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Page 1B
Daily Corinthian
Vol. 117, No. 96
• Corinth, Mississippi •
Mostly sunny
Today
Tonight
68
47
0% chance of rain
28 pages • Two sections
Police recover more Curtis in court:
than 40 stolen signs ‘I didn’t do it’
BY HOLBROOK MOHR
& JESSICA GRESKO
Associated Press
OXFORD — Federal authorities have produced scant
evidence linking a Mississippi
man to the mailing of ricinlaced letters to the president
and a senator, his attorney
says.
Christi McCoy said after
a court hearing Friday that
the government has offered
no evidence to prove her client, Paul Kevin Curtis, had
Daily Corinthian
Farmington Police Tony Holmes and Jerry Mayhall sort through the more than 40 road signs recovered on Friday.
Investigation continues; charges will be filed
BY BOBBY J. SMITH
Farmington police recovered
more than 40 stolen road signs on
Friday afternoon.
The signs included railroad
crossing signs, speed limit and
stop signs, “Do Not Enter” signs,
county road markers, a sign warning motorists to look out for horseand-buggies (apparently from an
Please see CURTIS | 2A
Corinth tornado
began one career
Sunday
April 21, 2013
Staff photo Bobby J. Smith
[email protected]
possession of any ricin or the
seed from which it is extracted
— castor beans. An FBI agent
testified during the hearing
that he could not say if investigators had found ricin
at Curtis’ home, and McCoy
said the evidence linking the
45-year-old to the crime so
far has hinged on his writings
posted online.
He is adamant that he did
not do this, and she said she
Amish community), a “No Dumping” sign, a road construction barrel, a marker designating Brandi
Road — and many, many more.
All of the signs were confiscated
at a residence in the Farmington
community shortly after 3 p.m.
on Friday, said Deputy Chief of
Police Jerry Mayhall.
“We went to the house looking for somebody we wanted and
found all of those signs,” Mayhall
said.
The investigation is ongoing,
Mayhall said, and charges are on
the way.
“To this extreme, it’s not going
to be tolerated,” he said.
While they know the signs were
stolen, one of the biggest jobs will
Please see SIGNS | 3A
BY JEBB JOHNSTON
[email protected]
As a young boy, Troy Kimmel
Jr. was frightened by lightning
and thunder.
Now, as a meteorologist, big
storms are his bread and butter.
One tragic day in Corinth
— April 19, 1970 — helped set
him on his future path when a
deadly tornado swept through
the city. South Corinth took the
brunt of the storm, which killed
four or five people, depending
on whether a man who had a
heart attack at the time is included.
A native of Kilgore, Texas,
Kimmel and his family came to
Corinth in the late 1960s with
Pepsi Cola.
“My dad came up and opened
up the Pepsi
plant
that
is the old
white building that sits
on the hill on
Johns Street
even today,”
said Kimmel,
who shared
his memoKimmel
ries on the
43rd anniversary of the storm.
Please see TORNADO | 3A
Alcorn County health Friends, family wish Bynum well
officials offer free shots
BY JEBB JOHNSTON
[email protected]
BY STEVE BEAVERS
[email protected]
The Alcorn County Health
Department will be recognizing National Infant Immunization Week by offering free
shots starting Monday.
Free
immunization
for
youngsters
two
months
through the age of 18 begin at
8 a.m. Monday and continue
through Friday.
“We are hoping to have a big
response,” said Alcorn County
Coordinating Nurse Ellen Hendrix. “A free clinic is offered every year, but most of the time
people wait to the last minute
to get their child immunized.”
Should individuals not take
advantage of the free opportunity week, a $10 fee will be
charged the rest of the year.
“No appointment is necessary,” said Hendrix.
The health department staff
is providing free immunization
from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday.
Vaccinations during the
promotion include protection
for infants, children and adolescents against the following
diseases: Diphtheria, Tetanus,
Pertussis, Polio, Haemophilus
influenzae type b (Hib), Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella (chicken pox), Hepatitis
A, Hepatitis B, Pneumococcal,
Meningococcal, HPV and Rotavirus.
