Yesterday there was a large-scale community-wide emergency response simulation. The response included members of the Scottsbluff Police Department, Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's Office, Scottsbluff Fire Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Region 22 Emergency Management, and 9-1-1 Communications.

James Todd, the Scottsbluff Public Schools Director of Safety and Security, oversaw the operation. The simulation incorporates advice from each of these agencies to help all schools improve response protocols and enhance security practices. Yesterday our staff was on hand for a first-hand look and actually got called into the principal's office to make sure that our media coverage is coordinated in line with their efforts.

We appreciate the open line of communication between Panhandle Scanner and Scottsbluff Public Schools, as well as the police departments in the area. We thank you for your cooperation.

The exercise is intended to operationalize the procedures detailed in SBPS's Emergency Operations Plan, which follows guidelines from the National and State Emergency Management Systems, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FEMA Incident Command System, and the "I Love You Guys Foundation", as well as the Nebraska Department of Education School Safety Center.

Yesterday's drill scenario was a mysterious package dropped off by a student outside a door in a potential bomb threat situation. Special thanks to our primary admin, Tim Mendez, for leading the charge in gathering this media coverage.

For these stories and more, be sure to check our page at Panhandle Scanner on Facebook or our website for our news blog on our website at panhandlescanner.com. That's going to do it for today's scanner news.