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School locks down following bomb threat
No devices, weapons found; Incident under investigation
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Parents talk on cell phones and stare across Harris Trail Road at Richmond Hill High School on Friday morning during a lockdown of the campus following a bomb threat that was called in to the school. - photo by Julia Harison

A lockdown Friday morning at Richmond Hill High School caused by a bomb threat was lifted around 1 p.m. after local and state law enforcement officials found no devices or weapons on the school grounds.

Many parents gathered alongside Harris Trail Road awaiting information as no one was allowed on or off the school campus as the school was being searched.

Richmond Hill Police Chief Billy Reynolds said around 11 a.m. during a briefing that the day’s events began with a call that a student on campus had a weapon.

“The school received a call this morning of an alleged student having a weapon. We found the student and found no weapon,” he said.

Shortly thereafter, the school received a bomb threat.

“A little later on they received a bomb call that there was a bomb in the school, and that was pretty much all that was said,” the chief told reporters.

At that point, Reynolds said a Chatham County bomb-sniffing K-9 unit was called to help search the school, which included a room-by-room check of all the school’s buildings.
No students were hurt, Reynolds said, and he didn’t think anyone was in danger.

“We get a threat, we have to check it out,” he said, noting that it would have been up to the school system to request an evacuation, which did not occur.

Cyndy Glasscock was one of the many parents gathered across the street from the school’s entrance, waiting to see how events played out.

“I’m just proud that the law enforcement officials are taking this so seriously and handling this so well,” she said. “I have a son inside, it’s scary to see all this going on, but I would far rather see this than see them underreact and take a chance with a child.”
By 1:20 p.m., the search was complete and school was back in session.

“Richmond Hill High School has been given an ‘all clear’ by law enforcement and we look forward to them having a productive rest of their day and wonderful three day weekend,” Bryan County School Superintendent Dr. Paul Brooksher said in an emailed statement around 1:30 p.m. “I want to thank local law enforcement, the RHHS students and staff for handling a difficult situation in a very professional manner.”

At presstime, there were no suspects, and the two calls were still under investigation, according to reports.

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Groups hand out scholarships
RH theater scholarship
Richmond Hill High School senior Jacey Shanholtzer shows her Dawn Harrington Berry Spotlight Award, which was awarded by the Richmond Hill Community Theatre and includes a $500 scholarship. With her are Tom Harris, Ashlee Farris, Brett Berry and Kim Diebold. The award was created in memory of Dawn Harrington Berry, a long time RHCT member and president who died in 2016. - photo by Photo provided.

Three reports recently presented scholarships

Richmond Hill High School senior Jacey Shanholtzer received the Dawn Harrington Berry Spotlight Award, which was awarded by the Richmond Hill Community Theatre and includes a $500 scholarship. The award was created in memory of Dawn Harrington Berry, a long time RHCT member and president who died in 2016.

Garden Club

The Richmond Hill Garden Club recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Katherine Wood and a $500 scholarship to Carly Vargas, both seniors graduating from Richmond Hill High School.

The awards were presented May 8 during Honors Night at RHHS.

Wood plans to attend Green Mountain College in Vermont and major in environmental studies.

Vargas plans to attend Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee, to pursue a degree in either environmental studies or biology.

The garden club awards a $1,000 scholarship annually to a local high school senior who plans to major in a field related to environmental concerns, plants and/or gardening.

This year, due to having two exceptional candidates, the garden club awarded an additional $500 scholarship.

Exchange Club

The Exchange Club of Richmond Hill recently named Caroline Odom as its student of the year.

The club each month during the school year names a student of the month, and the student of the year is chosen from among those winners.

Awards are based on academic performance, community involvement and leadership.

Monthly winners receive $100, with the annual winner getting a $1,000 scholarship.

The Exchange Club has been recognizing students for more than 30 years.

Odom will go on to compete in the Georgia District Exchange Club against students from across the state.

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