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Authorities respond to bomb threat at junior high
Police and fire crews were called to Mountain Home Junior High School Thursday after a bomb threat called in by telephone was received at the school's office at approximately 4:15 p.m.
Almost all students and most of the teachers already had left for the day. Those that remained were immediately evacuated.
Police were in the process of checking the building. Typically, bomb-smelling dogs from the base's Explosive Ordnance Disposal team are called in to investigate such threats. It usually takes about two hours to conduct a thorough search of the building and declare it secure.
No bomb was found.
Police are asking that anyone with knowledge about who may have made the threat to contact them (587-2101). The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have been notified of the threat.
Besides being both a state and federal offense, the schools, police and fire departments have typically sought restitution from the persons found responsible. The costs associated with responding to such a threat usually run to several thousand dollars.
The school district typically receives threats several times a year, usually at the beginning of the school year and in the spring. This is the first threat this year.
This threat was unusual in that it was not called in at a time that would disrupt the school day and possibly result in students being released from class.
One district official, who asked not to be identified, noted in an offhand remark that "it may not be one of our brightest students."
The threat did disrupt a junior high volleyball game and a football game scheduled for later that day at the junior high. The resumed after the building was secured.