Fine day for a 300-yard march

Willmar Senior High School’s student population and staff evacuates to the Willmar Civic Center by walking across the south practice field at 1:45 p.m. Thursday as part of a state requirement. Some 1,100 students were involved in the three-stage drill beginning with a lockdown, followed by a fire drill and then the short walk to enter either of the two civic center arenas. Assistant principal Neil Schendel explained that state law stipulates public schools practice five lockdowns, five fire drills and an evacuation each school year. “The entire school and staff practiced the drills today and did an excellent job,” Schendel said.