Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Bomb threat called in at MMS

A bomb threat was reported at McRae Middle School Monday, Oct. 8, but proved to be a false alarm.

Ron Wright, superintendent of the Prescott School District, told the Prescott School Board, during a special called meeting Tuesday, Oct. 9, of the incident.

The threat came in over a hand-held radio used by administrators after school had let out, Wright said. The office personnel contacted the Prescott Police Department, Nevada County Sheriff's Office and Arkansas State Police, with the ASP offering to bring in a bomb-sniffing dog.

The perpetrators, apparently students, according to Wright, claimed to be Prescott Band Director Robert Fellows, and asked for MMS Principal Jim Gober.

When the office workers told whoever was on the radio they had contacted law enforcement agencies, the perpetrators uttered an obscenity, Wright said, and told them it was only a joke.

Wright told the board when the perpetrators are found the district will have no choice but to expel and prosecute them.

The board also had to deal with ethical guidelines for services rendered. The services, in this case, are being rendered by Haynes Sports Therapy and Rehab of Hope, owned by Jeff Haynes, a member of the board.

Haynes, a licensed sports trainer, wasn't present for the discussion concerning the use of his business by the district.

Under Act 1599, the district is required to fill out forms for services it uses.

Haynes Sports Therapy had been hired before the meeting, and was one of two businesses bidding. Haynes was the only one to offer to provide occupational and physical therapy for the district. He agreed to accept Medicare payments and have his business handle the paperwork.

As this was the low bid at the time, it was accepted by the board.

Along with Haynes, the board discussed Custom Management Systems, Inc., to provide safety inspections for the district.

CSM will provide four safety inspections of schools in the Prescott district for $250 each, if approved.

Resolutions were passed for both Haynes and CSM and will be sent to the Arkansas Department of Education for approval or rejection.

It was pointed out during the discussion Haynes doesn't provide the services himself, but has licensed and qualified personnel who does.

There was also talk of how Board President Rick McGough would be considered under Act 1599. McGough is a salesman for Southwest Arkansas Equipment, a company that does business with the district at times.

Wright said, as he understands the law, financial interest is defined as owning 5 percent of more interest in a company, be a partner or holding a top management position. McGough doesn't fit any of this criteria.

"We will check into this further," Wright said. "We don't want to do anything under the table."

The board also had to make a tough decision concerning two students, both juniors.

The two, Wright said, have long lists of violations of school rules and regulations. He recommended both be expelled for the remainder of the year.

Both students, he said, have caused chronic disruption in class and violated their school probation as well.

One of the students has been turned over to the Department of Youth Services, and also faces charges in court, but not from behavior at school. The other will soon be turned over to DYS.

The board mulled the situation over throughout the meeting, voting to expel both prior to going into executive session.

The panel approved out-of-state travel for Linda Benton to attend the FCCLA Cluster Meeting in Nashville, Tenn. Nov. 15-19.