Loudon offers $1K reward in sabotage of Greenback School gas lines

By Hugh Willett knoxnews.com

 

Natural gas pipelines at the Greenback School in Loudon County have been deliberately tampered with, according to Loudon County purchasing director Leo Bradshaw.

The school has been closed for gas leaks several times since the beginning of the school year.

Bradshaw informed the Loudon school board Thursday night that he has received a report from Greenback Fire Chief Ronnie Lett informing him that someone had deliberately loosened couplings on four gas lines in the gym and locker room areas of the school.

"The fire chief said he personally witnessed the lines being tightened," Bradshaw said. "About a week and a half later he discovered the lines had been loosened."

Other recent vandalism at the school included a smoke detector that was sprayed with a chemical that activated the detector.

"This is really scary," said Greenback school board representative Lisa Russell."I can't imagine someone doing something like that."

Russell said that she understood that doors to the gym and locker room had recently been re-keyed. Someone would have had to have access to the keys if the damage was perpetrated after school hours.

Loudon County Mayor Doyle Arp has offered a $1,000 reward for any information about the tampering.