BREAKING NEWS: Douglas High School reopens after toxic scare


Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 3:08 PM MDT


Larry Blaskey
Douglas Dispatch


The Douglas High School campus reopened Tuesday morning and school resumes Wednesday, October 29, after it was discovered white powder delivered to school offices Monday wasn’t toxic.

According to reports, at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Douglas Police Department received a call from the high school. An envelope containing a white powder was opened by an admissions clerk, exposing the clerk, and possibly other office staff to the unknown substance.

The envelope was apparently hand delivered to the office (no postmark), and was addressed to a specific person at the high school. The name was not released.

The incident was further complicated when the admissions clerk was taken Southeast Arizona Medical Center by private vehicle before fire and police departments arrived. The Emergency Room waiting room was also then contaminated with the substance.

Emergency service agencies throughout the area responded to the incident at Douglas High School, and later, Southeast Arizona Medical Center.

The high school was reopened Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m.  after getting the all clear from the state.

The school has received permission to push back AIMS testing one day. The tests were to begin at the high school on Tuesday. Now they will be Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, October 29 to 31.

The day of school will also have to be made up by students.

 

Copyright © 2012 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    FLUFFY wrote on Oct 29, 2008 1:05 PM:

    " HEY WELL WHOEVER SENT THAT LETTER WITH WHITE POWDER TO THE SCHOOL THANKS FOR THE DAY OFF! "

    Jorge Trevino wrote on Oct 29, 2008 8:38 AM:

    " I'm glad the powder isn't anything harmful, but it is really unfair that the students have to make up the day. "

    educate wrote on Oct 29, 2008 8:16 AM:

    " Staff members should be educated on what to do in the event this should happen again...I sure hope it does not happen again but there should be some awareness made that these things happen and what should be done in the event. "

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