DRUG DOGS SNIFF OUT HITS BUT NO DRUGS AT SOUTHERN

RACINE - Three drug dogs sniffed out hits but no illegal drugs yesterday at
both Southern Elementary and Southern High School during what was described
as a "proactive" district lock down required by law.

Special drug dogs meant to sniff out a variety of narcotics had hits on 16
lockers at the high school and four at the elementary school. The dogs were
under the control of the Meigs County Sheriff's Office and law enforcement
from Parkersburg, W.Va.

These hits are defined as the dog detecting what could be the odor of
illegal drugs. However, if the dog stopped at a student's locker this
doesn't mean that student is taking narcotics and could mean either the
student was exposed to drugs in a second-hand manner or it could mean the
adjoining locker was the actual "hit." Adjoining lockers were also searched.

At Southern High School the locker rooms were searched as were the
downstairs and upstairs lockers, FFA lockers, shop lockers and then lockers
at the elementary school. Southern administrators searched the lockers
where the hits were found to be in compliance with the district's search
and seizure bylaws. A few locks required cutting but will be replaced.

The searches began with a lock down drill at 8:40 a.m. and was over by 9:30
a.m. The lock down drill consists of an announcement over the public
address system instructing students to stay in their rooms and out of
sight. The classroom doors were then shut and locked with the lights turned
out. These types of lock down or "safety drills" became prevalent after the
shootings at Columbine High School. These safety drills are to protect
students against dangers such as an act of terrorism, a person possessing a
deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance, or other act of violence.

House Bill 422 requires public schools in Ohio hold these types of safety
drills. Unlike fire drills and tornado drills schools must now certify in
writing to local law enforcement officials that the safety drill was
conducted. School officials can even be subject to a $1,000 fine for
failing to conduct these required drills. These new requirements take
effect on Sept. 28 so Southern was a little ahead of the game by completing
the safety drill early.

"The important thing is we want parents to know our schools are safe and
that nothing was found," Tony Deem, Southern High School principal said.
"Overall the drill was a success and we learned from the process."