Note Threatens Pair of Schools
Many juveniles are expected to be chargedBy ANNIE DIMMICK
Article Photos
GLEN DALE - Several juvenile suspects are expected to be charged today with alleged threats made Monday toward John Marshall High School and Sherrard Elementary School.
Marshall County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Kevin Cecil said he expects charges to be filed against the juvenile suspects accused of writing a threatening note found in a John Marshall classroom on Monday afternoon. The note threatened the high school, as well as Sherrard.
Cecil would not divulge the contents of the note.
He also could not say how many suspects investigators have, but added that those he expects to be charged could be facing terroristic threats and obstruction of school charges.
The school threat in Marshall County comes four days after police in Weirton foiled an apparent bomb plot at Weir High School. Two Weir students - 19-year-olds Mark Mentzer and Josh Little - have been arrested in that case.
On Monday, law enforcement from the Marshall County Sheriff's Department, Glen Dale Police Department and the West Virginia State Police responded to the schools shortly before 3:30 p.m. after Marshall County 911 received a call reporting the note. After evacuating the schools, investigators did several sweeps of all facilities, in which nothing was found and the schools were deemed safe.
For nearly two hours, investigators remained on scene reviewing surveillance video of the school and conducting interviews.
John Marshall High School Principal Corey Murphy said students were already dismissing for the day when the note was found.
"We very quickly evacuated the building," Murphy said. "We just can't take any chances with threats like this."
Superintendent Fred Renzella said parents were notified immediately of the evacuations through ParentLink, which automatically sends important school messages to e-mails, cell phones and home phones. He said that situations such as this are not taken lightly and students need to be aware that serious threats result in serious consequences.
"These are not jokes and even though these kids are mentally immature, you cross the line when you make these threats," Renzella said.
He said the students involved will be recommended for expulsion.
Renzella and Marshall County Board of Education President Roger Lewicki were on the scene at John Marshall throughout the investigation. They praised the efforts of local law enforcement for their quick response.
"They commandeered all of the resources available," Renzella said. "They're willing to do everything it takes to keep the schools safe."
Cecil added that, although there are suspects, the investigation will continue.
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GoochStephens
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09-29-09 9:03 PM
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Sorry Mommy23 I hate typos....=(/
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GoochStephens
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09-29-09 9:02 PM
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Mommy12...YES it is our job to raise our children...Not the Preseident of the US, not the schools....OUR JOB, and we must become better at it or suffer the consequences of not doing so.
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mernie
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09-29-09 9:01 PM
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The school systems seem to ignore the crude behavior of students, even private schools. If I saw one of my children in any of the situations that have been mentioned they would not see the light of day for weeks.
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taxpyer
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09-29-09 8:49 PM
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scooby99, well said...parents need to parent...not be a buddy...and yes the school system is a joke from the Renzella clown down the line...
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skunky
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09-29-09 8:07 PM
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correction feelings.
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skunky
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09-29-09 7:40 PM
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To Annie Dimmick. I posted your article in my Intro to Criminal Justice class. We are studying if juveniles should be tried as adults. In my opinion, I do not think they should be tried as adults. I cited my scource. Do I need to get permission to post your article? I have a degree in Criminal Investigations with a 3.75 GPA. Do you feel that juveniles should be tried as adults and are these kids going to be tried as adults? If anyone else wants to comment as to their feels about juveniles being tried as adults that would be ok also.
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anutterview
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09-29-09 3:39 PM
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for = from
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anutterview
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09-29-09 3:38 PM
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RudyKing - I have heard that the term "hoopie" originated as a slang label for a Hooper, which in itself was a name given to someone that made wooden barrels with staves and hoops. Where I'm from, down state WV, it has come to mean a naive individual that will let someone take advantage of them. Don't know how the word meaning went for the first to the second.
