The flu made its presence known in Pella last week. Principals at Pella elementary schools reported anywhere from 12 to nearly 100 students absent on various days, which accounted for anywhere from five to nearly 20 percent of their enrollment. Pella Public Health Director Kim Dorn reported that most other schools in the county were experiencing ten percent absenteeism, at the most, while Pella Regional Health Center spokeswoman Billie Rhamy said their emergency department had seen a dramatic increase in patients with flu symptoms in the early part of last week.