Bomb threat forces high school evacuation

Firefighters set up on standby during last week's bomb threat, just in case the threat had been real.

Mountain Home High School was evacuated last Thursday, just after noon, when a bomb threat was called into the school.

The school district is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person making the threat.

The male caller phoned in the threat, but apparently mumbled, and called back a second time to make sure the staff knew that he was making a bomb threat.

Police cordoned off the area around the high school and the fire department stood by as bomb-sniffing dogs from the base's explosive ordnance disposal teams were sent into the high school. The building was declared cleared at about 2:30 p.m.

Initially, students were sent to stand in Tiger Field, then at about 1:30 p.m. they were sent to the junior high until the school was declared clear of any bombs. Then they were returned to the high school just before classes were scheduled to be let out.

The cost of dealing with a bomb threat is pegged at roughly $5,000, and any person convicted of the crime, which among other things is a federal offense, will be asked to pay restitution for the costs.

The Department of Homeland Security, and subsequently the FBI, were notified of the threat.

After 9/11 the school district went two years without receiving a bomb threat. Last year, however, two threats were made at district schools. District officials noted that in today's world such threats are no longer considered a gag, and harsh penalties are usually now imposed on those convicted of such an offense.

District officials said they intended to prosecute the offender to the full extent of the law. Students found guilty of making a bomb threat also are automatically expelled from school for at least one year.

Persons who have any information about the threats should contact either the Mountain Home Police Department of the school district.