Hall school board thanks those who protected the children

GAINESVILLE - The Hall County School Board took time Monday night to thank the people who kept the children safe on two dangerous days last month.

Firefighters, law officers, teachers, bus drivers, Oakwood city officials and homeowners - all those who acted to protect school children from a gunman in Lula Aug. 12 and the tornadoes of Aug. 26 - drew applause and recognition.

"So many people pulled together and as a result of the work they did our students came out safe," Assistant School Superintendent Eloise Barron said.

Barron recalled that injured Assistant Lyman Hall Elementary School Principal Veronica Grizzle did not want to go to the hospital until she knew the children were safe from the storm.

Grizzle suffered a head injury while helping students take shelter from the tornado that struck the school and heavily damaged the gym roof. She appeared with the Lyman Hall staff, still recovering from her injury; Barron said Grizzle was back on the job shortly after the tornado damaged the school.

Oakwood officials were credited with sheltering students at City Hall after a tornado threatened Oakwood Elementary School.

The Lula Elementary School staff and the Hall County Sheriff's Department were recognized for handling the emergency situation that occurred when a man with a gun was spotted near the school Aug. 12.

He was later fatally shot after refusing to surrender to SWAT team officers and shooting one of them in the arm.

Frank & Kelley Gilleland were thanked for sheltering homeward-bound children from the World Language Academy in their home after a tornado warning was sounded in south Hall County. (See separate story.)

The school board thanked bus drivers Todd Ketner, Richard LaDow and Sandra Pace for their efforts in getting children aboard their buses out of harm's way after tornado warnings were sounded.

Sheriff Steve Cronic accepted a recognition plaque for his department and said,
"When things seem their darkest here in this community is when everybody seems to shine their brightest."

Here is a list of the agencies and individuals who were singled out for recognition Monday hight:

LULA LOCKDOWN

Lula Elementary School Staff
Hall County Sheriff's Department

Tornadoes

Hall County Sheriff's Department
Hall County Emergency & Fire Services
City of Oakwood Municipal Government & Police Services
City of Gainesville Fire Department
Emergency Management Agency

Hall County School System Maintenance Department
Hall County School System Transportation Department

Oakwood Elementary School Staff
Lyman Hall Elementary School Staff

Veronica Grizzle