Students & faculty evacuate for 60 minutes after bomb threat at high school in Wisconsin, no evidence found

Yahoo! News - May 7th, 2025

Students and faculty at a high school in Tomah, Wisconsin, experienced an emergency evacuation due to a bomb threat discovered written in a bathroom stall. Law enforcement, including the Tomah Police Department and multiple agencies, responded quickly to the alert issued by school administrators at around 1:40 p.m. The evacuation led the students and staff to gather initially at the football field and subsequently relocate to Winnebago Park. After a thorough search of the premises, no evidence of an explosive threat was found, and the school resumed normal operations with students leaving at their regular dismissal time of 3:21 p.m.

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges educational institutions face in maintaining safety amid potential threats. While the quick response and coordination among law enforcement and school officials ensured student safety, it also underscores the need for effective crisis communication and preparedness. Such false alarms, although disruptive, are essential in testing and refining emergency protocols. The event also raises awareness about the psychological effects of such threats on students and staff and the importance of addressing these concerns in the aftermath.

Evacuation School Safety Bomb Threat Tomah High School Tomah Police Department

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.4

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article provides a clear and timely report on a bomb threat incident at a Wisconsin high school, focusing on the evacuation and resolution without evidence of danger. While it succeeds in delivering factual information, it lacks depth in terms of source variety and perspective, which could enhance its reliability and engagement. The absence of transparency regarding information gathering and potential conflicts of interest may affect reader trust. Despite these limitations, the article addresses a topic of public interest, contributing to the ongoing discourse on school safety, though it misses opportunities to explore broader implications or provoke significant debate.

Accuracy

The story provides a factual account of a bomb threat incident at a high school in Tomah, Wisconsin. The key details, such as the time of the threat's discovery (1:40 p.m.), the evacuation process, and the resolution with no evidence found, are clearly stated. However, the story lacks specific information about the agencies involved in the response and any subsequent investigation or legal actions. These omissions could affect the story's accuracy as they leave some questions unanswered about the incident's handling and aftermath.

Balance

The article primarily presents a straightforward account of the incident, focusing on the evacuation and the lack of evidence found. It does not provide perspectives from students, faculty, or law enforcement officials, which could have added depth to the narrative. The story remains neutral, but the absence of diverse viewpoints limits its comprehensiveness and might lead to an imbalanced understanding of the event's impact on the school community.

Clarity

The article is written in clear and concise language, making it easy to follow. The sequence of events is logically presented, from the discovery of the threat to the resolution of the situation. The tone is neutral and factual, which aids in comprehension. However, the lack of detailed background information or context about similar incidents in the area might leave some readers with unanswered questions.

Source quality

The article cites the Tomah Police Department as a source, which lends credibility to the factual elements of the story. However, it does not mention any direct quotes or statements from officials, students, or faculty. The lack of attributed statements or a wider range of sources could affect the depth and reliability of the reporting, as it relies heavily on a single source without verification from other parties involved.

Transparency

The article provides basic information about the incident but lacks transparency in terms of the sources of information and the methodology of reporting. It does not explain how the information was gathered or whether there were any challenges in obtaining details about the event. Additionally, there is no disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest, which could enhance the reader's trust in the article's impartiality.

Sources

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/wisconsin-school-swatting-incidents/