The Mississippi State Department of Health recommends immunizations for infants and children from birth
through 18 years of age for
protection against childhood
diseases.
Seventh graders entering
the eighth grade are required
to have a Tdap shot. The shot
protects against diphtheria,
tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough).
“We are planning for 150
doses of each age group and we
can get more if needed,” said
the coordinating nurse. “Parents need to see that their children get their shots now and
out of the way before waiting
just days before school starts.”
“Immunizations are essential to give infants and growing children a healthy start in
life,” added MSDH State EpiPlease see SHOTS | 2A
Jim Bynum is enjoying a
new chapter in life.
Friends, family and associates gathered at City Hall
Friday afternoon to wish him
well after his recent retirement from the City of Corinth.
Known for his jovial personality and 24/7 dedication to the
job of street commissioner,
Bynum enjoyed meeting a big
crowd of well-wishers.
He had managed Corinth’s
streets and sanitation since
1999.
“I enjoyed being able to help
other people,” he said. “My
biggest concern was the safety
of the people, whether it was
their home and property or
the streets they drove on.”
He worked a couple of years
with the Corinth Street Department in the late 1980s.
From there, he went to the
Corinth Gas & Water Department for a couple of years and
then the Corinth Housing Authority for seven years before
returning to the street department.
Whenever snow or ice struck
in the middle of the night, a
tree fell across the street or the
underpass flooded, Bynum
and his crew were on the case.
Index
Stocks......8A
Classified......5B
Comics Inside
State......5A
Weather......9A
Obituaries......6A
Opinion......4A
Sports....10A
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Dorothy Hopkins congratulates Jim Bynum on his retirement at
City Hall Friday.
He admits it wasn’t always
easy.
“It was stressful at times,
more so than I thought I could
handle,” he said.
A memorable challenge during his time was the May 2010
flood, which brought concerns
about adequate drainage to
the fore. As luck would have
it, he was working with the
street department on the two
occasions in the past 25 years
when Corinth had 8 to 10
inches of snowfall.
He also dealt with animal
control.
“He gave everything each
and every day,” said Mayor
Tommy Irwin. “They don’t
make them like Jim Bynum
very often.”
Please see BYNUM | 2A
On this day in history 150 years ago
Grierson’s Raid. After a skirmish at Palo Alto, Miss. Grierson
splits his force and sends half the men back to LaGrange. The
Confederates take the bait and follow the column heading north
which leaves Grierson to continue south to Newton Station.
Local
2A • Daily Corinthian
Sunday, April 21, 2013
BYNUM
CONTINUED FROM 1A
Jerry Latch, former
mayor, also had high
praise.
“He’s a dedicated
employee that you just
don’t find anymore,” he
said. “Jim loved his job.
That was his life.”
Now, Bynum is enjoying working as a volun-
teer at the Alcorn County
Veterans Service Office.
As a Vietnam veteran,
he said he is happy to be
able to help other veterans.
He also might find
time to do a little fishing
or head down to Florida
to visit one of his sisters.
“I plan to enjoy life,”
he said.
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Alcorn County Health Department RN Haley Moore
talks with 17-month-old brothers Camden (left) and
Carter Hendrix. The local health department is observing National Infant Immunization Week by offering free shots starting Monday. Free immunization
for youngsters two months through the age of 18
begin at 8 a.m. Monday.
SHOTS
CONTINUED FROM 1A
demiologist Dr. Thomas
Dobbs. “Statistics have
shown dramatic declines
in vaccine-preventable
illnesses and deaths in
Mississippi, thanks to
appropriate immunizations … immunization is
the best protection we
can offer our children
against often deadly diseases.”
