WHITE POWDER SCARE PROVES HARMLESS - School Will Open Monday

(02/02/2002)

The white powder scare at Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center turns out to be a harmless substance, according to Dr. Bob Rentschler, principal of the facility located on Rt. 5 near the Gilmer-Calhoun line. Rentschler received the report Saturday. School is expected to resume at the facility on Monday. The substance contained in a letter mailed to Dr. Rentschler from the State Department of Health proved negative, according to an analysis conducted in Charleston. The analysis indicted the fine substance was "paper dust" and nothing suspicious. School employee Randy Ball opened the letter yesterday afternoon, which contained a white powdery substance. Dr. Rentschler and school officials took proper precautions, alerting area agencies. The processing of the substance followed protocols of "suspected bio-terrorism," including the lab study. Students were held in the building until a clearance was issued, although five school employees were held later because they were in close proximity to the open letter.

Hur Herald ®from Sunny Cal The information on these pages, to the extent the law allows, remains the exclusive property of Bob Weaver and Dianne Weaver The Hur Herald. All information may be freely used but must not be sold or used in any type of commercial endeavor, or used on any web site without the express permission of the owners ©Bob and Dianne Weaver, The Hur Herald, 1999, 2000, 2001