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--> --> School threat was another wake-up call Wednesday's news of a gun threat at Ashland schools was chilling. A caller from a telephone booth in Ashland to the high school's Assistant Principal Ken Kigel issued a warning that people were going to die. Later Wednesday night, a 911 call threatened that a gun would be on the high school campus the next day (Wednesday). School officials were stuck. It is impossible to tell if threats like these are idle, or serious. One thing is certain, the safety of the students must be priority No. 1. It was determined that school would go on Wednesday and Ashland police, county sheriffs and state police officers would patrol the school grounds. Students were limited to classrooms and not allowed to congregate. Backpacks were searched. Nothing happened. This time. Threats are easy to make. There is no way to monitor the minds of every member of the society. Even in Ashland - as in Littleton or Santee - there is illness within the healthy, robust community. But there is something that can be done. First, provide complete support to local school officials for taking action. It can be argued if they did enough - maybe school should have been canceled - but there is no argument regarding their concern. They acted quickly, and probably created an overall calm amid the potential storm. Second, we can talk to our children. They must understand their world is not an episode of "Leave it to Beaver." Urge them to report any suspicious activity. Spell it out as to the forms those activities might take. Unfortunately, an on-guard personality must be adopted by kids at a time when it is virtually antithetical to every activity they participate in. Third, in lieu of gun control legislation, lock 'em up. If there is a child in your house who has access to a gun, you are failing as a parent and a member of the community. We are talking about the safety of the sweetest lives in Ashland. Do not fail. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing