Bomb threat leaves most students unconcerned
Lampeter-Strasburg became the second Lancaster County high school affected by threats of violence this week. Last night, someone texted a bomb threat specific to L-S high school through the Lancaster Crime Stopper service.
After K-9 units searched the school overnight and determined it was not a credible threat, school opened as normal today.
After K-9 units searched the school overnight and determined it was not a credible threat, school opened as normal today.
West Lampeter Township police were posted outside entrances to the high school, demonstrating a formidable law enforcement presence. Other precautions, for example the posting of two members of the faculty at the bottom of the staircase in the grand lobby instead of one, aimed to project security and calm.
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| Two police officers were posted outside of the PAC this morning as students entered school |
Meanwhile, the school program is business as usual. A student won a free yearbook on WLSH (the closed circuit television station through which announcements are made) when their schedule was drawn from the bin of those turned in last night at Back-to-School Night. A moment of silence was held at 8:45 this morning to commemorate the lives lost on 9/11.
This was the first bomb threat at L-S in several years. Mrs. Ann Miller, a teaching assistant in the English department, said she could not recall one in the past 10 years, but thinks there may have been one when her kids were at the high school in the early 2000s.
This was the first bomb threat at L-S in several years. Mrs. Ann Miller, a teaching assistant in the English department, said she could not recall one in the past 10 years, but thinks there may have been one when her kids were at the high school in the early 2000s.
Earlier this week, Donegal High School received a threat that violence would occur; the student who made the threat was caught.
Information was disseminated officially by the District via an AlertNow phone call from superintendent Dr. Kevin Peart. Teachers received a call shortly before 6 AM. Many students found out via text or social media, however.
Most students seemed to have little trepidation about coming to school.
Senior Beth DiBiase noted that when she used to attend Pequea Valley, they had one or two bomb threats, and to her, this is not a big deal.
Fellow senior Katelynn Gebhart says she heard via a text message from a friend, and was somewhat concerned until she contacted a friend from another school, who assured her bomb threats are rather common.
“I heard it wasn’t really credible,” says sophomore Josh Chambers, who said not coming to school did not even cross his mind.
Freshman Logan Emmert agrees, and has a message for whomever made the threat: “This is unacceptable and irresponsible.”
West Lampeter Township police continue to investigate the threat, and ask anyone with information to contact them.
For now, learning goes on at Lampeter-Strasburg High School.
--Benjamin Pontz, LSNews.org Editor-In-Chief
