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12 OUR YUCAIPA | JANUARY 2016 Yucaipa Bulletin on FaceBook Becomes a reluctant news source Yucaipa calimesa school district responsiBilitY In a growing panic and without vetting or credentials, we all become reporters, sources and, for a moment, part of the story. When the threat to Yucaipa High School broke late in the night on Wed., Nov. 18, Dawn Bahula, creator and founder of the Yucaipa Bulletin (YB) on Facebook, was unaware. She is past having kids at the high school and is removed from mom texting chains. But, as the lead of one of the largest social media sites in town (Yucaipa Bulletin has over 5,000 active members), she was sucked into a much bigger vortex. "The posts about the potential shooting picked up steam quickly," she said." That was an understatement. Over 400 comments had poured onto the site in a matter of a couple of hours. "That's when I realized the responsibility of the site." Bahula started the group less than a year ago, wanting a place just for Yucaipa where residents felt they could interact with neighbors in a positive way. "Yucaipa is a wonderful town full of nice people. When there's a tragedy, people really pull together." On Nov. 19, as parents were struggling with the decision of whether or not to send their kids to school, many looked to the YB for information. While facts were thin, rumors posed as truth. "My son's friend said…" or "My sister's daughter's classmate's uncle is a cop and he said…" "Suddenly we were a news source," Bahula said of the YB. "I didn't sign up for that." People reported that the student behind the threat had run away from home and there was a gun missing from the family's home. Some said a fight had precipitated the threat. As the day wore on, reports came in that SWAT was on campus. YB had become a breeding ground for rumors. "We deleted a lot of comments that day," Bahula said, adding that members had started bickering. "When people post they need to be careful and remember that they're talking to 5,000 people." As the day wore on, postings began to circle reality. "The YHS story started at a fever pitch, then truths finally came out. Unfortunately, people like posting new 'information' because it makes them feel like part of the story," she said. Bahula's son Nick, who manages the popular site Yucaipa Buy Sell Trade, sees Nov. 19 as a lesson. "It's all about patience. We don't have that anymore. We want to know now. No one wants to wait for facts." Social media in general and YB in particular have become today's chat rooms. "We understand people are nervous and need a place to vent," Bahula said, "but we are not news professionals." Cali Binks, Superintendent for the YCJUSD, the time many parents were texting each didn't have one or two kids to worry about. She had them ALL to worry about. Immediately she was in touch with the was little she could do over night. Before assessing the threat with Anthony Onodera, information, and formulating the message robo-call. She didn't turn to social media. "We're not on Facebook because we information," she said. At 6:30 am she got the go-ahead to by parents at 7:15 am, after many had their kids at home. Some had decided had called the school for information. "The high school had 700 calls in an that communication was a big issue. "The question became how do we get people as possible as quickly as possible said. "We want to make sure our information takes time." "In the YHS incident, Facebook was said Binks. After Nov. 19, she reached messages on the YB, calling them individually. "We need assistance in minimizing speculation. and we want to give timely, accurate information law enforcement officials." The school district is making strides on their website, incorporating a Twitter needed. "Parents who aren't online are district office (on 3rd Street) to get information." She encourages parents to follow her After the incident, the school district enforcement. "We learned that having We just need to say something, an update. news." She added, "In the future we just to a place where people are comfortable and that they're doing their part by using

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