Natural gas pipelines at Greenback School being vandalized

There is no credible evidence that anyone tampered with gas lines at Greenback School. At this point there is only some "suspicion" that the lines were tampered with. These accusations are the result of a simple statement by Chief Lett "he watched the repairman tighten the lines, then he watched the repairman loosen the lines by hand". The rest of the story is contrived by other sources and the media. It just so happens that today another gas leak was discovered at one of the same units that was "tampered" with last week. The leak discovered today showed no signs of tampering. The connections were tight and the leak appeared to be the result of a small hole in the pipe sealant.

The leaks found earlier in the school were due to an old faulty valve and the leak the following day was a result of overpressure at the regulator valve. No mystery on all of the leaks other than the ones described by Chief Lett. Bottom line...old, dilapidated. worn out lines and equipment. That simple.

I would stop all the parents and children from entering the school during off school hours.

Update on above comment.

According to sources, yesterdays leak was determined to be due to a hairline crack in one of the "new" regulators. Not a result of tampering.

For the Record wrote:

Update on above comment.
According to sources, yesterdays leak was determined to be due to a hairline crack in one of the "new" regulators. Not a result of tampering.

Just because the leak found yesterday was a hairline crack does nothing to dispute the fact that the four couplings were loosened. That's right ... four couplings not one or two but all four located in the same spot.

"For the record" has nothing more than his own intuition to base his opinion on. The Fire Chief has much more information on which to base his opinion, including the fact that the couplings were tightened by a pipewrench on a tapered thread pipe that was absolutely tight a week and a half before.

The AP story published here was edited down from the online story posted by the News Sentinel. The full story was published in the print section of the news Sentinel the next day. Read the police report posted in the newspaper along with the interview of the fire chief and then decide.

In any case, trying to diminsih the importance of such an event by claiming it was not done on purpose just shows to show how little some people care about the children in our school. The pipes leak the same whether they were loosened on purpose or not tightened properly in the first place. The danger is the same to the students either way and should not be minimized by those who would like to make it seem that nothing is really wrong with the Greenback School.

No one is dismissing anything here. If I did not have first hand knowledge of the situation I would not have posted the comments. The point I was trying to make is while there may be one isolated case where there was something suspicous, there are more cases that were not. In fact not one of the couple dozen leaks previously discovered could be attributed to tampering. I would certainly not dispute anything I was told by Chief Lett and that is why I know the truth and the other pertinent FACTS. I am not even saying that tampering may not have occured...simply that there was no physical evidence to suggest it

For the Record wrote:

No one is dismissing anything here. If I did not have first hand knowledge of the situation I would not have posted the comments. The point I was trying to make is while there may be one isolated case where there was something suspicous, there are more cases that were not. In fact not one of the couple dozen leaks previously discovered could be attributed to tampering. I would certainly not dispute anything I was told by Chief Lett and that is why I know the truth and the other pertinent FACTS. I am not even saying that tampering may not have occured...simply that there was no physical evidence to suggest it

So tell me which parts of the story have been contrived by the media and other sources? All the media says is that tampering is suspected and the story states why the tampering is suspected.

There is more than just the statement of the chief to the media. There is a police report filed. I don't think the Fire Chief would have filed a policereport if he did not have a reasonble suspicion that something illegal occurred. As a fireman he has the knowldege to know when something is dangerous and when it is not right.

The fact is for two or more years there have been gas leaks at this school. For two or more years attempts have been made to correct them(repairs, replacement of units, parts and certification of gas lines) and still here we are. Every time a gas leak occurs everyone at this school is in danger. I am grateful that Chief Lett is so close and keeping a watchful eye on our situation. But having as many gas leaks as we have is just absolutely unacceptable. I keep hoping after every repair that this is over, only to be disappointed when the next gas leak occurs. Suspicious or not,the truth is for a long time gas leaks have been occurring at this school and the danger in that is very real.

Enough is Enough wrote:

The fact is for two or more years there have been gas leaks at this school. For two or more years attempts have been made to correct them(repairs, replacement of units, parts and certification of gas lines) and still here we are. Every time a gas leak occurs everyone at this school is in danger. I am grateful that Chief Lett is so close and keeping a watchful eye on our situation. But having as many gas leaks as we have is just absolutely unacceptable. I keep hoping after every repair that this is over, only to be disappointed when the next gas leak occurs. Suspicious or not,the truth is for a long time gas leaks have been occurring at this school and the danger in that is very real.

I absolutely agree. The important issue is that the public be made aware of the safety issues at the school. Neither the fire chief nor the media are guilty of exaggeration or distortion. The facts are what they are.

This is highly disturbing. I hope someone is documenting all of this so that if something happens, you can prosecute them all for gross negligence. Two years is entirely too long for any issue to be ongoing, especially one that places innocent people at risk. When are the people of Greenback going to stage a protest and picket that school. Bring in the media and draw some real attention to the problems. A hundred people standing outside with signs ought to get someone's attention!

cherokee nation wrote:

<quoted text>
I absolutely agree. The important issue is that the public be made aware of the safety issues at the school. Neither the fire chief nor the media are guilty of exaggeration or distortion. The facts are what they are.

Chief Lett could be the one doing it?

No evidence to support the case for sabotage?

Lets see... you have the testimony of the Fire Chief and the wrench-guy from Interstate that the couplings were proprly tightened and then were found loosened. Directly relevant and admissible in court.

Physical evidence...
You have the four couplings themselves found to be threaded proeprly and capable of being tightened. And don't forget the coupling with the hairline crack. maybe the crack was caused by improper application of the pipe wrench by the perpetrator?

Sounds like plenty of evidence to me.. Now all they need is a suspect...

LCSO is on the case and with Guider up for election one can be sure no stone will be left unturned in the search for the culprit.

I'm still waiting for an arrest in this case.
They've got time to arrest people growing weed in their backyard but they can't find time to look for the guy trying to blow up a school full of children?