Tampabay.com
SEPTEMBER 22, 2008

Polk Community College closed after threat

This just in from the Lakeland Ledger:

Polk Community College has closed all its campuses, including USF Polytechnic, as a precaution after PCC officials received what they called a credible threat that a student was preparing to shoot someone on campus.

Zephyrhills police took Randy M. Thurston, 39, into custody shortly before 1:30 p.m. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office had earlier issued a statewide alert for Thurston, who is being held under the state’s Baker Act.

Thurston was a work-study student employed in the college’s ceramics laboratory.

The Ledger reports that classes will resume Tuesday.

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Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going in on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.

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Rebecca Catalanello covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail her: rcatalanello@tampabay.com.

Tony Marrero covers Hernando County schools. E-mail him: tmarrero@tampabay.com.

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Kim Wilmath covers the University of South Florida. E-mail her: kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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