Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 23, 1994                   TAG: 9403240013
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Short

SCHOOL FIRE APPARENTLY SET BY VANDALS

One or more arsonists burned out a teachers' lounge at the school and vandalized its auditorium.

Sgt. Ed Hogston estimated damages at $10,000.

The fire was contained to the lounge because the door was closed, Hogston said. A teacher who came to the school Saturday morning discovered the burned-out fire and alerted authorities at about 9 a.m.

``It definitely did some damage,'' Principal Ned Olinger said.

The damage is covered by insurance, and Olinger met with the adjusters Tuesday. Although the fire was contained in the lounge, leaving only ashes and debris, it did cause smoke and heat damage to the hallway in the seventh-grade wing of the building before it burned itself out.

Olinger said some students had to clean soot from their books and items in their lockers Monday. That and the smell from the fire have been the main inconveniences to students.

Hogston said the school's auditorium also was vandalized. Paint was thrown about, and some stereo equipment was damaged. Nothing is missing from the school.

The vandals apparently entered the school by breaking a door window.

Hogston said the police have suspects and are pursuing leads but no one has been charged. A footprint left by someone who stepped in the paint is among the clues being followed up by the Pulaski Police Department.

Police have charged a 15-year-old boy with breaking into a maintenance shed on the school grounds the night before and stealing more than $200 worth of tools. Hogston said all of the tools have been recovered.