Twenty-seven Jones County volunteer firefighters were honored Saturday night at the JCJC Whitehead Advanced Technology Center for completing extensive training leading to certification. Twenty of the volunteer firefighters completed the Mississippi Certified Volunteer Firefighter 1 course, which encompassed over 140 hours of classroom and practical instruction.

Additionally, these firefighters had to attend a skills check-off training at the Mississippi State Fire Academy and all successfully passed. Seven other volunteer firefighters completed the Medical First Responder training leading to certification as nationally registered medical first responders. This training encompassed 40 hours of classroom and practical instruction and at least another 40 hours of home study.

Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna served as master of ceremonies for the evening ceremony, which included the invocation by Jones County Fire Chaplain Drew Blanton. 

Speakers for the ceremony included Andy Dial, president of the Jones County Board of Supervisors; Regina Kitchens, JCJC coordinator for workforce development; Edwin Blue, Firefighter 1 instructor; Stacy Brownlee with Rustin VFD, who spoke on behalf of the class; Lance Chancellor, who spoke on behalf of MFR Instructor Keith McMullen; and guest speaker George Stevens, who serves as the Lamar County fire coordinator.

The graduates of the Firefighter 1 course included:

Matthew Runnels – Boggy VFD

Dustin Gatlin – Boggy VFD

Jessie Jones – Boggy VFD

Daniel Holifield – Glade VFD

Chase Holifield – Glade VFD

Billy Smith – Hebron VFD

Brian Smith – Southwest Jones VFD

Wanda Welsh – Ovett VFD

Sally McRainey – Moselle VFD

Melissa Anderson – Moselle VFD