BEATRICE – The message came on the Crete Public School’s Facebook Page….”Due to unforeseen circumstances, all Crete Public Schools will be closed on Friday, May 17th for the summer. No staff report”.
Classes were scheduled to end for this year, on May 22nd. Crete High School’s graduation ceremonies are scheduled for this Sunday, at 3 p.m.
The Saline County Sheriff’s Office released a statement saying they were told by a citizen who had received an electronic transmission…that could be interpreted as a potential threat to local school districts. Authorities conducted an investigation with the assistance of the Nebraska State Patrol. Based on information, schools in the area formulated “their best action plan for their district”.
Earlier this week, Acting Crete School Superintendent Dr. Bret Schroder released an official school statement on the district’s Facebook page, that at approximately 1:45 P.M. on May 13, 2019, a man was seen walking near the Crete Elementary School with what appeared to be a hunting rifle with a scope.
Police were called by a citizen who spotted him. He went into a nearby apartment building. At that time, the school was put into lockout mode to protect our students and staff.
Izaih Romero was apprehended by the Crete Police Department at 2:15 P.M. It was discovered the weapon in question was a BB gun with a scope attached.
The incident, according to Crete Police Chief Steve Hensel, is not related to the investigation that prompted school districts to put into place their own action plans.
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