Casper, Wyo., paper evacuated

[dkbxt5]

Scary stuff happening at the Star-Tribune...

http://www.trib.com/articles/2009/01/30/special_breaking_news/doc49833a74f3bd5527195187.txt

Update 11:12 a.m.: Mysterious letter forces Star-Tribune evacuation
By Star-Tribune staff

Friday, January 30, 2009 11:13 AM MST

The Casper Star-Tribune was evacuated at about 9 a.m. today when staff members discovered an envelope containing a mysterious white powder.

The evacuation remained in effect as of 11:15 a.m. At that time, law enforcement officials were still waiting for test results on the powder.

Pat McJunkin, a public information officer with the Casper Fire Department, said the envelope, which contained a dollar bill and less than half a tablespoon of the powder, had a Denver postmark. McJunkin also believes there was a letter, but hasn't confirmed that detail.

Casper Fire, Police and county law enforcement officials were on the scene, along with a HAZMAT crew.

Employees were evacuated to their cars and unable to leave the parking lot.

Employees who came in contact with the powder were secured inside the building.

 

[Small Town Guy]

It's like November 2001 all over again! Hopefully this is just like the dozens of other cases like this over the years - the New York Times gets one every few months - and is a hoax.

 

[Lucas Wiseman]

At 11:30 a.m., a Casper Fire Department public information officer, Pat McJunkin, said test results proved the substance was not dangerous. Employees will be allowed to return to the building after a precautionary bomb sweep of the building.

 

[JakeandElwood]

Well that's good to hear.

 

[dkbxt5]

I know a lot of people that work there and hope everything is OK.

 

[Wonderlic]

At 11:30 a.m., a Casper Fire Department public information officer, Pat McJunkin, said test results proved the substance was not dangerous. Employees will be allowed to return to the building after a precautionary bomb sweep of the building.

I wonder if he's related to Pat McCrotch.

 

[Jeremy Goodwin]

I just texted a friend who works there to see if everything is fine. She said the white powder was cocaine. ... Thankfully it wasn't a disgruntled Lee employee.

 

[Jeremy Goodwin]

http://www.trib.com/articles/2009/01/30/special_breaking_news/doc49833a74f3bd5527195187.txt

By CHRISTINE ROBINSON
Star-Tribune staff

Friday, January 30, 2009 12:54 PM MST

Casper police identified white powder found in an envelope addressed to the Casper Star-Tribune as cocaine.

It was roughly one half of a tablespoon, on a dollar bill.

There was not a letter in the envelope and Casper police Lt. Chris Walsh said officers do not believe at this time that it was meant as a threat.

The letter was sent to the Star-Tribune in care of an employee. Walsh does not suspect the employee of anything criminal.

The Star-Tribune building was evacuated after a mail-room employee opened the letter shortly after 9 a.m. this morning, according to Casper Fire/EMS Cpt. Patrick McJunkin.

The Casper Fire/EMS department as well as the Casper Police Department cleared the building before noon and allowed all employees to return.

Managing editor / former SE Ron Gullberg blogged from his phone in the parking lot:
http://www.trib.com/blog/profileBlogsView.php?pid=1002

 

[txsportsscribe]

Employees were evacuated to their cars and unable to leave the parking lot.

did they have to pay for parking?

 

[jlee]

http://www.trib.com/articles/2009/01/30/special_breaking_news/doc49833a74f3bd5527195187.txt

By CHRISTINE ROBINSON
Star-Tribune staff

Friday, January 30, 2009 12:54 PM MST

Casper police identified white powder found in an envelope addressed to the Casper Star-Tribune as cocaine.

It was roughly one half of a tablespoon, on a dollar bill.

There was not a letter in the envelope and Casper police Lt. Chris Walsh said officers do not believe at this time that it was meant as a threat.

The letter was sent to the Star-Tribune in care of an employee. Walsh does not suspect the employee of anything criminal.

