No bombs found in three school threats
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

Police cars at the G-A school campus were a familiar sight last week. A K-9 unit (inset) was called in to help search the high school.

Three bomb threats in four days in the local school system made for a hectic week.

Officials responded to written threats found in bathrooms in the Greencastle-Antrim Middle School Nov. 12 and 15, and in the High School Nov. 14. In each instance the building was evacuated and searched. No devices were found following extensive searches by school personnel, law enforcement agencies and dogs.

Four students admitted involvement in the Middle School cases.

Two 14-year-old boys and a 13-year-old boy confessed to writing Monday's message on a soap dispenser. It said "Bomb today."

"We knew within 15 minutes who did it," said Acting Superintendent Greg Hoover.

School staff reviewed video camera footage and spoke to the students.

A 13-year-old girl admitted to writing "Bomb here" plus a specific time on a bathroom wall near the cafeteria Thursday.

No suspects have surfaced in the high school alarm. The message in an upstairs girls' bathroom was "Bomb, not saying time."

Middle school principal Mark Herman and school police Norm Hann are on duty in front of the high school during a search that included the K-9 Unit of the Capitol Police.

Because that threat was openended, the school took a more reactive approach to investigating. It first contacted Greencastle Police, which then called Pennsylvania State Police for backup to secure the scene. PSP contacted Capitol Police, Cumberland County Sheriff's Department and the Cornwall Lebanon Police for their assistance with K-9 bomb detection units. Fire police from the Rescue Hose Company di- rected traffic.

The four students have been suspended for 10 school days and face hearings with the Pupil Personnel Committee on Nov. 28. The committee is made up of three school board members, administrators involved, the superintendent and the school solicitor. They will meet with the students and their parents. The school board will approve the decision Dec. 6. Hoover said the administration can act on the recommendation prior to the board meeting.

Greencastle Officer Chris Mc- Garity said in a news release, "The middle school students face possible charges of terroristic threats, causing or risking a catastrophe, threat to use weapons of mass destruction, harassment and disorderly conduct."

The first three charges are felonies, the others are misdemeanors.

McGarity is in charge of the middle school events and Officer Eric Kamoie is investigating the high school case. He asks that anyone with information contact the department at 597-9506.

During the evacuations the 750 middle school students went to the high school auditorium and the 900 high school students went to the middle school gym. Hoover said the normal procedure for the high school was to go to Kaley Field, but it looked like rain that day.

Repercussions

"We're seriously looking at making up lost instructional time," said Hoover. "We may need to restrict bathroom privileges and increase bathroom security, which is difficult to do."

Sports practices and afterschool activities were cancelled the days of the threats. Seniors leaving for the class trip to Disney World Wednesday evening had to gather at the middle school to sign in and turn over their luggage. Middle school students were dismissed at the normal time both days and could ride the buses home but could not go back to their lockers Thursday for books or coats. Because the high school threat was shortly after noon, some students missed their lunch period. Those who wished to go home before dismissal had to be signed out by a parent.

At the school board meeting Thursday night, administrators shared their thoughts.

When he got the call about the third threat, Hoover said he almost cried.

"We need cooperation to end this."

He thanked school district staff and the Greencastle Police Department which was "on the spot every time. Everyone came together. It's a neat thing to watch."

Bob Crider, Director of Secondary Education, credited the support staff, which had to deal with parents and the public.

"It was a trying week," said High School Assistant Principal Ron Powers. "I couldn't have worked with a better group of professionals. Amongst all that, we got the senior class off on their trip."

Middle School Principal Mark Herman thanked the parents, staff, students and emergency personnel. "Everyone had the sensibility to take things seriously for the safety of our kids."

Hoover said he doesn't think any of the cases were related.