KELLY SCHOOLS FORCED TO CLOSE

BENTON -- Classes at Kelly schools near Benton are canceled today because of a flu virus that has struck about 25 percent of students.

Superintendent Michael Johnson said on Tuesday that 84 of the high school's 300 students stayed home. On Monday, 54 students were out sick, "and we probably had 30 to 40 more who shouldn't have been here," he said.

"It's mainly been concentrated at the high school, but we were afraid it would spread to the elementary school," he said

Johnson said the flu bug has been striking more students each day for about a week.

"It just keeps getting worse," he said, adding that several teachers have also come down with the virus.

The next scheduled day of classes is Monday.

"The kids end up getting an extra day of Thanksgiving vacation," said Johnson.