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UPDATE: "Suspicious" backpack linked to school evacuation did not contain bomb


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Updated: 8/20/2012 11:10 pm Published: 8/20/2012 12:45 pm
CONWAY, AR - A two hour evacuation means a little more time on the playground the first day of school at Marguerite Vann Elementary.

"I'm hoping she wants to go back to school tomorrow," parent Daniela Biley said.

The superintendent says a Good Samaritan dropped off a backpack similar to this one as a donation. That good deed turned into quite the commotion.

"The fire department and bomb squad x-rayed the package and determined they could see wire but they didn't see anything explosive or anything that would cause concern or alarm," Conway Fire Chief Bart Castleberry said.

Just a fancy high tech backpack that hooks up to an MP3 player or iPod. Parents say they hope the evacuation didn't scare the kids too much.

"I hope they told them it was a routine fire drill,” parent Krystal Wilson said. “I don't want them to be scared to go back to school tomorrow."

According to district policy, the superintendent says the principal did call to inform the parents of the situation however some parents say they didn't get the message.

"I'm not upset about it but it's puzzling why they wouldn't call the parents and let them know, but I guess they had intent on sending them back to class,” parent Amber Bryant said.

Parents are relieved tonight everyone is safe and looking forward to a much more uneventful day back to school tomorrow.

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of FOX16 - Breaking News and Weather to Plan Your Day for Little Rock and Central Arkansas

itsjustme - 8/21/2012 9:46 AM
0 Votes
I guess it is better to be safe than sorry. I'd rather see them waste a few hours on nothing than to ignore it and teachers and students get hurt or killed.

roberBware - 8/20/2012 8:46 PM
2 Votes
A Backpack W/Speakers sounds like The Bomb!

chris2emily - 8/20/2012 5:08 PM
2 Votes
@itsjustme backpack was a newer model that came with speakers installed in it and he thought it was a bomb

itsjustme - 8/20/2012 12:57 PM
5 Votes
What was seen that was "suspicious"?
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