LAKE MEAD (FOX5) -
It's a byproduct of the shutdown, of the federal government, you might not have heard about, but problems in Washington have kept a local student from school.
Ryan Riggle lives in a residential section of Lake Mead National Park. He relies on a school bus to get him to and from Andrew Mitchell Elementary.
Because the park is closed, there's been no bus to transport him to school.
Park rangers have been stopping vehicles, making them turn from the park entrance. That includes Riggle's school bus.
Ryan, a second-grader, says he can't wait to go to school every day.
"I was just going to do all my homework and do everything my teacher said," Ryan said. "I'm kind of angry that I can't do my work."
Ryan's family lives at Caldwell Bay Marina. His school is 60 miles away. Ryan's father works each weekday, and the family only has one car.
"It kind of upsets me because I like my kids to go to school, learn and be with their friends, and they can't," said Ryan Riggle's mother, Traci Riggle.
FOX5 brought the situation to the attention of park officials.
"Since we received your call, I've been in touch with our park rangers and park rangers have been in touch with the Clark County School Transportation Department," said the Lake Mead National Recreation Area's Christie Vanover. "Now they are working on logistics. By tomorrow, every student who lives in Lake Mead should get to school with no problem."
"I really need to get good grades. Grades are my whole life," Ryan Riggle said.
Ryan Riggle's teacher has been emailing his classwork to him, but he should be back in school by Friday.
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Ryan Riggle has been unable to get to Andrew Mitchell Elementary. Blame the shutdown. (FOX5)
