Gas leak near Gemini Junior High School in Niles causes minimal disruption

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Updated: March 3, 2012 8:03AM

A gas leak occurred Jan. 10 about 50 feet south of Gemini Junior High School, at 8955 Greenwood.

“No students left the building,” Principal Scott Herrmann said. “We didn’t have to move anybody.”

Herrmann said staff members with classes closest to the gas leak noticed the smell.

“The Fire Department came over and measured the air,” Herrmann said. “Not one student or staff member reported feeling ill.”

Herrmann said the Fire Department measured the gas level in the building’s air and it was zero. Herrmann said officials temporarily shut down vents so air wouldn’t come in.

“Nobody was ever in any danger,” Herrmann said.

Herrmann noted that the school has an agreement with the IceLand Skate Complex.

“We called over there and said we don’t know what’s happening as far as the repair time or if it’s going to get worse, but ‘Can we come over if we need to?’ ” Herrmann said, noting they did not need to go over to IceLand.

Herrmann said construction workers “nicked” a Nicor gas line, which caused the leak.