CHARLESTON FIRE PROBE CONTINUES

CHARLESTON - An investigation will begin today into a fire that destroyed the Charleston Junior High School Saturday, the school's principal said Monday.

The principal also said the Charleston R-1 School District's school board would hold an emergency meeting tonight to decide whether to continue with a tax-increase vote that had been scheduled for a new school.

Principal Kevin Miller said the referendum, which would raise the district's tax levy 98 cents, is scheduled for June 4. If approved, he said, it would be used to fund a new middle school and earthquake improvements for the district's high school, elementary school and kindergarten facility.

The Missouri Fire Marshal's office has been asked to investigate the fire, which broke out Saturday at about 10:20 a.m. Lt. Walter Welch of the Charleston Department of Public Safety said the marshal would be in Charleston this morning.

Police said lightning had been reported in the area around the time of the fire's discovery. The final day of the school year was Friday.