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scooby99
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09-29-09 3:38 PM
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Very good, valid points...but the part that we're missing here is this. There is corruption in the schools, plain and simple. Very few of these people (administrators, some teachers, etc) are performing the jobs (adequately) that they are paid to do. While we as parents are ultimately responsible (hence the homeschooling comments that I made) for our offspring, many people have no other choice than to rely on the public school system to teach and mold our youngsters. Hopefully the kids get through it without experiencing too many abusive situations....if they're lucky.
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WhachewtalkinboutWillis
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09-29-09 2:39 PM
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"Rusty1 09-29-09 2:24 PM Sorry but the way it was written was still confusing." Abridged version - Too many "pro-creators" want to be their child's "friend" instead of being a parent.
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Rusty1
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09-29-09 2:24 PM
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Sorry but the way it was written was still confusing.
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WhachewtalkinboutWillis
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09-29-09 2:03 PM
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Amen "Mommy" - self entitlement unfortunately is the norm of our society today. Kids used to loath "Mom and Dad" finding out what bad deeds they participated in knowing they would get far worse punishment when they got home. These days, they run home in hopes that "Mom and Dad" will file suit and make them rich!!
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mommy23
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09-29-09 1:14 PM
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Scooby, it has NOTHING to do with the "school system turning a blind eye" and EVERYTHING to do with some parents NOT teaching their children how to behave and be respectful, responsible citizens! People need to become part of the solution instead of continuing to be part of the problem! It starts at home! We cannot hold the teachers and school system accountable for everything! Where is the responsibility? It may take a village to raise a child, but when the children's own families are not actively trying to raise their children to be good, productive citizens, why do people insist on placing the blame on the schools? When did it become the schools' job to teach children moral responsibility? Isn't that OUR job as parents?!?! Give the teachers and school board a break! It is the PARENTS who should be teaching their own children these things!
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BC9543
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09-29-09 12:35 PM
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Well I must be watching a different news station and reading a different paper. Because I am pretty sure this happens everywhere Not just "South of Wheeling"
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BC9543
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09-29-09 12:05 PM
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Why Marshall County/ Moundsville??? If you have not noticed it is all around the Valley and the country. All of these kids just want an excuse to be out of class for a day.
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scooby99
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09-29-09 11:57 AM
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Maybe, just maybe if this school system would take things a little more seriously and stop turning a blind eye to what it's students, teachers and administration are doing, then this stuff would stop. If Marshall County Schools was a privately run business it would surely be bankrupt by now; ineffective leadership, shoddy track record and blatant abuses of power throughout the system. Anybody with a student who has spent any time at all in this poor excuse for a school system can surely tell tale of problems with schools, teachers, principals and the board. It's no wonder homeschooling is on the rise; it may be one of the only ways to protect our children from the real problem.
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soccermomof2
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09-29-09 10:46 AM
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seriously Momof3 ...Maybe you dont remember the wheeling park kids throwing deer urine on the JM student section last year and in the process hitting some of the adults that were close to that section. Its not just the "marshall county/moundsville" kids ... get your head out of the sand..
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88WVU93
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09-29-09 9:59 AM
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Momof3 - I went to the WP/JM BB game at the fieldhouse last winter and sat beside maybe 50 WP students in the upper deck. It was an absolute disgrace what they yelled and chanted during the game. F word this and f word that at JM and specific players. The Marshall County deputies stood there on the floor and didn't say a word. They looked up everytime but didn't do anything. Both JM and WP student bodies have more than their share of idiots. 15 years ago when I was a student at these games they would have drug us out of the stadium for chanting the f word or throwing garbage.
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Momof3
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09-29-09 9:10 AM
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The kids of Marshall County/Moundsville again. Why wasn't something done when they were throwing bottles at the WPHS band at the football game a couple weeks ago?
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voiceoftruth
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09-29-09 9:05 AM
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Rusty, you must not have read the article too well. The first paragraph reports there are suspects that will be charged.
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Rusty1
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09-29-09 8:35 AM
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Cecil added that, although there are suspects, the investigation will continue. Don't they mean "although there are NO suspects"? This newspaper apparently doesn't give any importance to proofreading. Have to give a failing mark here.
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