MIKE EVERETT, PARKER EVERETT
WAYNE CO. – Teens feeling so maligned since a couple of school shootings this year in the U.S. oftentimes have no one to blame but themselves for attitudes toward them.
Especially when the adults in their lives continue to cover up for some teens who are, like many officials in this country, “too prominent to punish.”
That may have been the case with the latest lockdown in Fairfield at the high school, which occurred on Thursday, March 1.
The official story has it that multiple law enforcement agencies (Fairfield city police, Wayne County Sheriff’s Department and an Illinois State Police trooper) responded to Fairfield Community High School after a lockdown was determined necessary due to a vague “school threat,” this at about 9:20 in the morning.
The “vague” part is noted because no authorities described what kind of “threat” was issued, to whom it was issued, nor how it was issued. In other words, there was nothing noted about a bomb, school shooting, overt violence or any other type of incident that could prompt a school lockdown.
The official statement, as issued by school superintendent Jill Fulkerson, read “On Thursday, March 1, at 9:20 a.m., FCHS Administration received a call about a possible threat to the school Students were immediately placed on lockdown and area law enforcement was contacted. After a thorough investigation, it was determined the information was a false alarm. FCHS takes all potential threats very seriously and are doing everything we can to keep our students safe.”
The unofficial story, however, crept out almost immediately.
‘Today’s the day’
The next day, Disclosure was thronged with complaints about the way the matter was handled, as well as the lack of coverage of what many knew first-hand was the case.
These people advised that the way the matter went down was allegedly this: High school student Parker Everett, daughter of Wayne County Sheriff Mike Everett, had observed that a fellow student had left a computer screen up, having neglected to log out after he had used it. The web page was undisclosed.
However, the young Everett girl is said to have gone in under this fellow student’s log in and, as him, allegedly posted something accompanied by the caption “Today’s the day.”
Conflicting stories have it that the post was a photos of dead bodies; however, one school official had told an inquiring parent that there “was no picture of dead bodies.”
How the words “Today’s the day” could be perceived as a threat on its own without something indicating what “today was the day” for is unknown, but that’s what at least one set of parents was told.
The story continues in that when attention to the comment was brought to school officials the next morning, that was what was perceived as a “threat,” and the lockdown was called.
When somehow it came out that the Everett girl had just been joking around, that was when the all-clear was given, because of course she was just “joking around.”
Parents outraged at appearance of coverup
Despite the law enforcement response and school lockdown, Everett was reported to have been very open about what had happened…at first, anyway.
A number of parents advised Disclosure that their high school kids came home stating that the young Everett girl was telling them she’d received a four-day in-school suspension over the incident.
She also reportedly advised that while she had done what had been reported, it “wasn’t what people thought,” and that neither she, nor the school, were supposed to talk about it because her dad “didn’t want it getting out because of the election.”
Everett is seeking a third term in office as sheriff, and was facing competition in the Primary in the form of Marty Keoughan, a deputy in Jefferson County.
The students who were disclosing this to their parents were told point-blank that they weren’t to “spread gossip” about it.
However, it’s not “gossip” if it’s true, and the kids were stating unequivocally that it was coming directly from Ms. Everett…so if it wasn’t true, and she was claiming it was, that could indicate an even worse situation of unnecessary drama (as well as bizarre and questionable behavior).
Local media, of course, ran with the official statement from Fulkerson and was completely dismissive of the matter, as they have stood by Everett for eight years despite his do-nothing approach to law enforcement as well as other, major complaints emanating from his department over the years.
Parents, therefore, were understandably infuriated.
“I for one am pissed at this coverup,” stated one individual writing to Disclosure. “She should get the same punishment any other kid would’ve gotten, and not covered up and just given four days in-school suspension.”
However, Wayne is a true isolationist county and, supportive of liberal politics disguised as conservative Republicans (as Everett, state’s attorney Kevin Kakac, and much of the county board are), gives a pass to each and every public official/anyone associated with them, regardless of the depth of wrongdoing (which is why taxes are ridiculous and representation is non-existent.)
Wayne: Their own worst enemy
The situation turned somewhat amusing when on Thursday, March 8, a statement issued by multiple agencies – the Illinois State’s Attorneys Association, the Illinois Sheriff’s Association, and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police – was released regarding school threats.
The statement – which could very easily have been crafted to fit just what the allegations were against Parker Everett – addressed the matter in this way:
“It’s not a joke.
“When a person, regardless of age, makes a threat to harm students or faculty at a school, it may seem to some like a youthful prank, but to the Illinois law enforcement community – State’s Attorneys, Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police - it is no laughing matter. Threatening violence at a school, personally or through social media, is a crime that is punishable by years in prison. The havoc and fear created when someone threatens a school community is real, no matter the intentions of the person who communicates that threat. All threats are taken seriously, and investigating them diverts precious resources. The law enforcement community stands united in making our schools safe. In Illinois, that means that threats of violence are no joke and those that make them will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The statement was signed by John Milhiser, President, Illinois State’s Attorneys Association; Sheriff David Snyders, Stephenson County, President, Illinois Sheriff’s Association; and Chief James Kruger, Village of Oak Brook, President, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.
Chagrined Wayne County media didn’t post the press release until a day or two after its issuance.
Naturally, the threat of “prosecution to the fullest extent of the law” doesn’t apply in Wayne…leading the next student who might come to believe a school threat will be addressed lightly to carry out one….or worse.