Crime
Meriwether County Schools Locked Down Following Reported Threat, Police Presence Increased
UPDATE: As a result of the lockdown at all Meriwether Schools’ campuses, there will be an early release today at 11:45 AM.
The lockdown will be lifted as buses and parental car riders arrive to pick up students. Law enforcement will be present throughout the dismissal process.
MERIWETHER COUNTY, Ga. — All schools in Meriwether County, Georgia, have been placed on lockdown as law enforcement agencies investigate a reported threat involving local schools, according to the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office and a statement from Meriwether County Schools.
Authorities are working with law enforcement partners from surrounding agencies to investigate the reported threat. Officials said all schools in the county have been secured and remain on lockdown as a precaution while the investigation continues.
The precautionary measures have prompted an increased law enforcement presence at schools throughout the area.
In an announcement, the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office said it was actively investigating the reported threat in coordination with neighboring law enforcement agencies.
School officials confirmed that all Meriwether County schools were on lockdown and secured by law enforcement.
Authorities said residents should expect an increased police presence at area schools while officers work to assess the situation and determine the appropriate next steps.
Reports of police activity and a helicopter near Greenville High School have also circulated. However, the information provided by officials does not confirm the specific circumstances surrounding that reported activity or whether it is directly connected to a particular location.
Officials have not publicly detailed the nature of the threat, identified a suspect or announced whether any arrests have been made.
The lockdown is being maintained as a precautionary measure while authorities investigate.
Meriwether County Schools emphasized that the safety of students, teachers, faculty and staff remains the district’s highest priority.
Officials have not provided a timeline for when the lockdown will be lifted. Any changes to school security procedures will depend on information from law enforcement and further official announcements.
Authorities are asking the public to remain patient and avoid spreading rumors or unconfirmed reports about the situation.
As law enforcement agencies continue their investigation, officials said additional updates would be released when more information becomes available.
Parents, students and community members are encouraged to follow official communications from Meriwether County Schools and the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office rather than relying on unverified social media posts.
The reported threat remains under investigation, and law enforcement agencies continue coordinating their response.
At this time, officials have confirmed the countywide school lockdown and increased security measures but have not released further details about the nature of the threat.
ANGOON, Alaska — Roger Williams Jr., 35, was found dead Wednesday after he went missing during a cockle fishing trip near Angoon, Alaska, authorities said. Search teams found his body along the shore near Danger Reef Point after the U.S. Coast Guard discovered his empty boat the previous evening.
Alaska State Troopers said Angoon Search and Rescue found Williams shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday. Officials are transporting his remains to the State Medical Examiner’s Office. His family has also been notified.
Williams was last seen around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. He reportedly left the Angoon boat harbor in a red-and-silver, 16-foot Lund boat to go cockle fishing.
Cockle fishing involves collecting shellfish from coastal areas. Williams did not return as expected, and authorities later found his boat without anyone aboard.
Officials have not shared further details about his final movements or what happened during the trip.
At around 8 p.m. Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard found an empty 16-foot Lund skiff near the shoreline between Killisnoo Island and Angoon.
The discovery led to a search for Williams. Authorities looked for him after finding the boat with no one aboard.
Officials have not explained how the boat ended up near the shore or confirmed what caused Williams to disappear.
The U.S. Coast Guard joined local search-and-rescue teams and crews from Wrangell to look for Williams.
The teams continued their search after finding the empty boat on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, Angoon Search and Rescue found Williams’ body near Danger Reef Point shortly before 1 p.m.
Authorities have not released details about the conditions during the search or the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
Alaska State Troopers said officials are transporting Williams’ remains to the State Medical Examiner’s Office. Authorities have notified his next of kin.
Officials have not announced a cause of death. The medical examiner’s findings may provide more information about the circumstances of the incident.
The case remains under review as authorities work to determine what happened during Williams’ fishing trip.