Half a dozen Caledonia teens found themselves being booked at the county jail Tuesday after an apparent senior prank.
Caledonia High School seniors Kara Von Kanel, Sunnie Rushing, Amber Hankins, Stephanie Hopper and Kelsey Jones, along with 2009 Caledonia High graduate Patrick McIntyre, were arrested by the Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office Tuesday afternoon after zip-tying the high school lockers shut and spreading oil or soap on the floor of the commons area.
The seniors, all 18, and McIntyre, 19, were charged with burglary of a commercial building. The Caledonia Marshals” Office helped sheriff”s deputies locate the teens and take them into custody Tuesday afternoon, said LCSO Detective Tony Cooper. The vandalism occurred at around 1-2 a.m. Tuesday morning.
“Between 1 and 2 yesterday morning, they broke into the Caledonia High School to play a senior prank,” Cooper noted Wednesday afternoon. “They kind of vandalized the school, you could say.”
The prank didn”t leave any lasting damage and was no cost to the schools to clean up.
“There really was no damage to the school, with the exception of having to clean up the school,” Lowndes County School District Superintendent Mike Halford said Wednesday afternoon.
The teens attempted to zip-tie the doors shut but were unsuccessful, said Cooper.
Over the years, the number of senior pranks has died down in Lowndes County schools, said Halford.
“It just depends on different groups,” he added. “You can go years and never have them, and you can have four or five during a year”s time. When I was principal at New Hope, it was more during homecoming week. (Pranks) used to be a major issue at Caledonia and New Hope.”
While Halford said, “There will be disciplinary measures,” he would not divulge what action would be taken against the students, who are scheduled to graduate on Saturday.
“Any child involved in stuff like this will have to make restitution,” Halford said.
Columbus Municipal School District hasn”t dealt with senior pranks in several years.
“Columbus High School has not experienced any property damage or destructive senior pranks over the past several years,” said Caig Shannon, Columbus High principal and special assistant to the superintendent.
“At any time should a student”s action destroy school property, the district will seek restitution and disciplinary action based on policy printed in the Columbus School District”s Student Handbook,” he added.
Calls to Caledonia High School Principal Randy Barnett were not returned by press time.
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