Shooting threat at Highland was false alarm

RIVERSIDE — School officials at Highland kept children indoors at both district buildings Tuesday, after a student told administrators of a potential threat to the secondary building but later retracted their warning.

“We involved law enforcement immediately to check out the threat and were assured there was no basis for concern,” Superintendent Ken Crawford said in a letter to parents and students. “The student did recant their story later … We will continue school and activities as normal this week.”

In a follow-up interview, Crawford said the situation was resolved within roughly 90 minutes of the initial alarm, after police found that the supposed shooter was not a threat and was outside the county at the time.

“We handled it quickly and efficiently, the way we always do,” he said. “We tracked down what’s real and what’s not real. Unfortunately, we’re getting too much practice in this sad state.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com