A bomb threat called in to local Walmart stores in Newton County Wednesday proved false, after both stores were evacuated and shut down for several hours as authorities searched the premises.

Around 11 a.m. a call came in to the Covington/Newton County 911 center. The caller allegedly said there was a bomb inside the Covington Walmart and that authorities had one hour to find it. Since the caller did not specify the Walmart on Industrial Blvd. or the newest location on Salem Road, authorities went to both locations. Although they spent several hours at each store - even employing the use of bomb-sniffing K9 officers from DeKalb and Morgan counties - no device was ever located.

The stores were reopened around 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Authorities continue to investigate who called in the bomb threat to the store(s).