Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

4 Students Punished In 'Bomb' Incident

Four students who set off an explosive device in the halls of Gurdon High School on Feb. 12 were given five day suspensions for their actions.

This decision was handed down by the Gurdon School Board in its regular monthly meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Meeting in the Cabe Student Center, 27 area residents were on hand to see what the board would do in the case.

However, Bobby Smithson, superintendent, gave the students involved and their parents/guardians the options of having their hearings in open session or behind closed doors.

All four students asked for closed hearings.

While they, their parents/guardians and legal representatives were allowed to remain in the Cabe Center, all others were ushered to the GHS media center.

It had earlier been reported there were no injuries as a result of the blast, which sent shrapnel flying 50 feet in the hallways. However, two students were hurt by the hurtling metal shards, though not seriously.

According to reports, the four had placed a bottle rocket inside a .30-.30 shell and crimped it closed. Then, the explosive was set off outside the media center.

A witness to the incident said high school officials waited for about 45 minutes before calling the Clark County Sheriff's Office (GHS is located outside the city limits and the Gurdon Police Department has no authority there).

In addition, the witness said when police questioned a 14-year-old who had been struck by shrapnel without contacting his parents.

The hearing lasted an hour and 15 minutes.

Those who remained heard the four were suspended from school for five days, given 10 days of in school suspension (ISS), will be on probation for the remainder of the year and are not allowed to participate in any school events or athletics.

Several of those who stayed were not happy with the punishment handed down.