NEWTON—We’ve received official word that there’s an incident going on currently at Newton High School.
According to an official release, the Newton Police Department, Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, Wade Fire Department and Jasper County Ambulance Service were on the scene at Newton Community High School due to what was being termed a “threat to student safety.”
Officials then released this announcement:
At 12:10pm, Newton Community High School received a bomb threat. Promptly, the Newton Police Department was notified, and along with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, Wade Fire Department, and Jasper County Ambulance Service, the building was evacuated. Students were taken to St. Thomas Grade School, just down the road. State Police bomb technicians were dispatched, and arrived shortly after that. The building is being searched. More information as available.
Here are some scenes from the school at that time.
Staging at the school
More staging
Our sources in Newton indicate that the local paper issued this information about an hour ago:
Official word from Jasper County Schools in the reverse 911 message: The kids have all been bused safely from NCHS to St Thomas and will be held there until authorities say that it is safe to return. At that time they will bus the “bus kids” home, and return the kids that drive to the school ONLY AFTER IT HAS BEEN DEEMED SAFE to do so from authorities. For safety sake they ask that you do not try to pick up your children at St Thomas at this time.
More as we get it.