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Mercer schools on alert after disturbing call to central office

November 19, 2008|DAVID BROCK

Mercer County Schools staff and parents received a disturbing call Wednesday from the school system's automated One Call notification system regarding an equally upsetting message left for a Central Office employee.

The One Call message said that a central office employee received an answering machine message Tuesday of a song being played. It said the lyrics could "be interpreted many different ways," that no direct threats were made to staff or students and that the district is taking "extra precautionary measures to ensure the safety of all students."

"There is nothing specific," said Harrodsburg Police Lt. Gary Bradshaw. "But even with an implied threat we are going to make sure nothing happens in our schools."

Police said that the song was "How Far We've Come," by the band Matchbox 20. The song includes lyrics about saying goodbye to people at the end of the world.

Harrodsburg Police Chief Ernie Kelty said his department is now investigating the source of the call and that officers are patrolling Mercer County Schools.

"We have issued a subpoena to the phone company to get phone records and will try to figure out where the call originated," he said. "We have posted officers at the schools and will probably continue to do that for the next few days."

Mercer County schools public relations director Becky Holt said that the district would rather err on the side of caution.

"We are trying to be proactive in dealing with this, because it is better to be safe than sorry," she said. "But there is no specific threat. We have talked to the administrations and staff at schools and told them to be aware of surroundings. We want parents to know we value the safety of their kids above all else."

Kelty said that the investigation into the matter is ongoing.

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