Saturday March 23,
Daily Corinthian
Rain
2013
50 cents
Vol. 117, No. 71
Today
Tonight
60
49
50% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • One section
Man charged in bomb threat probe Suspect labeled a ‘vexatious litigator,’ filing 137 lawsuits since 1993 For the Daily Corinthian
CLEVELAND — An Ohio man charged in the investigation into dozens of bomb threats made to courthouses and other public buildings in five states late last year waived a bond hearing Thursday and was ordered locked up.
The FBI arrested 39-year-old Lonny Bristow of Mansfield this week in the Mansfield area. He had an initial court appearance Thursday in U.S. District Court in Cleveland and waived a bond hearing. Bristow agreed to be held without bond while his case is pending,
his public defender, Carolyn Kucharski, said in an email. Bristow was initially charged with a single count of making a bomb threat by phone. The FBI said Bristow was arrested in the investigation of bomb threats made in November and December to court-
houses and public buildings in Nebraska, Washington, Oregon, Tennessee and Mississippi. The Mississippi bomb threat included a call to the Prentiss County Courthouse, which lead to an evacuation. There was no immediate in-
dication of a possible motive. An FBI agent's affidavit filed with the court said investigators traced numerous bomb threats to prepaid phone cards purchased at a Wal-Mart in Upper Sandusky, located about 40 Please see THREAT | 2
Alcorn Marine dies in Quantico gunfire Associated Press and staff reports
Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith
A Corinth vehicle hit an embankment on Fulton Drive Friday morning after the driver suffered an apparent seizure.
Vehicle slams into embankment BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
A Corinth man was transported to the hospital following a one-car crash on Fulton Drive Friday. At 11:40 p.m. a green 2001 Nissan driven by Larry James Alexander, 53, slammed into a ditch embankment in front of Long Wholesale. According to a witness, Alexander’s car was heading north on Fulton when
it drifted into the oncoming lane, left the roadway and hit the embankment. Corinth Police Lt. John Hall witnessed the wreck and stopped to check on the driver. Alexander appeared to be having a seizure, and Hall called for an ambulance, which came and transported Alexander to Magnolia Regional Health Center. “Lt. Hall just happened to be at the right place at the right
time,” said Corinth PD Capt. Scotty Harville. The driver did not have any apparent physical injuries and seemed to be fine when Hall saw him later in the hospital. He was expected to be released on Friday. Alexander’s car suffered damage to the front bumper. Personnel from the Corinth Fire Department also responded to the accident.
QUANTICO, Va. — A Marine who worked at a rigorous school that tests Marines who want to become officers fatally shot two of his colleagues before killing himself in a barracks dorm room. The three Marines — two men and a woman — were part of the staff at the officer candidates school on the sprawling Marine Corps Base Quantico in northern Virginia. Their relationship and whether they knew one another was not clear, though military officials described the shootings as “isolated.” They did not release a motive or the identities of those slain. However, the Daily Corinthian has learned through local friends of the family that one victim was 23-year-old Alcorn County native Jacob Wooley, who attended Alcorn Central High School before graduating in a home school program. Wooley attended Northeast Mississippi Community College and for many years was an active member of Central Pentecostal Church, where he played drums in a praise band. His local family includes
his mother Linda; his father Jimmy Wooley; and sister, Anna Wood. The U.S. Marine celebrated his 23rd birthday on Jan. 25. Around 10:30 p.m. Thursday, authorities found one Marine dead in the Taylor Hall barracks, base commander Col. David W. Maxwell said. A second victim and the gunman were also located in Taylor Hall, a red brick building that can house about Wooley 110 Marines. Only Marines who work at the school live in Taylor Hall. The candidates for officer live elsewhere on the base. It wasn't immediately clear how much time passed between the killings or how far apart the bodies were. After the first shooting, Marines and their families were told to stay inside over a loudspeaker known as the “giant Please see MARINES | 2
Lighthouse Foundation celebrates 20 years of success BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The vision is brighter than ever. What started as a men's time to study God's word has spread to a ministry where lives are changed. Twenty years later, the Lighthouse Foundation continues to break down racial barriers and guide disadvantaged youth to the right path. “The success of the Lighthouse is people getting involved,” said executive director Gary Caveness to a group of over 60 on hand to celebrate the foundation's anniversary. “What you have done has made a difference.” Joe Vann and Hoot W i l d e r played an important part in seeing the dream become reality. “A lot has happened in 20 years … it Caveness sure did go by fast,” said Vann. Vann, Wilder along with a couple of others started a weekly Bible study for both black and white men. From those meetings, a steering committee was formed. “It ended up as an outreach for Jesus,” added Vann. Through lots of meetings and prayers, the true fellowship of the men was able to break down all barriers, according to Vann. “The power of prayer was
so important,” said Wilder. “God's vision of this is my most fulfilling time.” Combs Court provided the group a place to meet in 1995 -- two years after the beginning of the ministry. “Having an area to call our own was a big step,” said Vann. “The year of 1995 was an amazing year, not only was the foundation established to accomplish God's will in Corinth, but that foundation was completed under a tax exempt status.” Caveness was hired as executive director in '95 as the foundation was funded by the United Way and a dozen of men in the community. “There were a lot of times, I didn't know if we were going to be able to pay the bills,” said Vann. “But we never missed a payment.” “We had a dream and the biggest factor was that the Lord would be in the middle,” added Caveness. “God still has a plan for us … He is not through.” In 1997, the Christian-based organization began the search for its own building. That search led them to a vacant industrial building on Johns Street. “This building was a godsend and all the renovations were done through free labor,” said Vann. Through those 20 years, the Lighthouse Foundation has played a tremendous part in helping young people. Lighthouse Assistant Director Markenna Edgeston was one Vann spoke of Friday morning.
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Hoot Wilder (left) and Joe Vann look over newspaper articles about the Lighthouse Foundation during the 20th anniversary of the organization on Friday. “As a young lady, Markenna came up through the programs of the Lighthouse. Now she is reaching out to help young ladies in the community,” he said. Audwin “Rock” Jordan is another who credited the Lighthouse with making a difference in his life. “I am a living witness,” he said. “I might not be here today if they had not intervened.” Randy Odom, the first assistant director of the foundation, urged volunteers to continue
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to get involved through the Lighthouse. “This doesn't happen in a lot of places,” said Odom. “Don't take it for granted.” Caveness knows there is still work left to be done. “There are young men and women who need us,” said the executive director. “There is so much we can do in this community.” Today the Lighthouse Foundation is involved in such things as taking youth to the summer camp Kids Across
America, Toy Store, Boyz 2 Men Leadership Program, Refined Leadership for young girls, STARS, Summer at Da House, After School Tutoring, Corinthian Garden, GED, and Friday Morning Men's Prayer. Sharing the love of Jesus will continue to be at the forefront of everything the Lighthouse, which has been greatly aided by the support of the Pierce Foundation since 1997, does in the future. Please see LIGHTHOUSE | 2
On this day in history 150 years ago The USS Arizona captures a Confederate sloop near Mosquito Inlet, Fla., while the raider CSS Alabama captures and destroys two Union merchant vessels off the Brazilian coast.