CSC Evacuation Lifted After Nearly 5 Hours; No Bomb Found – UPDATED 9:15 PM

 

CSC EVACUATION…..FEB 4             

    Things are getting back to normal at Chadron State College after the school was evacuated Friday afternoon following a bomb threat received by the campus call center. The evacuation order was issued shortly before 3:00 pm and lifted at 7:45 pm.

      Chadron State President Dr Randy Rhine says the all-clear came after local law enforcement and the Nebraska State Patrol joined Campus Security on a painstaking search of the school that found no evidence of a bomb or other threat.

      Dr Rhine says he wants to “thank the students and employees who took this threat seriously and did the right thing by evacuating campus in a safe manner,” adding that he’s “so glad we did not find anything.”

      Rhine says he truly appreciates the help law enforcement provided as “they all responded quickly and worked efficiently to get our campus back to normal.”

    Director of College Relations Alex Helmbrecht says the evacuation order reflected a decision to err on the side of caution. Students without a safe place to go off-campus were directed to the Assumption Arena.

    The Chadron State evacuation had one immediate consequence; Friday night’s basketball doubleheader with Colorado State University-Pueblo was canceled with no make-up date released. 

      Saturday’s games with Adams State University are expected to go ahead as scheduled with the women tipping off in the Chicoine Center at 5:30.

EARLIER STORY UPDATED 5:00 PM

    Chadron State College was evacuated shortly before 3:00 after the campus call center received a phone call claiming there was a bomb on campus.

  Director of College Relations Alex Helmbrecht says the school remains under an evacuation order as of 4:40 with all campus events tonight canceled, including the women’s and men’s basketball games against Colorado State University Pueblo.

     Helmbrecht says after the phone threat was received, the college administration decided to err on the side of caution and evacuate the campus. Students without a safe place to go off-campus were directed to the Assumption Arena.

     Helmbrecht says the Chadron Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Dawes County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies have joined CSC Campus Security in actively searching campus. 

     When more information is known, it will be shared.

ORIGINAL STORY

   Chadron State College was evacuated shortly before 3:00 following what’s being described as “a report of a dangerous situation on or near the campus.”

      Director of College Relations Alex Helmbrecht says the nature of the threat was not specific, but that the college administration decided to err on the side of caution and evacuate.

     Helmbrecht says students without a safe place to go off-campus were directed to the Assumption Arena.

      Chadron city police, the Dawes County Sheriff’s Office, and the Nebraska State Patrol have responded to the campus to assist CSC security and Helmbrecht says a federal agency may also respond from Rapid City.

       Helmbrecht emphasizes there is no specific threat at this time with the safety of students, staff, and community members the top priority of all agencies.

The Chadron State men’s and women’s basketball teams were scheduled to host Colorado State University-Pueblo tonight, but both games have been cancelled with no makeup date at this time.