BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County High School students were evacuated and bused to Inez Elementary following a bomb threat call to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office around noon Wednesday.

MCHS Principal Martha Williams immediately began evacuating all students and staff from the building when the sheriff contacted her concerning the threat. Williams announced later that parents could check their students out at the elementary school.

Martin County Schools Superintendent Larry James said the caller did not block their number, and the sheriff tried to call the number back.

“Of course, no one answered,” James said.

“Location tracking through 911 does show the call came from inside the high school,” he added. “The sheriff’s department will soon know the caller’s identity, and they will be charged for this act. This is a crime and will be treated as such. We will never take threats like this lightly. These are serious threats.”

According to James, Sheriff John Kirk has requested the assistance of a bomb-sniffing K-9 from Hazard. The K-9 will go throughout the facility to ensure no explosive devices are present. Once the all-clear is given, the students will be brought back to the high school.