Bomb threat empties Garwood Elementary School

Garwood Elementary School in Rathdrum received a bomb threat at about 10:30 a.m. today, but a search of the building by law enforcement revealed nothing. After a secretary received the threat via phone, Lakeland School District officials evacuated the school and sent the approximately 350 students and two dozen staff members to Lakeland High School, in accordance with the district’s emergency plan. Parents can pick up their children at Lakeland High School, at 7006 W. Highway 53 in Rathdrum. Students who ride buses will be taken home at the normal time if parents are unable to pick them up. Deputies with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office have cleared the site without finding anything, said Tom Taggart, director of business and operations for the district. A school secretary fielded the bomb threat call this morning, Taggart said. The threat was vague, but mentioned locker rooms, which made district officials suspect it was false because the elementary school does not have locker rooms, Taggart said.