From staff reports

Hawthorne Elementary School was evacuated Wednesday after a bomb threat, but no bomb was found in the building, police said.

Thursday, April 05, 2001

Hawthorne Elementary School was evacuated Wednesday after a bomb threat, but no bomb was found in the building, police said.

School officials received a call saying a bomb was in the building around 3 p.m., said Albert Lea Assistant Police Chief Dwaine Winkels.

Fire, police and school officials evacuated the building and searched for the bomb, but found nothing suspicious, Winkels said.

Officials believe the threat may have been a hoax. &uot;They were laughing and stuff on the phone when they called it in,&uot; Winkels said.

Police continue to investigate. The callers could be charged with felony terroristic threats, he said.