Sorrowful mood hangs over campus

Efforts were made to keep the day as routine as possible at the detention center.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The mood Monday on the grounds of George Junior Republic was somber.
"There's a lot of sorrow here, an overwhelming amount," said Rick Losasso, chief executive officer, reflecting on the murder of staff member Wayne Urey Jr., 43, of Mercer in a housing cottage early Monday.
Losasso declined to talk about Urey's personal life, out of deference to his family, but said he had worked for the institution, which houses and educates court-adjudicated juvenile boys, for 12 years.
The staff was expressing "tremendous empathy for the victim" and providing a lot of support to their co-workers, he said.
Grief counselors and staff members were also available to talk to any of the 480 boys at the facility who need to discuss their feelings, Losasso said.
Every effort was made to keep Monday, a regular class day, as much of a routine day as possible, he said, adding that the institution will go on "one hour at a time."
"I think the kids are really sorry about this," he said, noting that some had already asked if they could take money from their own personal student fund accounts and donate it to Urey's family.
Reviewing procedures
Safety and security are an ongoing issue talked about every week, Losasso said, adding that this issue will be carefully reviewed to determine if any change in procedures is required.
He was at a loss to explain what happened.
"Kids can be very spontaneous and react very quickly to different situations," he said, adding that the potential for a problem always exists in this type of setting.
Losasso said he wasn't aware of any plans by the two boys accused in the attack to flee the institution, but it seems apparent they planned to leave.