Another bomb threat at Zeigler-Royalton High School, second in five days

By Jim Muir

For the second time in five days Zeigler-Royalton High School has been evacuated because of a bomb threat.

Franklin County Sheriff Don Jones confirmed Wednesday afternoon that a bomb threat was called in to the school shortly after 1 p.m.

Because the school is not within the city limits of Zeigler the sheriff’s department handles all emergency calls.  Jones said no other details were immediately available but said deputies were on the scene.

Hazardous Device Technicians from the Illinois Secretary of State Police prepare to enter Zeigler-Royalton High School during a bomb threat on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. (Christopher Kays / For Franklin County News)

Darrell B. Dalton, 17, of Royalton and Zachary T. Barnett, 17, of Christopher were arrested April 26 and are accused of calling a bomb threat into the Z-R High School at approximately 8:20 a.m.  School personnel, deputies and a K-9 unit from the Illinois Secretary of State Police searched the school for the explosive device.  The student body was relocated to a position of safety by school personnel.  No explosive device was located.

Dalton and Barnett are both sophomore students at the school and both were charged with felony disorderly conduct, conveying a bomb threat to a school.  Both remain in custody.

This story will be updated later this afternoon.