The first bomb threat was discovered by a janitor after school had closed on Thursday. The note scrawled on a Dexter Regional High School bathroom wall referred to a bomb going off the next day, according to SAD 46 Superintendent Kevin Jordan.

"You have to take all the threats as credible," Jordan said Monday.

The school was locked down and local and state police were called to investigate, Jordan said. He said a thorough search was made of the high school but nothing was found. Later that day, the parents of high school students were notified by telephone of the incident and were advised they could keep their child home if they felt uncomfortable with the situation, he said.

"We obviously don’t want any disruption of education," but the option was given, Jordan said.

On Friday morning, every backpack and pocketbook was examined at the high school for explosives. In addition, everyone who entered the school was checked with a metal detector. School was held as usual.

Just minutes before school ended on Friday, a Dexter Middle School pupil alerted a faculty member about a note left behind on a bathroom sink in that school. Jordan said it appeared to be a "copycat" note that also alluded to a bomb.

Jordan said the middle and primary schools, which are connected, were locked down and state and local police were again called. Jordan said nothing was found during the search.

"We caught it just before students were leaving," Jordan said. He said pupils were provided with a note to give their parents explaining the incident. The note also advised parents that the school and police would search students and bags at the doors on Monday.

The school was locked over the weekend, Jordan said.

Nothing was found during the search Monday morning, according to the superintendent.

Local and state police are investigating the bomb threats.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Wednesday, October 03, 2007 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."