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Unrelated incidents cause problems for school district
A lone woman who robbed the United Community Bank at Divernon last Friday morning is still at large. She took an
undisclosed amount of cash after brandishing a gun and said she had a bomb, which later proved to be a PVC-style pipe with
wires and a battery.
The robbery occurred right after the bank opened with two staff people on hand. One, Susan Peterson who waited on the
robber, gave the police a good description of her and the car she was driving with the license plate number.
Because of the nearness of the bank to the schools in Divernon, the school district was set to lockdown which means students
are not allowed outside of the school and depending on the severity of the situation, may be confined to their classroom. Just
before the decision was to be made the all clear was given.
However, a totally different scenario developed Monday and there was no lockdown as rumored. “It was just a heightened
awareness measure,” said Supt. of Schools Kathy Garrett.
Concerning the latter incident, Garrett issued the following on the school’s information system School Reach.
“The Auburn police have advised us of an incident over the weekend that posed no immediate danger or threat to any of our
students or staff. However, the police have asked us to be extra aware of individuals around our school vicinity and to have a
heightened sense of awareness.
“The police have advised that we do not need to change any of our normal procedures. We are being extra vigilant in making
sure that all exterior doors are locked, which is not considered a lockdown. We have not been under a lockdown nor have we
been advised to be under one.”
In conclusion, Garrett added, “The district is in constant communication with our local law enforcement authorities and will
advise you through School Reach if we ever have a situation that poses an immediate threat or requires a lockdown.”
Police Chief Bruce Centko told the newspaper earlier Wednesday that he had been apprised of a possible threat against a
female student attending Auburn High School.
“We received second hand information about a man who alledgedly threatened an ex-girlfriend. There was not any arrest and I
don’t look for there to be any because there’s not been a specific person threatened.” The alleged suspect does not live in
Auburn or Divernon.
The possible threat came Friday about the time of the robbery.
The power outages Monday and Tuesday also played into the picture, the early release of students was based on that and
nothing else, he added.
Centko concluded that extra cars will be at the school until the end of the week with the situation to be reevaluated as need be.
A lone woman who robbed the United Community Bank at Divernon last Friday morning is still at large. She took an
undisclosed amount of cash after brandishing a gun and said she had a bomb, which later proved to be a PVC-style pipe with
wires and a battery.
The robbery occurred right after the bank opened with two staff people on hand. One, Susan Peterson who waited on the
robber, gave the police a good description of her and the car she was driving with the license plate number.
Because of the nearness of the bank to the schools in Divernon, the school district was set to lockdown which means students
are not allowed outside of the school and depending on the severity of the situation, may be confined to their classroom. Just
before the decision was to be made the all clear was given.
However, a totally different scenario developed Monday and there was no lockdown as rumored. “It was just a heightened
awareness measure,” said Supt. of Schools Kathy Garrett.
Concerning the latter incident, Garrett issued the following on the school’s information system School Reach.
“The Auburn police have advised us of an incident over the weekend that posed no immediate danger or threat to any of our
students or staff. However, the police have asked us to be extra aware of individuals around our school vicinity and to have a
heightened sense of awareness.
“The police have advised that we do not need to change any of our normal procedures. We are being extra vigilant in making
sure that all exterior doors are locked, which is not considered a lockdown. We have not been under a lockdown nor have we
been advised to be under one.”
In conclusion, Garrett added, “The district is in constant communication with our local law enforcement authorities and will
advise you through School Reach if we ever have a situation that poses an immediate threat or requires a lockdown.”
Police Chief Bruce Centko told the newspaper earlier Wednesday that he had been apprised of a possible threat against a
female student attending Auburn High School.
“We received second hand information about a man who alledgedly threatened an ex-girlfriend. There was not any arrest and I
don’t look for there to be any because there’s not been a specific person threatened.” The alleged suspect does not live in
Auburn or Divernon.
The possible threat came Friday about the time of the robbery.
The power outages Monday and Tuesday also played into the picture, the early release of students was based on that and
nothing else, he added.
Centko concluded that extra cars will be at the school until the end of the week with the situation to be reevaluated as need be.
Issue Date: April 2, 2009
