A shooting threat at a Haverhill, NH school prompted a massive police response that including the lockdown of several Vermont schools yesterday morning, Tuesday May 6. 

Today’s Journal-Opinion reports that the threat, allegedly made by a boy living in the area, was directed at a Haverhill police officer and was, according to a Haverhill Police Department news release, initially believed to “involve the vicinity of Woodsville Elementary School.”

All three Haverhill public schools entered lockdown as police responded to search and secure the premises. Several schools across the river, including Blue Mountain, Newbury Elementary, Oxbow/River Bend, and Bradford Elementary, also were in lockdown.

HPD: “A suspect was identified and detained based on information coordinated through Grafton County Dispatch and assisting law enforcement agencies. After a thorough safety assessment, and with no injuries reported, the Superintendent of SAU 23 was advised that the lockdown could be lifted.”

Although HPD did not specify in the news release, reports indicate the juvenile suspect was taken into custody at his residence and not at any of the schools.

There were no actual shots fired and police described reports of an “active shooter” as erroneous.

Fatal crash with school bus – A 60-year-old Pownal man died when his SUV struck a school bus yesterday morning, May 6, at 7 AM. 

The school bus, driven by Kimberly Galok, 61, of Eagle Bridge NY, did not have any students onboard at the time of the crash.

The operator of the sport utility vehicle, Dana Zazinski, was pronounced dead at the scene. Galok was transported to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center via Pownal Rescue Squad to be treated for minor injuries.

Zazinski was traveling north on U.S. Route 7, Galok was traveling south. The speed limit on this portion of U.S. Route 7 is 50 miles per hour. Zazinski crossed the center line for an unknown reason and collided with the school bus in the southbound lane of travel. His SUV came to a position of uncontrolled rest on the grassy shoulder. The school bus came to a position of uncontrolled rest in the southbound lane of travel.

VSP warns of cold water immersion – As Memorial Day approaches, the “unofficial” start of summer in Vermont is just around the corner. After a long winter, many Vermonters are eager to spend more time outdoors. Thoughts of boating come to mind along with the warmer air temperatures, but people should not be fooled. Vermont’s waterway temperatures remain dangerously cold, only in the 40s to low 50s, during the month of May.

 “It’s critical that early season boaters understand the dangers of cold-water immersion and take precautions to ensure that everyone recreating on the water gets home safely,” said Al Johnson, boating law administrator for the Vermont State Police’s Marine Division. “Immersion into cold water can become life threatening very quickly. Entering the water unprepared during these conditions can reduce survival times to mere minutes due to hypothermia and cold shock, causing rapid breathing, loss of dexterity, and other physical incapacitations.”

State police asks members of the public to remember these safety tips:

• Check the forecast by visiting weather.gov or noaa.gov for the latest weather and marine forecasts.

• Consider postponing small craft boating activities until water temperatures become warmer.

• Dress for the water, not the weather by dressing in layers, wearing a properly fitted life jacket over your coat and bringing extra clothing in case you get wet.

• Wear a life jacket. A life jacket only works if you’re wearing it. Accidents happen quickly, and in cold water, every second counts. Ensure that your life jacket fits properly, regardless of your swimming experience or ability.

• File a float plan. Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.