School receives email threat

The Columbia Falls High School had an increased law enforcement presence Monday morning after the school received a threatening email late Sunday night.

“The Columbia Falls Police Department and Flathead County Sheriff’s Office were notified and in collaboration with school administration conducted an investigation,” the school said in a notice to parents.”

After the investigation, a thorough video surveillance search, and an exhaustive physical search of the entire campus by a team of Sheriff’s Deputies with canine detection and Columbia Falls Police Officers, law enforcement determined that the threat was not credible.”

Even so, the school saw more law enforcement presence Monday as a precaution, superintendent Dave Wick said.

Wick said both Bozeman and Helena high schools received the same threatening email.

“We don’t feel at this time it’s a local threat,” Wick said Monday.

He said the FBI was also involved in the investigation.

“Local law enforcement provided a terrific response,” Wick said.

Helena was able to sweep its school and had classes today, but Bozeman did not have classes, Wick noted.

Columbia Falls Police Chief Clint Peters at Monday’s city council meeting thanked the school and the community for their support during the investigation.