Parents frustrated after Mt. Nebo Middle School evacuated after third threat in two weeks

PAYSON, Utah — Parents expressed irritation over a bomb threat toward Mt. Nebo Middle School, which led to a campus-wide evacuation Tuesday. According to the Nebo School District, this is the third threat against the school in two weeks, and the Department of Public Safety and Payson police are investigating where the threats are coming from.

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As middle school-aged students played an evening soccer game in Payson Tuesday, parents like Kimberley Clark watched, cheering on her kids.

Clark said her two sons play on the team, including one who attends Mt. Nebo Middle School. Earlier in the day, she said her husband called her after getting an email and text from the school.

“He called and said, ‘Bentley’s school is getting another bomb threat. I have to get back to work, I just want to let you know,’” she explained. “And I was like … OK. Here we go again.”

Other parents at the soccer game also received news of the evacuation due to the threat, with the same frustrated reaction.

Clark said the kids walked to a nearby elementary school. At the same time, the Payson Police Department said officers canvassed the campus with bomb-sniffing dogs.

Related: Bomb threats received at several Utah schools deemed not credible

Police said in a press release the threat came in from an “unknown individual, via email.” While Clark doubted the legitimacy, she was still concerned about her son.

“If it is a real threat, I want to be on top of it. I want to be prepared,” she said.

The Nebo School District confirmed this is the third threat toward the middle school in two weeks. The threats come on the heels of a protest and controversy over allegations of the existence of so-called “furries.” The district has said there is no evidence of that.

It’s unclear if the bomb threats are related. Police said officers Tuesday didn’t find any explosive devices or material.

The Department of Public Safety confirmed it is assisting Payson police in the investigation.

Jeremy Barnes, Department of Public Safety school safety liaison, couldn’t comment on this specific situation but said in general, when a school receives a threat, a new state law mandates that both local law enforcement and the recently appointed DPS state security chief be notified.

He said it can lead to allocating time and resources to addressing the threat.

Read the full story at KSLTV.com