A former Salem female student who made threats to a Salem Middle School student is in custody in Kentucky with police. 

Police continue to maintain a presence on school grounds for student assurance and any related safety concerns, according to Jennifer Laywer, Principal of SMS.

Earlier this morning, school officials were notified that a female student of Salem Middle School received an online threat from a former student of Salem Community Schools.

That student is now living in Kentucky.

The student who was threatened is at home with parents, however; Salem officials took every precaution to investigate the concern along with local police.

Police have been working this morning and afternoon to locate the student who made the threat who last lived in Kentucky, while all three Salem schools are on lock-in procedures to remain inside the building and continue the school day.

“We feel that school is a safe place to be, but as a parental decision if you feel that you would prefer to pick up your student, please bring ID for pickup at the office,” said Lawyer. 

Very nearby the intersection of Water Street and  West Market, along the stone wall embankment after the PNC Bank Drive-thru, you have probably noticed that there are two windows and a doorway that have been filled in with concrete blocks.  

Now you might think this was an old rear entrance to one of the buildings in the Lyon Block, or perhaps was a City of Salem storage facility, but that would be way wrong.

For a great many years (38), in my mother’s childhood and before, there was a man named Orville Kenworthy, who resided in this little structure.  

Now the structure itself did belong to two of the stores in the Lyon Block, but both of the owners were fine with this man living here and reportedly charged him $20 a year rent.