Rural residents in Linn County, who are still cleaning up after a weekend tornado, received lots of extra help Tuesday. That help came from more than 200 Alburnett Community School students who were allowed to skip afternoon classes to clear debris.
Alburnett teacher Linda Franck helped organize the effort and says most of the students in the upper grades agreed to participate. "Eighty-percent of our 7th through 12th graders are out picking up after the tornado," Franck said. That included 8th grader Tonya Saddoris.
"I think it’s great that everybody wanted to come out and help," Saddoris said. Busses full of students stopped at six farms that sustained storm damage. One property owner, Faith Martin, said the students were particularly helpful out in the fields picking up bits of metal.
"They’re out there picking up tons of little pieces of sheet metal out there and that’ll save us days and a lot of other people days," Martin said. "So, it’s great to have them here and we appreciate all their help."
The National Weather Service says tornado touchdowns were reported late Sunday afternoon near Alburnett, Coggon and about five miles west of Central City. There were no reports of injuries.