AMERICAN FALLS — Extra security and a safety plan in the wake of a bomb threat at American Falls High School went smoothly, according to Kevin Ostler of the Power County Sheriff’s Department. The bomb threat made Thursday stated the explosion would happen Friday.

    A search of the school was performed Thursday night by law enforcement using a specialized bomb-sniffing K9 from the Pocatello Police Department and extra security procedures were put into effect Friday — but nothing dangerous was discovered.

    “However some parents still chose not to send their students to school,” said Ostler. “The students who did come to school were screened upon entering the building and the campus remained closed the entire day.”

    A high school faculty member said less than half the normal student count showed up for school on Friday.

    Agencies assisting the Power County Sheriff’s deputies included the American Falls Police Department, Power County EMS, under the direction of Di Jones, Pocatello Police Department and Idaho State Police.

    “We had a plan, exercised the plan and everything went smooth,” explained Power County Sheriff Jim Jeffries. “Some of the kids didn’t come to school and others were checked out after they got in. We finished it up at the end of the day and the criminal investigation goes on.”

    The investigation into the bomb threat remains open and a $500 reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible.

    Jeffries also wanted to stress the large amount of time and resources that went into yesterday’s lockdown plan at the high school.

    “The decision whether or not to have school is up to the school officials unless there is a clear and present danger that we can identify. We provided the screening and everything went well,” he said.

    He also addressed another concern brought up by parents about the possibility that the threat was made to divert law enforcement away from an attack on another school.

    “There were some extra patrols by city police during the day, but the threat was specific to the high school. We had no reason to believe it was a ruse to put us at another school,” Jeffries said.    

    He also wanted to reassure parents of high school students that there would not have been school if law enforcement would have thought there was a clear danger.