Powder was non-toxic

by Cat Urbigkit

Sublette County Sheriff Hank Ruland reported Saturday afternoon that preliminary tests conducted in a Cheyenne laboratory indicate the white powdered substance released from an envelope in the Sublette County Justice Building in Pinedale on Friday was a non-toxic substance.

The building was evacuated and sealed off by a hazardous materials team Friday after officials responded to the discovery of a suspicious material accompanied by a threatening note. Ruland confirmed that hazardous material specialists treated the suspicious substance as if it were anthrax. Ruland said that the note was directed to an individual in the county attorneyıs office, though Sublette County Attorney Dale Aronson was not in his office when the incident occurred.

According to Ruland, a secretary had opened a letter and a white powder substance fell out onto her. Inside the envelope was a threatening note, although Ruland declined to provide any details about its content. Ruland said the laboratory planned to retest the materials again on Sunday. If it's negative again tomorrow, then they'll allow me to open up the building and clean it up, Ruland said.

The Division of Criminal Investigation and the Sublette County Sheriff's Office are the agencies currently handling the investigation.