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No Bomb Found at Butterball Plant

Authorities are investigating a bomb threat at the Butterball Plant in Ozark.

Ozark Police Chief Cory Tedford says no bomb was found at the Butterball Plant early Wednesday morning.

The Bentonville Bomb Squad brought a bomb-sniffing dog to search the facility, but found nothing.

Employees of the plant have since returned to work. There is no word yet as if employees will be paid for the time they spent while the building was evacuated.

"We as an agency will no seek a restitution necessarily,” Chief Tedford said. “There will be a, I'm sure, several thousands of dollars lost in production for the company and we will seek restitution or some sort of compensation for the company."

Ozark Police say no suspects have been identified in the bomb threat investigation at this time, but they are working on tracing the call.  Chief Tedford did not elaborate on what the caller said, but said the message was brief.

According to Franklin County Sheriff Anthony Boen, 911 dispatchers were notified the plant received a bomb threat just before 4 a.m. The plant was evacuated and a perimeter was setup around the plant.

Chief Tedford says there was only a small crew of about 20 employees at the plant when the call came in. The employees stayed at Gar Creek Park in Ozark while the threat was investigated. 

Butterball Officials issued a statement on the incident saying:

"Following this morning’s bomb threat at the Butterball facility in Ozark, Ark., Ozark Police and Fire Departments, in collaboration with the Ft. Smith Police Department, have conducted a thorough search of the property and have determined that there is no bomb or other dangers present. 

Based on this guidance from the local authorities, Butterball has made the decision to re-open the facility and resume plant operations effective immediately."


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