The Star-Tribune building was evacuated after a mail-room employee opened the letter shortly after 9 a.m. this morning, according to Casper Fire/EMS Cpt. Patrick McJunkin.

The Casper Fire/EMS department as well as the Casper Police Department cleared the building before noon and allowed all employees to return.

Managing editor / former SE Ron Gullberg blogged from his phone in the parking lot:
http://www.trib.com/blog/profileBlogsView.php?pid=1002

Man, that guy does not have your typical ME's musical taste.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

http://www.trib.com/articles/2009/01/30/special_breaking_news/doc49833a74f3bd5527195187.txt

By CHRISTINE ROBINSON
Star-Tribune staff

Friday, January 30, 2009 12:54 PM MST

Casper police identified white powder found in an envelope addressed to the Casper Star-Tribune as cocaine.

It was roughly one half of a tablespoon, on a dollar bill.

There was not a letter in the envelope and Casper police Lt. Chris Walsh said officers do not believe at this time that it was meant as a threat.

The letter was sent to the Star-Tribune in care of an employee. Walsh does not suspect the employee of anything criminal.

The Star-Tribune building was evacuated after a mail-room employee opened the letter shortly after 9 a.m. this morning, according to Casper Fire/EMS Cpt. Patrick McJunkin.

The Casper Fire/EMS department as well as the Casper Police Department cleared the building before noon and allowed all employees to return.

Managing editor / former SE Ron Gullberg blogged from his phone in the parking lot:
http://www.trib.com/blog/profileBlogsView.php?pid=1002

Well, okay.

Not so sure I'd be so quick to shrug aside an employee getting an envelop with cocaine in it at work.

 

[write then drink]

if this happened at our place, they'd have to evacuate all three employees we have left

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

http://www.trib.com/articles/2009/01/30/special_breaking_news/doc49833a74f3bd5527195187.txt

By CHRISTINE ROBINSON
Star-Tribune staff

Friday, January 30, 2009 12:54 PM MST

Casper police identified white powder found in an envelope addressed to the Casper Star-Tribune as cocaine.

It was roughly one half of a tablespoon, on a dollar bill.

There was not a letter in the envelope and Casper police Lt. Chris Walsh said officers do not believe at this time that it was meant as a threat.

The letter was sent to the Star-Tribune in care of an employee. Walsh does not suspect the employee of anything criminal.

The Star-Tribune building was evacuated after a mail-room employee opened the letter shortly after 9 a.m. this morning, according to Casper Fire/EMS Cpt. Patrick McJunkin.

The Casper Fire/EMS department as well as the Casper Police Department cleared the building before noon and allowed all employees to return.

Managing editor / former SE Ron Gullberg blogged from his phone in the parking lot:
http://www.trib.com/blog/profileBlogsView.php?pid=1002

Man, that guy does not have your typical ME's musical taste.

He used to be one of us. Explains a lot.

 

[Football_Bat]

This happened at my paper a few years ago. Turned out an old lady was renewing her subscription, the open envelope was on her kitchen counter and some baking soda got into it. Kind of got exciting for a few hours. (I missed it since I come in midafternoon.)

 

[Tom Petty]

I just texted a friend who works there to see if everything is fine. She said the white powder was cocaine. ... Thankfully it wasn't a disgruntled Lee employee.

was the coke in a plastic bag or just tossed in the envelope?

 

[SCEditor]

Was it good coke?

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Was it good coke?

It was New Coke.

 

[SCEditor]

Was it good coke?

It was New Coke.

You could have just said, 'No.'

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

They must be doing something right if their readers are mailing them recreational drugs. Do they get groupies in Casper, too?

 

[azom]

I just texted a friend who works there to see if everything is fine. She said the white powder was cocaine. ... Thankfully it wasn't a disgruntled Lee employee.

was the coke in a plastic bag or just tossed in the envelope?

Apparently rolled up in a dollar bill.

By the time I got there, the excitement was long gone. The last police cruiser was heading out as I was heading in.