WALNUT, Iowa (AP) – The City of Walnut will take possession of a historic school building that will become vacant because the school district is dissolving. The Daily Nonpareil reports the City Council voted 4 to 1 to acquire the Walnut Community School building. The district, which is merging with the Avoca-based AHST district July 1, will give the school to the city. The three-story school dates to 1910 and has several additions.

Walnut City Clerk Terri Able says the council has asked the school district to demolish one of the additions, built in the 1950s. Able says the city will decide later what to do with the building. District officials opted to merge with the nearby district because of a steep drop in enrollment.