Classes In Rice Resume 1 Week After Tornado

RICE (AP) - Students returned to classes in the town of Rice for the first time since an October 24 tornado damaged school buildings and an athletic field.

School secretary Lisa Thedford says classes resumed Monday.

A letter to students and parents, on the Rice Independent School District website, says the middle school suffered "extensive damage" in the storm that struck on a Sunday afternoon, when classes were not in session.

The district says the intermediate school part of the complex remains intact and has been cleared, by an engineer, for occupancy.

Middle school students were instructed to report to Rice High School. Classes were planned in a former junior high hallway area.

Rice is a town of about 950, located 45 miles south of Dallas.

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