STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) -  The mystery of the walkie-talkie scare at a Plover elementary school has been solved.  School officials notified parents by newsletter Wednesday just what happened.

On Monday, aides at Roosevelt school brought the children inside from recess early when they heard someone on the walkie-talkie say, “The 5th and 6th graders are on the playground. It’s time to mix it up.”

The source of the statement came from another elementary school in the Stevens Point area district. The Roosevelt school staff heard the McKinley Elementary School staff begin a surprise fire drill.

When administration officials were discussing the Roosevelt school incident Tuesday, McKinley’s Principal Dr. John Blader recognized the statement as something he said to signal the custodian to pull the fire alarm. The schools then tested the walkie talkies from the same locations at both schools, and sure enough, the signal came in loud and clear three-and-one-half miles away.