Area Anthrax Scares Keep Cops On Their Toes

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Matthew Weigelt, Times-Union Staff Writer-

• Manchester post office closed for an hour

NORTH MANCHESTER - North Manchester Post Office was closed today from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. when a suspicious white powder came from a package, according to postmaster Roger Staley.

North Manchester police and Wabash County fire departments were called.

Patty Barker, post office window clerk, stamped the incoming parcel and saw the white powder.

Staley said the amount of powder was "just enough to be able to see it against a black counter."

The parcel "did not fit any profiles of the anthrax," said Staley.

The post office "took precautions because of the situation," and then was reopened. There was no testing planned for the powder.

"It wasn't a big deal. Don't play this up too big," said Staley.

• Money at Syracuse bank to be tested

BY TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer

SYRACUSE - There is no need for alarm or panic in the Syracuse community, according to Syracuse Town Marshal Tom Perzanowski.

In response to Wednesday morning's incident at the Wawasee Village branch of KeyBank in Syracuse, Perzanowski said an unknown substance found on some currency will be tested at the State Department of Health in Indianapolis. A Syracuse police officer transported the allegedly tainted money to that office Wednesday afternoon.

Bank and police officials agreed to keep the branch office closed until the results of the testing are known, according to a press release issued by Perzanowski, who noted that all local and state health agencies were contacted, as well as state and federal law enforcement.

The unknown substance was discovered when an employee was processing a deposit made earlier Wednesday morning. The currency was packaged and secured, and the person who made the deposit was interviewed.

"At this time, law enforcement and bank officials feel that there is no reason to suspect foul play or any serious health threat," the press release said.

As a precaution, several customers who visited the bank Wednesday morning and the bank's employees were given precautionary health instructions in the event the substance was anthrax.

Syracuse police and fire departments and members of the Kosciusko County Haz-Mat Team responded to the bank. [[In-content Ad]]

• Manchester post office closed for an hour

NORTH MANCHESTER - North Manchester Post Office was closed today from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. when a suspicious white powder came from a package, according to postmaster Roger Staley.

North Manchester police and Wabash County fire departments were called.

Patty Barker, post office window clerk, stamped the incoming parcel and saw the white powder.

Staley said the amount of powder was "just enough to be able to see it against a black counter."

The parcel "did not fit any profiles of the anthrax," said Staley.

The post office "took precautions because of the situation," and then was reopened. There was no testing planned for the powder.

"It wasn't a big deal. Don't play this up too big," said Staley.

• Money at Syracuse bank to be tested

BY TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer

SYRACUSE - There is no need for alarm or panic in the Syracuse community, according to Syracuse Town Marshal Tom Perzanowski.

In response to Wednesday morning's incident at the Wawasee Village branch of KeyBank in Syracuse, Perzanowski said an unknown substance found on some currency will be tested at the State Department of Health in Indianapolis. A Syracuse police officer transported the allegedly tainted money to that office Wednesday afternoon.

Bank and police officials agreed to keep the branch office closed until the results of the testing are known, according to a press release issued by Perzanowski, who noted that all local and state health agencies were contacted, as well as state and federal law enforcement.

The unknown substance was discovered when an employee was processing a deposit made earlier Wednesday morning. The currency was packaged and secured, and the person who made the deposit was interviewed.

"At this time, law enforcement and bank officials feel that there is no reason to suspect foul play or any serious health threat," the press release said.

As a precaution, several customers who visited the bank Wednesday morning and the bank's employees were given precautionary health instructions in the event the substance was anthrax.

Syracuse police and fire departments and members of the Kosciusko County Haz-Mat Team responded to the bank. [[In-content Ad]]

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