Kaneland receives anthrax hoax, forced evacuation

By Tyler Vincent

It was sugar.

The powdery white substance found in a letter sent to Kaneland High School in Maple Park, which subsequently forced the evacuation and closure of the school on Friday, turned out to be sucrose, according to the results of a test done by the Illinois Department of Health on Monday.

Testing of the letter, which was received at the school at 10 a.m. Friday morning, was conducted by the IDPH at the request of the Kane County Health Department.

Officials in the school’s main office received and opened the letter on Friday.

The school also received word Saturday that the material in the letter did not contain anthrax spores based upon a separate test done by SET Environmental of Wheeling.