RRHS vandalized Saturday Police arrest one youth

Ken Johnston

While school’s been out for the summer, someone decided it was time to go back in early Saturday morning at Rainy River High School.
At least one, and possibly several culprits, broke into RRHS in the early morning hours Saturday and caused extensive damage to the interior of the building. No value of the damage had been determined as of press time.
Principal Bob McGreevy said that his office received some damage and computer monitors were smashed elsewhere in the school.
In addition to the damage, the invader(s) lit several fires, “mostly on the north side of the school near the library,” said McGreevy on Monday.
Assistant School Board Super-intendant Ian Simpson said, “There was no structural damage. Several small fires were set, burning paper.”
“There was no specific targeting of offices. It appears they made a loop of vandalism in the building,” said Simpson.
Construction crews coming into work around 5:50 a.m. discovered the crime scene and called McGreevy around 6:05 a.m.
“The construction workers extinguished all the fires,” said McGreevy. “They knew something was not right and called me.”
Simpson could not confirm whether the school’s alarm system was triggered. “That is under investigation right now.”
Half the school was cordoned off Monday awaiting insurance adjusters and cleaning crews. McGreevy said that the attack will not delay the opening of the school on the scheduled August 30th date. “Things are rolling this morning and extra cleaning crews have been brought in.”
The police said Monday that a young person who can not be identified has been charged and released pending a future court appearance. The investigation is continuing with the assistance of the Kenora Forensic Identification Unit, North West Region Rural and Agricultural Crime Team and the North West Region Crime Unit. There was no word as to whether the vandal has attended or will be attending RRHS.
The vandalism will not delay the construction on the new heating and air conditioning system at the school. “Fortunately they are working on the side of the school not closed off,” said McGreevy.
“I was shocked and disappointed this happened in our community,” concluded McGreevy.
Simpson added, “Vandalism is always senseless to me. A lot of innocent people will have to bear the cost of one person’s malicious act.”