Bomb threat verified as hoax

GRANT COUNTY — A bomb threat emailed to the superintendents of 35 school districts across the state — including Ephrata School District and Almira-Coulee-Hartline — on Wednesday was determined to be a hoax, according to a statement issued Wednesday by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

“It was a global threat all through the state,” said Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete. “It’s been verified as a hoax.”

In a statement, the ACH School District said ACH High School and Coulee City Elementary School were being evacuated out of precaution and parents were being notified. Ephrata School Superintendent Tim Payne said he was one of the superintendents who received the email and that law enforcement had been notified.

“Though this is assumed to be a hoax, we are taking precautions,” Payne wrote.

Kriete said all of the schools that received the email in Washington have verified the email was a hoax, but would not give any more details. The sheriff also noted the threat interrupted schooling and prompted law enforcement to divert resources to deal with the situation.

“It was a complete disruption,” he said.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com.