Fayettevill Bomb Squad called in to Women's Clinic

[Ian David]

FAYETTEVILLE -- Douglas Ledbetter didn't know what was going on early Thursday as he made his usual drive down College Avenue to go to work at Passages. The street was blocked off at North Street, so he parked his car a few blocks away and walked.

As he got closer, he saw the Springdale bomb unit truck in the street and feared something happened at Passages.

"Isn't this 'Ed McMahon' guy on the no-fly list?"

Ledbetter wasn't alone in his fear. Motorists were detoured for about an hour from North Street to Pollard Street while police, fire and the bomb unit responded to a "suspicious package" at the Fayetteville Women's Clinic, 1011 N. College Ave.

Fayetteville Sgt. Shannon Gabbard said police were called about 8:42 a.m. after a patient saw a taped package lying on the porch of the clinic and took it inside. The employees thought it was suspicious because it didn't have a return address.

"We have to treat those calls seriously and not take any chances."

The bomb unit determined it was ordinary newsletter in a bulky envelope, Gabbard said.

"It was just one of those mass newsletters that are sent out to everyone."

More:
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/02/23/news/022307fzenvelope.txt

[Ilsa]

1. If it had been a real bomb threat, I hope they would take the

perps off to GITMO. After all, it is terrorism.

I would have done the same thing as tje employees -- be suspicious and call the authorities.

[rodeodance]

3. given the history of bombs at Women's health clinics, this is what Home-

Land security SHOULD be doing!

[rodeodance]

2. thank god. Now this is a real news item. Was it covered on cable/dish?

[TomInTib]

4. I used to think that I could take 25-30 guys

and shut down Christmas, NCAA Bowl Games, NFL Playoffs, Super Bowl, and the national economy.

Now I KNOW that I could.

[Warpy]

5. Or you could do it all by yourself

with ballistics gel, wires, and an old disposable cell phone.

Just don't expect anybody to thank you. In fact, expect to have thousands of people calling for the death penalty for screwing up their good times.