Police block off entry into town, students being kept in school

Philipsburg-Osceola elementary, middle and high school students from the Wallaceton area are being kept at their schools due to a situation involving police.

Students from West Decatur and other areas are being sent home, P-O Superintendent Gregg Paladina said. Decisions have not been made regarding elementary students.

“State police have (Wallaceton) blocked off,” Paladina said. “We're going to keep the kids here where they are safe. We haven't heard much from state police. As far as we know, there is now way in or out of Wallaceton.

State police at Philipsburg declined to elaborate on the situation in Wallaceton, except to confirm that Clearfield Street and other roads are blocked off. A fire police officer confirmed that access to the town had been shut down.

“As soon as there is something that can be put out in the public that won’t harm the investigation we will have it out,” a Philipsburg state police representative said.

Paladina said that parents have picked up “most” of the children that were being kept in school.

This story was originally published May 24, 2017 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Police block off entry into town, students being kept in school."