Elementary school tightens security
In the wake of a scary, potentially life-threatening incident at Marion Elementary School Aug. 28, the school has tightened security at the school, limiting access to the building.
Principal Stan Ploutz said that in general, most doors are supposed to be locked, anyway, and the school personnel felt vulnerable with a door unlocked on the west side of the building for entry by arriving kindergartners and their parents.
So, that door now is locked at all times, as is another door that leads directly to the school's playground.
The school's front door, on the south, is the only one that will remain open now, during school hours.
Two weeks ago, a Florence man, feeling that school personnel were "hassling" him, threatened to come to MES and "kill everyone," or at least any administrators he could find.
He was met by sheriff's and police officers and arrested without incident, for making a threat of physical violence.
Ploutz said of the incident, "I'm just glad it only went as far as it did, for all concerned."
