ATHENS, Ala. – Students from Athens High School were sent home Wednesday morning in response to threats made to the school two days in a row. Here’s the inspirational way the school’s community responded.
Wednesday evening, students, parents, teachers, and other community members gathered together to pray over the school. The organizers of the prayer event said they wanted to encourage the community to come together while helping each other feel safe.
The first disturbance was made on Tuesday, when a reported threat was written on a wall in a boys’ bathroom. While the threat was wiped off before administration saw it, the school immediately added to its police presence in response.
Wednesday morning Athens High School dismissed students for the day after a bomb threat was called in. Police say the identity of the caller is not clear, but that an investigation is under way.
The high school was searched by Athens Police, the Huntsville Bomb Squad and other agencies. No bombs were found, and students were permitted to return to campus to retrieve their cars and other belongings Wednesday afternoon.
The prayer service was held at Athens High School later Wednesday evening. More than 100 students, teachers and members of the community were present. The students prayed for their school, community, the police department and other responders who helped secure the campus during the threats.
“We just want to encourage everyone that we’re safe and that God’s in control and that it’s in His plan and we just want to lift it up in prayer,” said Gracyn Hargrove, a junior at Athens High School who helped organize the prayer event.
Athens High School was given the all-clear on Wednesday and has returned to normal operations.
(H/T WHNT)
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— Casey Ann Cappa (@caseycappa) August 20, 2015
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