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(Staff Photo/LORETTA TACKETT)
Kentucky State Police officers kept count of Southside Elementary students and informed concerned parents regarding the situation, while Belfry and Sidney fire departments checked for the source of smoke reportedly coming from the school kitchen.
The incident created a scare for the parents of around 500 students who met with their teachers outside, awaiting word from Belfry and Sidney volunteer fire department personnel to give them the go ahead to return to the building.
At 11:20 a.m., Kentucky State Police troopers were guarding the bridge to ensure no children left without being accounted for, while guidance counselor Donna Burgett documented the names of those who were leaving. Only about 15 had left, as fire department officials had not yet given school officials word as to whether the Southside was safe for the children to return.
"There will be no children going back in until the fire department says everything is ok," Burgett said.
She assured parents the children would be fed lunch, as lunchroom workers were preparing hot dogs, which could easily be transported outside if necessary.
The cause of the smoke had not been reported at the time of this report.
Principal Ronnie Dotson was inside the school with fire department officials.
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