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PEVELY, Mo. – Hundreds of students were evacuated from Pevely Elementary School Monday morning after a suspicious package was found at a park next door.

According to the Dunklin R-5 School District, the suspicious package was found in a trash can in the pavilion area of the park. Police said a resident walking a dog in the park noticed the package around 9:15 a.m., became concerned and called authorities.

The St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Unit was called out to handle the situation.

The entire student body of nearby Pevely Elementary School–approximately 700 students in kindergarten through fifth-grade–was evacuated as a precaution. Those students were taken to Herculaneum High School.

Eventually, Dunklin R-5 School District Superintendent Stan Stratton decided to dismiss all schools in the district early for the day.

Authorities said the suspicious package was said to be three boxes taped together. But after investigating, authorities discovered they were cake boxes from a weekend party and nothing dangerous.