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Many family members, including some who flew to Corinth, attended the retirement reception for Jim Bynum. In front is his grandson, Sean Phillip Colvert. The rest are, from left, brother-in-law Brian Peterman;
sister Mary Allie Peterman; sister Vickie Lassiter; son Ward Bynum; Jim Bynum; daughter Dawn Colvert,
and son-in-law Phil Colvert.
CURTIS
CONTINUED FROM 1A
has seen nothing to prove
him wrong.
Curtis was ushered into
the courtroom before the
hearing began in an orange jail jumpsuit and
shackles. He turned to
face his daughter in the
audience before the hearing and whispered, “I
didn’t do it.”
Prosecutors had wanted to delay the hearing
because searches of Curtis home and car had not
been completed and DNA
and other tests are pending.
Curtis’ brother Jack
Curtis and 20-year-old
daughter Madison Curtis
watched the court proceeding and said afterward they are not convinced he did what he is
accused of, even though
they tried to keep an
open mind about what
would be presented.
“After hearing what I
heard in this courtroom,
it appears to me that the
reason I haven’t been
provided any evidence is
there appears to be none
that would link my brother directly to the charges
that have been made,”
Jack Curtis said after the
hearing.
So far, Paul Kevin Curtis is the primary focus
for investigators and the
only person arrested in
connection with sending
those letters and a third
threatening letter mailed
to a judge. But during a
hearing Friday, FBI agent
Brandon M. Grant testified that authorities were
still trying to determine
whether there were any
co-conspirators.
As the hearing went on
for roughly two hours,
Grant said under questioning by Curtis’ attorney that he could not say
whether any ricin had
been found at Curtis’
home because the investigation was ongoing. Investigators had found a
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package they were interested in, but Grant said
he did not know what was
in it.
Grant testified that
there were indentations
on the letters from where
someone had written on
another envelope that
had been on top of them
in a stack. The indentations were analyzed under a light source and
turned out to be for Curtis’ former addresses in
Booneville and Tupelo,
Grant said.
Grant also testified that
there was one fingerprint
on the letter sent to the
judge but that it didn’t
match Curtis. He said
several people handled
the letter, and DNA and
other tests are pending.
Curtis’ lawyer peppered the agent with
questions in an attempt
to show the government
had little hard evidence,
but Grant said people’s
lives were at risk and it
wasn’t like a fraud investigation in which authorities could gather more
evidence before making
an arrest.
Family and acquaintances have described
Curtis as a caring father
and enthusiastic musician who struggled for
years with mental illness
and who was consumed
by trying to publicize his
claims of a conspiracy
to sell body parts on the
black market.
Curtis is an Elvis impersonator and performed at
parties. Friends and relatives also say he spiraled
into emotional turmoil
trying to get attention for
his claims of uncovering
a conspiracy to sell body
parts on the black mar-
ket.
Grant testified that
Curtis’ family had become increasingly concerned by his behavior.
Grant said Curtis’ exwife told authorities that
he fought with his daughter around Christmas and
told her, “Maybe I should
go ahead and kill you.”
Madison Curtis said
after the hearing that
she loves her father and
stands by him.
Grant also testified that
Curtis’ ex-wife said Curtis once told her that he
was in hostage situation
in Chicago after a breaking up with a former girlfriend, threatened suicide and shot a gun in the
air.
However, the agent
said they haven’t been
able to find a record of
that.
Grant’s testimony ended Friday evening, but
the hearing is set to continue Monday morning.
In court documents,
Curtis’ attorney, Christi
McCoy, gave some details
of Curtis’ arrest. Curtis
had gone to get his mail
outside his home and
was planning to go to his
ex-wife’s home to cook
dinner for her and their
children when he was approached by officers in
SWAT gear, she wrote.
He was then interrogated
at an FBI office for several hours, handcuffed and
chained to a chair.
Curtis cooperated to
the best of his ability, but
when he suggested he
might need a lawyer, an
agent discouraged that,
McCoy wrote.
According to an FBI affidavit, the letters he sent
read: “Maybe I have your
attention now even if that
means someone must
die.”
