FBI, local law enforcement investigating Flathead schools threat

The Whitefish School District reports that school administrators in Columbia Falls, Kalispell, and Whitefish received anonymous threats via text message and email late Wednesday night.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry says his office, the Columbia Falls Police Department and the FBI began a joint investigation on Wednesday evening, "following a series of electronic threats that area schools began receiving."

Sheriff Curry says the threats started with the Columbia Falls School District and eventually spread to other area schools via text or email. 

Investigators from all the involved agencies have worked throughout the night, and are continuing to follow up on leads and have identified and are speaking with persons of interest, according to Sheriff Curry.

Extra patrols of area schools are in place and anyone with any information is asked to contact the Flathead County Detective Division at (406) 758-5610.

Kalispell School District Superintendent Mark Flatau said late Wednesday that the Kalispell Police Department is aware of the situation and an investigation is underway. Flatau will continue to send messages via e-mail, phone message, or text as more information becomes available, according to a statement.

Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Whitefish school administrators announced that all school-related activities have been called off for Thursday.

The Whitefish Police Department released the following statement on Thursday morning.

"We cannot release any information at this time but there is an active joint investigation being conducted between all the law enforcement agencies in the county."

Whitefish Schools Superintendent Dr. Heather Davis Schmidt says that parents can contact the Whitefish School District office at (406) 862-8640 with any questions.

There are 23 school districts in Flathead County that have canceled school for Thursday.

Flathead Valley Community College has also called off Thursday classes.

Flathead Valley Community College's Kalispell campus is closed today, Wednesday, September 14.  All classes are cancelled. All offices and the Early Childhood Center are closed.

We will continue to bring you more information as we learn more.

The following schools are listed as closed, according to the Flathead County website:

BIGFORK ELEMENTARY

BIGFORK HIGH SCHOOL 

CAYUSE PRAIRIE

COLUMBIA FALLS ELEMENTARY 

COLUMBIA FALLS HIGH SCHOOL 

CRESTON 

DEER PARK 

EVERGREEN 

FAIR-MONT-EGAN 

FLATHEAD HIGH SCHOOL 

GLACIER HIGH SCHOOL 

HELENA FLATS

KALISPELL ELEMENTARY 

KALISPELL MIDDLE SCHOOL 

KILA

MARION 

OLNEY-BISSELL

PLEASANT VALLEY

SMITH VALLEY 

SOMERS/LAKESIDE 

SWAN RIVER

WEST GLACIER

WEST VALLEY 

WHITEFISH ELEMENTARY 

WHITEFISH HIGH SCHOOL 

Non-public schools

KALISPELL MONTESSORI

ST. MATTHEW'S

STILLWATER CHRISTIAN

TRINITY LUTHERAN 

WHITEFISH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

WOODLAND MONTESSORI