Monticello schools enter lockdown mode on Friday
May 4th, 2007 by JeffAt Monticello Middle School, two female students related to school officials earlier this afternoon that they had seen “a guy” walking near the school with what looked like a gun in his hand. Officials immediately contacted local law enforcement, and with their help began a thorough search of the buildings in the school district.
The lockdown comes just a week after an incident at Drew Central Schools was determined to be a “childish prank.” Last month, a University of Arkansas at Monticello employee was arrested after making threatening comments and spitting on law enforcement officials.
The high school office related that everyone is “ok,” and that after a thorough search of the school, no weapons had been found. The students who reported seeing the individual were interviewed thoroughly and assisted officials by providing a description of the individual.
While police did find an individual meeting that description, no weapons were found, and the lockdown was lifted before school was dismissed. Officials will continue looking into the incident to ensure the safety of the students.
According to Assistant Superintendant Tommy Tyler, the principals of the schools had just completed a revision of the district’s crisis plan last week, and it allowed all officials to proceed smoothly through today’s incident.
“We were not going to take it lightly. The police responded great. We’re thankful,” said Tyler.
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Will we ever have another time in our lives where we do not have to live in fear?Or fear for our own childrens safety while they are at school????
Well being there personally is even scarrier. We had just got to fourth block. They said lockdown so we thought that it was just a drug dog. Then they said keep the phone lines clear. Then we found out what was happening. The seniors last day was unforgettable at least.
We as parents need make sure that we are teaching our children about Jesus. Let them know the important of staying focus and being watchful of their surrounding. You hear people say that the world is getting to be a bad place. It is not the world it is the people in the world.
Let go back to the old way, the way I was taught. The words is RESPECT others.
Toronsa
School is still a safe place to be. Sure, there have been *isolated* violent incidents on school campuses… But consider the millions of children across the nation that go to school and come home safely every day. The odds are perfect, but they’re very good.
Living in fear of violence is the exact result those that caused the violence want. The Dillon Klebolds and Cho Seung-Huis of the world want you to be afraid. If you give in to that fear, they win… Even in death.
Also, expect to see an increase in these “lockdown” type situations for a little while. Think back to the days following 9-11 and the anthrax contamination of the US mail. Soon after that, everything from baby powder to dandruff was reported as anthrax. So, as a result of the Viriginia Tech shootings, I’m willing to bet that more and more reports — a few legit, mostly not — of possible violence will be reported and the police will have to do their thing to insure safety.
This sie is awful.Cant believe you havent been sued yet for all of the lies and comments posted here.Typical preacher mentality …trying to make money without havin to do much.
Gee, “thumper!” I’m not sure just what sort of semi-literate, contradictory person you are to accuse our community’s website of lies while simultaneously posting your own: just a bit hypocritical, I’d say! In response, I’d like to remind you that we have, in this country (and, yes, even in Monticello), the right to free speech and freedom of the press, which is why your asinine comments about lawsuits are silly and also why, while I strongly disagree with you, I applaud your right to make a fool of yourself in this forum. Bravo, well done!
Thumper:
Freedom of Speech is our First Amendment. Nothing in this site has been untrue but if you know something please share. f you want people to take you serious learn to write grammatically correct. No one can take you serious if you write just like you speak.
On the stupid, ignorant, and hateful comments from “thumper”:
Mark W is absolutely right with the above comment, and I’d like to add: a preacher has as much right to try and earn an income from any source he wishes as anybody else. The study of the Word of God to train and equip one’s congregation is sacred, holy work. If his church can’t pay him enough to support his family, he is WISE to legally try to make money with as little effort as he can so he can focus on the calling God placed on his life.
So come on, educate yourself and THINK before exercising your right to free speech so you don’t make yourself look as ridiculously stupid as you just did.
Where are the lies in this story?
And if you don’t know Jeff’s “preacher” side, it isn’t really fair to judge him, is it?
If you would like to see that side, the doors are always open at Journey!
Well, typical hate and ignorant remarks from “thumper” who apparently is self-centered based on his comments.
See, the publisher of this site does a good thing. He provides Monticellonians with an alternative on local events other than a weekly print news edition. I haven’t seen anything any different in this that at others; oh except the publisher isn’t trying to screw people. See, the rates that are charged on this site, are for advertising, and it cost the publisher to run this site, and to keep it working and up-to-date. Sounds to me like “ol thumper” might be jealous because what Jeff has here is a good thing.
Hey thumper….let us know who you are!!! the one thing that amazes me on this site though, is how the main topic of the article is always taken to another direction. My main wish is that people could stay on topic. As far as lies, I am sure the site director checks all his facts before published. And I agree with teh above, thumper, if you have questions, contact him. Ask him, go visit him at church……ohhhh you may be afraid of that though…..hmm
While I deeply appreciate everyone’s support, there’s really no need to continue discussion of this nature. I think it’s obvious to all that “Thumper’s” comments are a little strange, to say the least. No worries from this end.
Like Steve said, let’s try to stay to topic. If you’d like to continue discussion, you can create a forum topic called “Why We Love MonticelloLive” over in the forums… ;)
How did this go from how our own children were locked in their schools, to Thumper?
Anyhow, Hats off to the teachers, principals, and other staff memebers that made sure our children were safe. This was a huge scare for the whole town, but although the older children knew what was going on, most of the younger students did not~
THANKS TO ALL WHO TOOK CARE OF OUR CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU ARE APPRECIATED!!!