What do poisoned letters, a former karate instructor and an Elvis tribute artist have in common?
That’s a great question. James Everett Dutschke of Tupelo represented himself this week in a federal petition to overturn his 2014 conviction. Dutschke was convicted of manufacturing the poison ricin and sending letters laced with the poison to multiple people. Among the chosen recipients were President Obama and Senator Roger Wicker. According to the Daily Journal, Dutschke is a former karate instructor and political candidate in Tupelo. Dutschke framed the letters to look like they were sent by Elvis tribute artist Paul Kevin Curtis of Corinth, his long-standing nemesis. Dutschke has now chosen to sue the U.S. Department of Justice, claiming that he was falsely arrested and lost his career potential. Dutschke is in the middle of serving a 300-month sentence in a super-maximum security prison in Colorado. His first conviction appeal was overturned, but he is currently in the process of making a second.
Make Barbour Great Again
This week, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump took a shot at former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour in an interview on Good Morning America. Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos mistakenly attributed an anti-Trump quote in the New York Times to Haley Barbour when it was actually his nephew, Henry, who made the statement. Unfortunately, Stephanopoulos never caught his mistake. According to the Clarion-Ledger, Trump went on to roast the former governor with statements like calling him an “old-time politician who’s losing his grip.” He also claimed, “People are fed up with the old-time politicians like Haley Barbour that haven’t done anything… [People like Haley Barbour] are only good for themselves, not for the people.”
Better Ingredients, Better Pizza, Better Crime
Ocean Springs police arrested a former Papa John’s employee this week on a count of commercial burglary. On Thursday, the Ocean Springs Police Department was notified that the restaurant had been burglarized. According to Gulf Live, police identified the burglar in the video as Chad Michael Brewster, a homeless man from the area who had been brought into the department before. Through investigation, the department connected Brewster with former Papa John’s employee Bradley Paul Randle Cherry, who was fired from Papa John’s earlier this month. Cherry was taken into custody after admitting to conspiring to rob the dining establishment with Brewster. Cherry is now spending some quality time in the Ocean Springs Municipal Jail with a $20,000 bond as his cellmate. Brewster is still on the run, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Love with a Side of Hash Browns
Smothered and covered, that is. According to the Clarion-Ledger, Valentine’s Day in Mississippi just got a whole lot sweeter. There are 14 Waffle Houses in Mississippi taking reservations for the special occasion. This is the ninth-annual Waffle House Valentine’s Day Dinner in the U.S., but the first for several Mississippi locations. According to Hattiesburg Waffle House employee Leonard McLeggon, the Hattiesburg branch will be decorated for the holiday in red and pink. All dinners will be served by candlelight. It is also rumored that love songs will be playing on the jukebox. What could be more romantic than an All-Star Special with the one you love?
