At approximately 10:00 a.m. the West Virginia State Police received a call from NMS stating that a bomb “note” had been found written in pencil on a vanity in the girls’ restroom. The message alluded to a bomb that would detonate at 1 p.m. that day. The state police, under the direction of Sgt. Jeff Andreas and State Trooper Jeff Fordyce, followed their order of protocol for such situations and worked with NMS school officials to put the evacuation plan into motion. Fourteen school buses were brought to the elementary school and the students were bussed to Magnolia High School.
By 11:15 a.m. the evacuation was complete, and Wetzel County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Haught made the following statement, “The students were evacuated as a precautionary measure. There was a bomb threat which had to be investigated.”
Haught also said, “If it turns out to be a hoax, we will pursue every possible avenue of investigation and we will prosecute the perpetrators fully.”
The 1 p.m. bomb deadline came and left uneventfully. The school and the law enforcement officials’ plan of evacuation had been executed, the students had all been fed lunch, and were all safe.
Teachers stayed with their students as they were loaded on the buses, and stayed with them until they were either picked up at MHS or transported on their regular bus routes home.
The evacuation and bomb search were under the direction of State police Sgt. Jeff Andreas of Paden City and West Virginia State Trooper Mike Fordyce, bomb specialist from Moundsville.
Sweeping the school for explosives were, Wetzel County Sheriff James Hoskins; Wetzel County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Handler, Rob Haught; Sr. Trooper Clint Lantz, K-9 explosives expert, “Jarno” Dutch Shepherd, Explosives Detection K-9 Unit from Moundsville, and Wetzel County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Handler, Deputy Rob Scott.
Also on hand to maintain order and assure the safety of the children were Wetzel County Sheriff James Hoskins, and New Martinsville Police Chief Tim Cecil, and numerous other law enforcement officials.
New Martinsville Fire Chief Larry Couch and numerous representatives from area fire departments who came to assist on the day of the bomb hoax. The fire department made every effort to keep a low profile that day. As Chief Couch said, “We positioned personnel and equipment in a manner that would allow us to promptly respond to a catastrophic event at the school. We try to keep a low profile in situations like this; we don’t want to draw unnecessary attention or create panic in the students, parents or staff, so for the most part, no one even noticed all of the fire equipment in the area,” Couch said.
Fortunately the Steelton Station is adjacent to the school and was already manned with personnel at the time of the initial call due to Fire Prevention programs that were taking place with the school students.
Fire fighters strategically staged equipment in the event the threat became a reality, NMVFD responded with Engines 207, and 202 as well as Ladder 203, Squad 206, Rescue 204 and Operations 201 with a total of 15 personnel. Surrounding fire departments provided additional assistance, serving as back-up to the New Martinsville Department, assisting departments included: Paden City, Sardis and Clarington Volunteer Fire Departments.
“NMVFD fire fighters assisted in the methodical assessment of rooms throughout the school while bomb personnel performed the initial assessments of the school,” Couch said.
“I was impressed with the efficiency and speed at which students were relocated by school personnel, and very pleased with the response and professional conduct of our fire fighters,” Couch said. Lieutenant Steve Yoho served as the initial commander for the fire departments’ response and did an excellent job of personnel and apparatus assignment as well as being the liaison with law enforcement and EMS personnel,” Couch concluded.
Couch’s view of the situation was in sharp contrast to that reported just six days later on area news services.
Although Wheeling radio and television stations reported Oct. 18 that the delay in transporting students was due to a possibility of “snipers” outside the school, New Martinsville Police Chief Tim Cecil emphatically stated Tuesday morning, “What I said was everybody cannot be rushed outside at the same time until we are sure the area is secure. We were not sure what was out there.” But Cecil was adamant that at no time did he mention the possibility of snipers.