by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
  What was reported to school officials as a potential threat related to schools in Buchanan and Dickenson counties allegedly broadcast over a Kentucky radio station last week turned out to be a case of listener error.
  According to Buchanan County School Superintendent Tommy P. Justus, someone listening to the Kentucky station apparently heard a report broadcast on the Kentucky station related to the copycat threats which have ensued in the days since the tragic shooting incidents at Virginia Tech.
  Apparently, immediately following a report on the national threats, Justus said, a station identification occurred which noted the station covers areas in Kentucky, and in Virginia -- Wise, Dickenson and Buchanan counties.
  It was in the combination of those two things that someone apparently thought the threat had been issued and "covered" Buchanan County schools.
  "I got a call around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday night from the Virginia State Police, who were checking the rumor they had heard from someone that a Kentucky station had broadcast something related to a threat to Buchanan and Dickenson County schools," Justus said.
  He said he knew of no threat at the time and went on to check with the sheriff, Buchanan County Schools Transportation Supervisor Robert Rife and Dickenson County School Superintendent Damon Rasnick.
  On all fronts, Justus said, no one was aware of any threat being made involving the two southwest Virginia schools.
  Next, he said he talked with a supervisor at the Kentucky radio station. Justus said she checked radio station records and indicated to him that the station had not made any announcement related to a threat for the two Virginia counties. The only mention of Buchanan and Dickenson counties, she said, occurred in the radio station identification which identifies the counties the station covers.
  As a result, Justus said, it became apparent there was nothing related to a threat for Buchanan County.
  To be on the safe side, Justus said, all school principals in Buchanan County were alerted to be on the look-out for anything suspicious and an elementary school principals meeting originally set for Friday was cancelled so that principals could remain at their schools.
  "I really appreciated the supervisor from the Kentucky station being gracious enough to talk with me in the middle of the night," Justus said about activities Thursday night leading to Friday to determine if there was a threat.
  After talking with her he said, all agreed there was nothing to worry about.
  In an unrelated incident last Thursday at Grundy High School, Justus said it was reported to school officials that a female student had allegedly threatened to harm herself.
  Justus said the school received a call from the student's mother Thursday afternoon shortly after 3 p.m. asking for the girl to be brought to the office and held there until she could get there. The call was reportedly made after the mother learned from another that her daughter had allegedly threatened to harm herself.
  The school resource officer was also called in, he said and the student left the school property safely.