Three Forks schools placed in temporary lockdown

The Three Forks School District was placed in a temporary lockdown last week.

According to Sheriff Dan Springer, on March 14, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office received information about a school threat made through social media that involved several locations around the state.

“Information was received locally that involved the Three Forks School District. In an abundance of caution, the school was placed in a brief lockdown. The individuals involved locally in the threat have been located and it has been determined that a threat does not exist for our area,” states a release from the GCSO.

In an online post, Three Forks Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Uthlaut said the threat originated as a social media post that involved a threat directed at another school.

“Unfortunately, the message was forwarded from a cell phone that pinged in our school, resulting in the district lockdown. In an abundance of caution, the Three Forks School District was in temporary lockdown. The lockdown has now been lifted. Due to a regional threat, law enforcement officials were investigating and on the scene at Three Forks Schools. This threat originated as a social media post that involved a threat directed at another district - NOT THREE FORKS. Unfortunately, the message was forwarded from a cell phone that pinged in our school, resulting in the district lockdown. The sheriff’s office followed up on this, finding that there was no threat to the TFS schools. Parents were alerted through our Infinite Campus communication system,” Uthlaut said.