North Myrtle Beach High School has canceled its football game Friday night over safety concerns, according to the high school’s Facebook post.
The school’s team was scheduled to play Marlboro County High School. However, the post said the decision was made to cancel the game out of an abundance of caution after Marlboro County Schools had e-learning days Thursday and Friday based on safety concerns.
All tickets purchased will be refunded, the message said.
A message left for North Myrtle Beach Athletic Director Anthony Heilbronn was not immediately returned.
Horry County Schools Executive Director of Safety Mike Frederick said Friday that the decision was left up to the administration on whether to cancel the game. He said there were many parents who were worried about the game. “I get why they made the decision that was made,” Frederick said.
Lisa Bourcier, Horry County Schools spokesperson, said by email that the game was canceled because Marlboro County Schools “have been dealing with safety concerns this week.” She did not elaborate on what those concerns were. However, she said that North Myrtle Beach High School had not received any threats.
Horry County Schools sent a district-wide letter to parents on Sept. 13 regarding rumors of threats that have been received by schools. Bourcier sent the letter in an email from interim school superintendent Eddie Ingram indicating that the school district has had a spike in school threats since the Sept. 4 mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia.
The letter told parents that the schools also have been plagued by rumors of threats and by social media posts “perpetuating” the rumors.
