Published: Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Police receive threats against five area schools
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SALEM — Schools Superintendent Stephen Larcomb said teachers and staff will be keeping an eye out for anything unusual in or around the district's school buildings this week after police received two calls that "something bad" would happen at Salem, Lisbon, Leetonia, Columbiana or Crestview schools.
Larcomb said he sent a letter home with pupils Tuesday to alert parents of the calls. He said some parents asked if children should stay home, a decision he said is up to parents.
"I have children in three different buildings, and they will be in school," Larcomb said Tuesday night.
He said there is no school for pupils Friday because of a staff in-service day.
"We try not to overreact, but we take things seriously. They just said 'something's going to happen,' so you just don't know. You can't even call that a bomb threat."
Salem police issued a press release Monday stating anyone with information should contact their local law enforcement agency.
The calls were made at 9:25 and 9:41 p.m. Monday from two pay phones in Columbiana, police said.
An unidentified man told police he was being forced by threat of harm to relate information given to him by another male the caller said he did not know.
The relayed message was that people should have a reason to be afraid now and gave a time frame of 1:39 a.m. Friday when the "something bad" would happen.
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