Police investigate call to local elementary school

Carbondale Police are investigating a "disturbing" telephone message received by Thomas School Thursday morning. Police Chief Steve Odum had a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Carbondale Civic Center to inform the public about the situation and what is being done. Odum said there does not seem to be any serious threat, but they wanted to let people know the department is taking the situation seriously.

Thomas School Principal Linda Flowers said a secretary at the school, whom she declined to name, was the first to hear the message at about 7 a.m. Thursday. Flowers said the message was not threatening, but it was disturbing and needed attention. She said she decided to call the police and let them decide what to do.

Odum declined to comment on what was said in the message other than saying it was "disconcerting and disturbing." He said the message did not identify the school or any person by name or provide any specific information about the caller. He said they are investigating the situation, and there are not any suspects at this time.

"I wanted to emphasize that there is no specific threat and that parents have no reason to worry about sending their kids to school," Odum said. "In today's day and age, it is important to get this information out to the public as soon as possible."

The elementary school, located at 1025 N. Wall St., had classes for the rest of the day and did not evacuate or send any students home. Odum said the police department sent an officer to the school to take the initial report after the incident was reported and another officer monitored the school for the remainder of the school day. Odum said this is the first incident the department has had with a phone call of this nature to a local school.

Flowers said the mood at the school remained calm and the school day ran as normal, with the exception that the police were present. "Everything was under control," Flowers said. "The police were there, but our kids probably didn't even know that anything had happened." Flowers said the school will have classes as usual today, but they will most likely have an officer monitor the school again.