Rivalry game canceled

By JEREMY SELLEW and TAYLOR BROWN

Due to alleged threats made against Charleroi student athletes, tonight’s Charleroi-Monessen football game at Monessen’s Memorial Stadium has been canceled.

A tweet sent out by the Charleroi Area School District announced the cancellation.

“Around 11:30 am today we received information regarding a threat directed towards our student athletes at tonight’s away football game. Due to the serious nature of these threats, we have decided to cancel/postpone this evening’s football game against Monessen,” the tweet read.

Monessen principal Eric Manko said that as of 2:50 p.m., the district had no evidence of a threat.

“We received a call around 12 p.m. from Charleroi’s administration concerning potential threats made against Charleroi players and possibly fans that were reported by students. The administrations met and agreed to investigate. They came to the conclusion at 2:00 to cancel the game,” Manko said.

“During the course of our investigation, no evidence was found to be substantiated.”

Monessen police Chief Jim Smith and his department were at the school throughout the day performing ALICE training.

“There was no credible information of a threat,” Smith said.

Charleroi Area superintendent Ed Zelich said the alleged threat was reported to a member of the coaching staff, who reported it to the administration.

“It wasn’t a decision we made rashly,” Zelich said. “We tried to get to the bottom of it. Ultimately, I had to make a decision with the students’ safety in mind and stakeholders and members of the community who were planning to be in attendance.”

This story will be updated.