Officials have confirmed that the letters
contained ricin.
While the toxin can be
extremely lethal in its
purest form, experts say
more crude forms are relatively easy to make.
The FBI has not yet revealed details about how
the ricin was made or
how lethal it may have
been. It was in a powdered form inside the envelopes, but the FBI said
no one has been sickened
by it so far. A senate official said Thursday that
the ricin was not weaponized, meaning it wasn’t in
a form that could easily
enter the body.
More than a dozen officials, some wearing hazardous materials suits,
were searching the home
Friday where Curtis was
arrested in Corinth. FBI
spokeswoman Deborah
Madden would not say
if authorities have found
ricin or materials used to
make it in Curtis’ home,
and officials have not
provided details about
how Curtis may have either obtained or made
the ricin.
Curtis’ ex-wife has said
he likely didn’t have the
know-how to make ricin,
and she did not know
where he would buy it
because he was on disability.
But ricin was once
known as “the poor
man’s bioterrorism” because the seeds are easy
to obtain and the extraction process is relatively
simple, said Murray CoPlease see CURTIS | 3A
Local
3A • Daily Corinthian
Sunday, April 21, 2013
TORNADO
Today in
History
CONTINUED FROM 1A
Today is Sunday, April
21, the 111th day of
2013. There are 254 days
left in the year.
Today’s Highlight
in History:
On April 21, 1836, an
army of Texans led by
Sam Houston defeated
the Mexicans at San Jacinto, assuring Texas independence.
On this date:
In 1509, England’s King
Henry VII died; he was
succeeded by his 17-yearold son, Henry VIII.
In 1649, the Maryland
Toleration Act, which provided for freedom of worship for all Christians, was
passed by the Maryland
assembly.
In 1789, John Adams
was sworn in as the first
vice president of the United States.
In 1910, author Samuel
Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain,
died in Redding, Conn., at
age 74.
In 1918, Baron Manfred
von Richthofen, the German ace known as the
“Red Baron,” was killed in
action during World War I.
In 1930, a fire broke
out inside the overcrowded Ohio Penitentiary in
Columbus, killing 332
inmates.
In 1955, the Jerome
Lawrence-Robert Lee
play “Inherit the Wind,”
inspired by the Scopes
trial of 1925, opened at
the National Theatre in
New York.
In 1960, Brazil inaugurated its new capital,
Brasilia, transferring the
seat of national government from Rio de Janeiro.
In 1962, the six-month
Century 21 Exposition,
also known as the Seattle
World’s Fair, opened.
In 1980, Rosie Ruiz was
the first woman to cross
the finish line at the Boston Marathon; however,
she was later exposed
as a fraud. (Canadian
Jacqueline Gareau was
named the actual winner
of the women’s race.)
In 1992, Robert Alton
Harris became the first
person executed by the
state of California in 25
years as he was put to
death in the gas chamber
for the 1978 murder of
two teen-age boys, John
Mayeski and Michael
Baker.
Ten years ago:
His father is Max Kimmel, and his mother is
Diane Kimmel, both now
retired and living in New
Braunfels, Texas. She
taught at Alcorn Central
High School before moving to Corinth High School
and Corinth Junior High.
Kimmel is chief meteorologist at KOKE FM in
Austin, Texas, and a senior lecturer in Studies in
Weather and Climate at
the University of Texas Austin.
He recalls teachers at
East Corinth Elementary
picking up on his fear of
storms and having him
read books from the library about weather.
“If you talk to people
that are involved in weather, a lot of people have
those stories in their past,
the things that they remember that they say kept
them interested in weather,” said Kimmel. “The one
thing I always remember
growing up as a kid is I always did not like lightning
and thunder. I really credit
what I’m doing nowadays
a lot for what happened
in the Corinth School District in the late ‘60s. They
helped me realize where I
wanted to go.”
