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Newberry High, Oakview Middle, and Eastside High all receive bomb threats

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Newberry High School was evacuated today for the fourth time in four school days, and Oakview Middle School and Eastside High School also received bomb threats and were evacuated.

The first threats were received for Newberry High School and Oakview Middle School at 10:13 a.m. Some of the threats were transmitted via Snapchat from an account with the name “blake collins.” The two schools were evacuated, and Newberry Elementary School was locked down as a precaution. 26 deputies were dispatched to the Newberry schools, along with 2 bomb-sniffing dogs and the Sheriff’s helicopter. By 12:42 p.m., the students were back in school, and the elementary school was off lock-down.

At 12:49 p.m., Newberry High School was locked down because of an armed disturbance in the area that was unrelated to the bomb threat. The lockdown was lifted at 1:24 p.m.

Eastside High School received a vague threat at 11:11 a.m., with subsequent messages becoming more specific until authorities determined there was a credible bomb threat. 23 units, the bomb-sniffing dogs, and the helicopter were then dispatched to Eastside High School while the students were evacuated to Lake Forest Elementary School and dismissed for the day. The school was cleared by 3:13 p.m.

No devices were found at any of the schools, and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate all of the incidents.

Homecoming events this weekend at Newberry High School have been “postponed, not canceled,” according to Alachua County Public Schools Public Information Officer Jackie Johnson.

An email to Newberry High School families from Assistant Principal Christine Eberly clarified, “As previously noted, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all extracurricular activities, including practices and athletic events, for the remainder of the week. Further, all Homecoming Week activities are postponed until further notice. Additional information will be provided as soon as we have it. In person learning will continue on campus unless and until we receive a different direction from the School District.”

  • Are you supposed to be scared and want more funding? (This is where rippner chimes in)

    Always remember Sandy Hooker Forensics

    Will J.J. Finley Elementary School leave PortaPotties out in the field for 35 days between Gator Games “to protect the children”?

  • Sounds like a Biden like distraction hoax from the Gainesville city commission or their very few supporters left, to take the attention away from the dumpster fire that has made Gainesville the laughing stock of the state! Idiots!

  • I remember we had bomb threats too back in the ‘70s when I was in school. It’s always something, some fads never go away with malcontents. They’ll write manifestos or follow Antifa after dropping out.

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