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Threat triggers lockdown at CGD, EG schools

CGD superintendent calls social media threat ‘disturbing’

CLARION — A threatening social media post forced some area schools to enter a lockdown Wednesday afternoon, according to Robert Olson, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows superintendent.

Clarion-Goldfield-Dows and Eagle Grove Community schools went on a low-level lockdown shortly after 1 p.m.

A low-level lockdown means locking all of the doors and restricting visitors from entering.

In Clarion, Olson said schools typically dismiss every Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.

“The timing of it was more of an issue because we had an early dismissal at 1 p.m. scheduled,” he said. “So we had to hold the buses until we were cleared by law enforcement.”

Olson described the alleged activity on social media as “disturbing.”

“The message was a threat to the school, but wasn’t specific to Clarion-Goldfield-Dows,” Olson said. “It just said ‘school,’ so that’s why other schools went into lockdown also.”

The lockdown was held in place for about 40 minutes.

Olson said buses were able to leave the school shortly after 2 p.m.

At the same time, a lockdown was in place at Eagle Grove schools.

According to Jess Toliver, Eagle Grove Community School District superintendent, the posts involved students at both Clarion-Goldfield-Dows and Eagle Grove.

“It was based on a social media post to a student in another district, but some of the parties involved were in our Eagle Grove district and some parties in the Clarion district.”

Toliver said the schools made the decision to enter a low-level lockdown until the situation was resolved.

“The threat was not imminent,” he said.

Wright County Sheriff Jason Schluttenhofer said a law enforcement presence would be increased at the schools.

“While there is currently no credible threat to any of our schools, we will make sure to have an extra law enforcement presence at the local schools during the next few days,” he said.

He added, “We take these threats very serious and will work closely with local law enforcement and the school districts to insure the safety of their students and staff.”

Other school districts around the state have been experiencing threats via social media, forcing schools to close.

Schools in Johnston were closed Tuesday after multiple threatening text messages were sent to families of the school, according to published news reports.

“With all the closures and messages that have been going on throughout the state, even if you don’t think that a threat is specifically directed at your school district, you have to take every precaution,” Olson said.

It was not disclosed whether any arrests were made in connection to the threats.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Wright County sheriff’s office was assisted in its investigation by the Belmond Police Department, Clarion Police Department, Eagle Grove Police Department and the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

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