Warren authorities use caution regarding latest anthrax scare

WARREN -- Local authorities are treating suspicious mail with caution, saying residents can't be too careful in this time of national concern.
Warren police handled a call Thursday from a Woodbine Ave. S.E. man who told them he received a suspicious letter. Anthrax scares are being reported across the country.
A description of the letter was not available this morning, but Capt. Dennis Steinbeck said officials are being cautious when they send such letters to the department's Palmyra Road substation, where they're kept until the county's hazardous materials team gets a look at them.
Has a policy: The city instituted a policy earlier this month for collecting suspicious mail and containing it in plastic bags, taking it to the substation.
Other local law enforcement agencies also bring suspicious letters to the Warren substation.
Since Oct. 13, Warren police have handled 45 such calls, including those that resulted in letters being picked up from other local agencies.
Decision: The hazardous materials team looks over the mail about once a week and decides whether to send it to Columbus for testing, Steinbeck said.
Don Waldron, who heads that effort, was unavailable this morning.