Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Scary relic unearthed in Sun Valley

Possible pipe bomb uncovered near White Clouds Golf Course

A bomb squad from Twin Falls was on the scene in Sun Valley on Tuesday after an object resembling a pipe bomb was unearthed near the White Clouds golf course during construction. The object was detonated remotely and nobody was injured.

By GREG FOLEY and JON DUVAL

Express Staff Writers

The bomb squad from the Twin Falls Police Department was in the Wood River Valley to investigate a report of a pipe bomb for the second time this year.

According to dispatch reports, a worker reported seeing an object that resembled a pipe bomb around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday near the White Clouds Golf Course on the northwest side of Trail Creek Road.

Sun Valley Fire Department personnel arrived on the scene shortly after and reported finding a piece of pipe about 12 inches long and 1.5 inches wide with what appeared to be a fuse coming out of one end.

Sun Valley Co. spokesman Jack Sibbach said the object was unearthed as construction crews were digging new sewer lines near the golf course.

Sun Valley Fire Chief Jeff Carnes said that protocol required a call for assistance from the Twin Falls bomb squad. The squad had made a trip north in February to investigate and dispose of a small explosive device at a mid-valley residence.

The Fire Department evacuated an area one-quarter of a mile around the object to wait for the bomb-removal specialists.

Upon arrival, the bomb squad found the path out to the object too muddy to use a robot. At 2:05 p.m., a member of the squad was driven within 200 yards of the object in a Sun Valley Fire Department truck and then approached the object on foot, wearing protective gear. He placed a device next to the object and retreated before detonating the device remotely.

The explosion was muffled and no smoke was emitted.

At press time, there had been no confirmation that the object was indeed a pipe bomb.

Jon Duval: jduval@mtexpress.com



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