National Guard: Helicopters unrelated to Ellis reopening

National Guard helicopters low over Neshoba County Tuesday evening were part of a regular training exercise and not connected to Marty Stuart's Ellis Theater grand reopening later this week, a National Guard spokesman said Wednesday.

Daniel Szarek, deputy director of Public Affairs for the Mississippi National Guard, said they had two helicopters operating in the area between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Philadelphia Municipal Airport. Szarek said that information comes from the State Army Aviation Office.

Szarek confirmed that neither aircraft was an Apache helicopter, as was previously reported by the Democrat, but were instead cargo and utility helicopters.

Despite social media speculation, Szarek said the helicopters had nothing to do with the grand reopening of the Ellis Theater downtown later this week as part of the Marty Stuart Congress of Country Music.

“Neither pilot nor crew reported anything out of the ordinary, and the mission had nothing to do with the newly reopened theater and upcoming concerts,” Szarek said.

Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark had said on Tuesday, “It’s just an exercise. There is no danger.”

Residents reported multiple helicopters low over town and even in the county around Stallo.

“Everything is safe,” the Sheriff said.

Neshoba 911 Communications received several calls, Clark said, but there was no danger to residents.

Szarek echoed Clark’s remarks.

“Sheriff Clark was accurate in his assessment of our presence as it was a simple National Guard mission and presented no danger to the citizens of our state,” Szarek said.

The reopening of the renovated Ellis Theater downtown marks the opening of Marty Stuart’s Congress of Country Music.

Renovation of the Ellis began earlier this year with funding from the Legislature. The theater was stripped to the frame and is being formed into a state-of-the-art performance venue.

Stuart and his band, the Fabulous Superlatives, will headline the opening night  Thursday, Dec. 8, with two performances at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Ricky Skaggs will perform two Friday night shows at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Vince Gill will put on two shows Saturday night starting at 9:30 pm. And 11:30 p.m.

The Bill Gaither Vocal Band will close the weekend Sunday afternoon with showtimes at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

For more information, go to the Congress of County Music.