Then came the fateful
spring Sunday that would
seal Kimmel’s fate as a future weather man. Many
people were just getting
home from church when
the tornado touched down
just south of Highway 72
at 12:55 p.m. It had already touched down in a
section of Ripley as it began an intermittent path
that wound continue to
Counce, Tenn.
The Kimmels lived on
Pine Road in the north
part of the city.
“I remember it being
real stormy and kind of
watching what was going on,” he said. “I think
there was a phone call or
two that came to my mom,
people saying something’s
happened. The biggest
thing that I remember is
the initial panic. We were
hearing that the tornado
had moved over South
Corinth, so the initial
thought was, what about
the Pepsi Cola plant?”
His father had decided
to see if the fish were biting at Pickwick Dam that
day and was not home at
the time the storm hit. As
the menacing storm rolled
over the waters from the
southwest, Max Kimmel
knew it was a bad one, that
it had come from Corinth
and that he needed to get
back home right away.
Kimmel, his mother and
younger sister Kathy piled
into the station wagon and
tried to make their way toward the Pepsi plant.
“I remember driving
downtown and very distinctly on Cass Street,
where
the
shopping
centers are now, which
wasn’t much there then,
I remember people walking out that had blankets
over them,” he said. “I remember the people looked
like they were in shock. It
looked like it was the only
thing they had left in the
world.”
At the nearby South
Corinth school, where Kimmel was part of the first integrated student body, they
could see part of the roof
was gone on the southeast
side. As they reached the
highway, a liquor store
near the intersection was
“laid wide open.”
“It was at that point we
looked up on the hill, and
I’ll always remember the
plant was still there,” he
said.
The storm went on to
cause lesser damage in the
43 years ago on Friday the tornado hit Corinth, as detailed in the Daily Corinthian the next day on April 20, 1970.
northeast part of the city.
The Fujita scale for assessing tornado damage did
not exist at the time, but
the storm was later rated
an F4, which has estimated wind speeds of 207 to
260 mph and causes devastating damage.
In the aftermath, school
was out for a week.
The Kimmel family left
Corinth in 1972, although
he returned for one year
in the late 1970s, working
with WKCU radio and as
a reserve dispatcher for
the sheriff’s department.
Kimmel keeps in touch
with a number of friends
in Corinth.
His only other brush
with a tornado came while
fishing near Brownsville,
Texas, when he saw a waterspout. Now, when bad
storms are happening, he
tracks them on radar for
his radio audience and
leaves the tornado chasing
to others.
“When it gets bad, I’m
doing other things,” he
said. “I don’t know if I
trust myself out chasing
tornadoes.”
around the world; they
are often used to make
medicinal castor oil,
among other things.
However, using the
seeds to make a highly
concentrated form of ricin would require laboratory equipment and
expertise to extract, said
Raymond Zilinskas, a
chemical and biological
weapons expert.
“It’s an elaborate process,” he said.
CURTIS
CONTINUED FROM 2A
hen, the founder of the
Atlanta-based
Frontline Foundation, which
trains workers on preparedness and response
to bioterrorism and epidemics.
“Any kid that made it
through high school sci-
ence lab is more than
equipped to successfully
make a poison out of this
stuff. Any fool can get
recipes off the Internet
and figure out how to do
it,” Cohen said.
Those seeds, which
look a bit like coffee
beans, are easy to buy
online and are grown
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SIGNS
CONTINUED FROM 1A
be figuring out just where
they all came from.
Police Chief Tony Holmes said stealing road signs
affects everybody.
Nails
All Tips $25
“It costs a lot of money
to replace these,” said Holmes.
There are also the safety
issues. Missing stop signs
can easily cause wrecks.
Stolen road markers could
Military officials in Iraq
announced the arrest of
Muhammad Hamza alZubaydi, a key figure in
the bloody suppression of
the Shiite Muslim uprising
of 1991.
( French, Pearl, Color, & Glitter)
hamper emergency crews
from finding their destinations.
The Farmington police
were assisted by Alcorn
County Deputy Mackie
Sexton.
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