Four area schools will receive nearly $7 million in construction aid after applying for competitive grants from the U.S. Department of Education last fall.

The Hays-Lodge Pole school district received about $3.7 million for its new elementary school, said Hays-Lodge Pole Schools federal programs director Violet Doney Crasco, who applied for the grant. The elementary school is about 40 percent completed, she said.

"We're just so elated and happy," said Crasco, who found out about the grant late last week. "I just thank God. Our kids just deserve the best."

Harlem also received about $468,000...