An 18-year-old Cullman County student is charged with a felony after authorities say she made an implied threat toward her high school.

Sheriff Matt Gentry and Cullman County Schools Superintendent Shane Barnette announced the charge Friday during a joint press conference. Gentry said Emily Nicole Wilson is one of two students at the center at separate threats made Wednesday at two area schools.

The incidents are the latest in a wave of similar threats that have hit Alabama and beyond following last week's deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

On Wednesday afternoon, lawmen and school officials received word about possible threats toward K-12 schools in Good Hope and Vinemont.

In the Good Hope incident, a student posted a message on Facebook and Instagram that read, "Good hope school hum? Let me think about it."

In the Vinemont incident, police say Wilson posted in a group text message with the words Vinemont School, a gun emoji and a date. "She is studious, had a math test coming up and was not prepared for the test,'' Gentry said.

Investigators and school resource officers quickly mobilized, he said. By Thursday morning, they had concluded the Good Hope investigation and arrested a juvenile student. Because of the student's age, his name is not being released but he is no longer at school.

On Thursday afternoon and into the evening, they identified Wilson and arrested her in the Vinemont investigation. She is charged with making a terroristic threat, which is a Class C felony in Alabama. She will not be returning to the school in Vinemont.

"This is 2018 and this, these issues, are not a joke anymore,'' Gentry said. "The most valuable resource we have are our children. By their actions, they caused havoc and panic within a community."

"At the sheriff's office, we take every situation serious and are going to investigate it fully,'' he said. "Our top priority is protecting our children."

The sheriff urged all parents to be aware of their children's social media use. "Know who they're talking to on social media. Look at what apps they're using,'' he said. "It is a tool for sexual predators, a tool for people to elicit money, a tool for people to try to harm our children. We need to be aware."