Students go back to class in Wells

WELLS -- Students in a small northeastern Nevada community will return to classes this week after a strong earthquake damaged the high school and much of the town's historical district, officials said.

Wells' schools have been closed since Thursday, and school officials said classes will resume Wednesday.

If the junior/senior high school is not ready for students by that time, the backup plan is to use space at Wells Elementary School, increasing the number of students in classrooms there, the Elko Daily Free Press reported Monday.

"I was told today that cats, leopards, land on their feet," said Principal Leslie Lotspeich, referring to the school's mascot.

"I think we are going to prove that is exactly the case. You can shake us, but you can't go and change us. We are still Leopards."

The high school sustained heavy damage from the earthquake, and its gymnasium and auditorium will not be open until at least the end of the school year, Lotspeich said.

Elko County Superintendent Antoinette Cavanaugh said the district has found new damage, such as cracking, in the school and a structural engineer will return for further reviews. The district has earthquake coverage of up to $100 million.

"We want to be prudent and make safety our first priority before we allow students back in there," Cavanaugh said.

The governor issued a disaster declaration last week and the state is seeking a presidential disaster declaration, which would provide federal funding to the area.

The Red Cross said roughly 200 people need its services due to the earthquake and 45 to 50 homes have been affected.

"Every person in this community has been affected, whether they have lost a home or they are only dealing with the aftershocks," Red Cross spokeswoman Jenny Carrick said.

Officials said residents can start cleaning their homes but should document any damage and keep receipts of purchases made to pay for repairs in case they are eligible for state or federal assistance.