SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Two colleges in Springfield were targeted by threats Sunday in connection with the city’s Haitian population, forcing one to cancel all events and another to go to online classes for the week.

A statement posted on the Wittenberg University website says the school received an email Saturday threatening an on-campus shooting on Sunday. A second email with a bomb threat was sent on Sunday. Clark State College also received emails threatening a shooting an bomb threat, according to a statement on the school’s website.

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It’s the latest incidents of threats being made targeting the city’s Haitian community after it became a focus of false online rumors accusing them of stealing and eating people’s pets.

“Both messages targeted members of our local Haitian community,” the Wittenberg statement says. “Wittenberg Police are cooperating with the Springfield Police Division and the FBI as they continue to investigate these threats to campus.”

The school says all of its classes will be remote on Monday and that all academic facilities will be locked. “All students, faculty, and staff should continue to exercise extreme precaution and be alert to all surroundings,” the statement says.

Classes will be held remotely all week at Clark State College. All activities at the school have been canceled.

“We understand the anxiety that such incidents can cause and we are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and care,” the Clark State College statement says. “As a proactive measure, Springfield Police will also increase their security presence on campus, and we are working with our wellness team and partners to provide additional counseling services.”

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Sue Ogrocki

Guardians vs. Rays

Cleveland Guardians’ Bo Naylor, right, stands at first base near Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda, left, in the fourth inning of a baseball game on Roberto Clemente Day, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Adelbert Andrew Balunek

OBITUARY

Adelbert Andrew Balunek, Avon Attorney went West on July 29, 2024. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, February 5, 1933 and graduated from St. Margaret School, and East Technical High School, Cleveland. In 1955, he graduated from Miami University and was commissioned in the United States Naval Reserve and served aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown CVA-10.Mr. Balunek was a graduate of Cleveland Marshall Law School of Baldwin Wallace College and practiced law in Avon and Lorain specializing in consumer and “lemon law” He was appointed referee/magistrate in the Domestic Relations Court by Judge Joseph Zieba. He was also part-time instructor of Business Administration and Business Law at Lorain Community College.Before law practice, Mr. Balunek was museum aide at the Smithsonian Institution, U.S. National Museum, Division of Transportation, under the direction of distinguished Curators Howard J. Chappele and John H. White, Jr. He continued his Navy/Naval Reserve activities with Naval Reserve Fleet Division 4-7D (Lorain) and the U.S.S. Hollidaysburg (PCS-1385) and retired Commander, USNR. He was a charter member of the Association of Naval Aviation (#955) and a fifty-year member of the United States Naval Institute. He was also employed in Cleveland by CIT Corporation.Mr. Balunek had a lifelong interest in Hungarian culture and causes, in Lorain and Cleveland, and was a member of St. Emeric Roman Catholic Church (Hungarian) in Cleveland and St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Avon. He was a member of the Lorain County Bar Association, Amvets Post 32, The American Aviation Historical Society, and the Cleveland Free Flight Society. He was an avid reader with interests in history, politics, the struggle for liberty, aviation and transportation. He enjoyed his Model A Ford automobile which he purchased in 1951. He enjoyed airshows and fly-ins, especially the Taylorcraft and J-3F Cub airplanes of his son, Konrad. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity at Miami University.Devoted husband and father, Mr. Balunek is survived by his loving and ever helpful wife of 60 years, Klara Elizabeth Balunek (nee Petervary); son Konrad (Ingrid), Venice, FL; daughter Victoria (Casey), and grandson Tucker, Novato, CA; and his brothers George and Frank, of Avon. He was preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Helen (Iroczki) Balunek and brother Andrew Daniel Balunek, M.D., ophthalmologist. “Vocavitque Deus mihi domum ad caelum.” Inquiries regarding Mr. Balunek’s memorial may be directed to balunek@gmail.com. Busch Funeral Home of Avon was honored to serve the family of Mr. Balunek.