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Students locked down during search for gun

 
Published Sept. 14, 2000|Updated Sept. 27, 2005

Hernando High School went into a rare "lock down" mode _ locking all its doors and restricting student movement _ while officials canvassed about 100 lockers Wednesday in search of a gun. Hernando High assistant principal Tom Varn Jr. said nothing illegal _ guns, drugs or other contraband _ turned up in the search prompted by a tip the school received. Brooksville Police Chief Ed Tincher said officials were searching for a gun. The school was locked down for more than 45 minutes beginning about 9:30 a.m. as a precaution. Hernando High has had numerous bomb scare evacuations in recent years, including one Tuesday. But this was the first lock down in at least four years, Varn said. Tuesday's bomb scare was unrelated to Wednesday's lock down. Varn said police are investigating. No disciplinary actions have been taken against students. But that could change. "We've got some pretty hot leads right now," Varn said.

Board backs longer lease for motor home rally

The Southeast Area Family Motor Coach Association could be rolling into Hernando County Airport for another five years. The Hernando County Aviation Authority board approved the five-year lease extension, which will keep the motor homes arriving en masse at the airport every year through 2007. The group had received a lease extension last year to extend the lease through 2002. Wednesday's decision must be approved by the County Commission. The first two years of the additional contract the group will pay $5,500 rent, and the last three years it will pay $6,000 a year, or the amount of daily passes sold, whichever is greater. In February, about 5,000 people descended on the airport property for the annual rally.

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