Posted on 11/16/2002 8:35:17 AM PST by KeyBored
YOUTH
Pioneer shaken by 2 suicides, 1 attempt
By TODD FIELDING and DONNA SNYDER
Correspondents 11/15/2002
ARCADE - The suicides of two teenage boys and an attempted suicide by another teenage boy this week have sent shock waves through the Pioneer Central School District. Authorities would not name the two victims except to say one was 14 and the other 15. Police also said the first two deaths were not linked, though the second death and the attempted suicide appear to be connected.
Arcade Police Sgt. John Rix said the first death, of a 15-year-old boy, occurred Monday at the victim's home in the Village of Arcade. No details of that death were offered.
Wednesday, the body of a 14-year-old boy, reported missing since Monday, was found at an unspecified location in the village, the victim of a self-inflicted wound, said Rix, who declined to be more specific.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday night, a teenage boy took an overdose of a prescription medicine at his village home and was rushed to Bertrand Chaffee Hospital in Springville, then taken to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, where he is reported to be in good condition, Rix said.
It appears the teen who took the overdose and the 14-year-old suicide victim had planned to run away from home together - a scheme that never happened, Rix said.
The Arcade investigator said he believes the traffic death of another Pioneer student on Oct. 28 - Russell "Rosco" J. Morris, 17, a senior from Freedom - triggered the cycle of tragedy.
"This may have set off some depressed states among some students," the officer said.
Meanwhile, Pioneer School District leaders held an informational meeting Thursday evening in the auditorium of Pioneer High School. At least 100 parents, students and teachers attended.
"Every effort is being made to address the needs of the school community," said Michael Medden, a senior administrator for the district. "We have trained experts providing counseling and have brought in extra staff to help students and teachers to cope with these tragedies."
Bob Schooley, a teacher, said during the session: "Everyone's hearts are heavy. Everyone knows that. We're trying to do what we always do and help the grieving students."
"We read about this in other places, but we don't expect this to happen here," Cattaraugus County Undersheriff Dennis John said at the meeting.
On Oct. 30, a blood drive at Pioneer High School, held in memory of Morris, resulted in a huge turnout, prompting the school to schedule another one from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. "It seems that so many of those who turned out on the 30th were there because they wanted to do something in the wake of Russell's death," said Janice Fisher, adviser to the Pioneer chapter of the National Honor Society.
Sheriff's departments from Erie, Wyoming and Cattaraugus counties, and State Police, are helping Arcade police in the investigation.
The district, which encompasses parts of Erie, Cattaraugus, Wyoming and Allegany counties, has about 3,100 students.
I have a 16 year old who attends there - she knew the first boy. Needless to say, this has hit the small community quite hard.
Thoughts and prayers are appreciated.
And you're saying you aren't the least bit envious that we're supposed to have 4-6" of snow by Monday morning? :-)
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