celebrate kindness, understanding and inclusion truly made this day special.” The observance of World Autism Day was crafted to allow students to support the ideas…

The Leland Chamber of Commerce recognized local leaders, businesses and organizations at its annual banquet in March. The 2026 award winners are: ● Business of the Year – Thompson House Inn (Dr. Misty Galloway and Jerry Galloway) ● Teacher of the Year – Varsha Sharma ● Taylor Webb Award – Owen Houston ● Community Service…

  A visiting New York poet, Nancy Dafoe, and Delta artist Jamie Tate of Indianola drew a full crowd recently at The Next Chapter Bookstore for a signing event, poetry reading and art exhibition. The event brought readers, art lovers and residents into the downtown shop for a meet-and-greet and book signing, with light refreshments…

By Guest Columnist Jacob Venuti The Venuti family is marking a remarkable milestone in 2026: 80 years of service to the community, built on hard work, family legacy, and a commitment to helping others in times of need. The story begins in 1946, when Vincent Paul Venuti Sr. founded the town’s first towing service, originally…

Bush’s Kountry Cafe in Leland, MS doesn’t introduce itself. It doesn’t need to. You walk in and understand immediately what kind of place it is. Red-and-white checkered tablecloths stretch across the room—not styled, not nostalgic on purpose, just there, doing their job. The walls carry a mix of black-and-white and color photographs, layered without hierarchy,…

What do you do when you are staring at something that feels impossible? Do you shrivel up in fear, shore up in faith, or shrink back in defeat? For many people, the word impossible is enough to drain their strength. They throw up their hands, sigh deeply, and decide it is not worth the effort.…

The Leland High School (LHS) Class of 2011 is marking its fiftteen-year class reunion milestone with what class representatives say is a way to give back to the next generation of LHS graduates. The Class of 2011 will be awarding a $500 academic scholarship to a Class of 2026 LHS senior. Those eligible to apply…