GHS dealing with loss of 'family' member

GAINESVILLE - Students at Gainesville High were dealing "as best they could" Monday following the weekend death of a fellow student in a traffic accident.

"Certainly for it to hit us here and have this happen to our family, it's certainly a difficult time for (the school)," GHS Principal Mike Kemp said.

Kemp says extra counselors were helping students cope with Evan King's death - but that's not all. "The community has brought a lot of support services and a lot of the area churches have come in to provide support."

The 17-year-old King was a junior and a member of the golf team at GHS. He died Saturday night when his car ran off Mount Vernon Road in North Hall, down an embankment and into a tree.

Kemp says any student wishing to attend King's funeral at 2:00 Tuesday afternoon will be allowed to leave school to do so, but classes will not be dismissed.