Authorities dispose of old, rusted grenade

<br>SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) _ Authorities have disposed of a grenade discovered by a Shawnee man as he was removing an old shrub from his backyard. <br><br>Odell Morris was using a pick to dig up the shrub

Wednesday, June 12th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) _ Authorities have disposed of a grenade discovered by a Shawnee man as he was removing an old shrub from his backyard.

Odell Morris was using a pick to dig up the shrub Tuesday morning, when he hit something beneath the roots.

``I thought I hit a rock,'' Morris said.

What he hit was an old rusted pineapple hand grenade, which Morris, a Korean War veteran, said he recognized right away.

``I knew to leave it alone.''

Morris' wife called Shawnee firefighters and police.

Shawnee Police Lt. Conny Clay said the grenade was in such a rusted condition, officials couldn't determine if it was a live device.

The Oklahoma County Bomb Squad took the grenade to the Shawnee police firing range and tried to detonate the device, but nothing happened, Clay said.

The device was deemed inactive and was properly disposed of, Clay said.

It was unknown how long the grenade had been buried in Morris' yard.

Morris said the shrub has been in that location since the Morris' moved into the home more than 40 years ago.

No one was injured.