News

20 YEARS AGO: NEWS FROM THE ISSUE OF AUG. 26, 2004 A bed and breakfast might be on the horizon for Litchfield. The Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing at its Sept. 13 meeting regarding a change to the city zoning ordinance that would open the way for a bed and breakfast at the Marshall Estate, 611 Marshall Ave. N. Commission members unanimously approved the change in wording earlier this month. Following the public hearing, the Planning Commission could forward the ordinance change to the City Council for final approval. Mary Jo Smith, owner of the Marshall Estate, requested the change because current wording would not allow her to have a bed and breakfast while continuing with her existing party/gathering place business at the home.

NEXT SEVEN DAYS THURSDAY, AUG. 22 Are you looking for a church home? Faith Lutheran Church, 335 Main St.

Hutchinson Senior Center is owned and operated by Hutchinsonthrough its Parks, Recreation and Community Education Department. Activities for people age 55 or older are available 9 a.m.3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Hutchinson Event Center, 1005 State Highway 15 S. For more information, call 320-234-5656. The following schedule is for Aug. 16-22: Friday, Aug. 16: 9:15 a.m. chair yoga; 10 a.m. Knot Just Knitting; 1 p.m. bingo, 500 and Hutch Bowl.

20 YEARS AGO: NEWS FROM THE ISSUE OF AUG. 19, 2004 A new city hall building apparently won’t be in Litchfield’s plans for the rest of this year. Council member Mike Cziok told fellow members Monday that after asking city staff to research a number of different options, he was convinced there was no sensible financing opportunities that could be enacted quickly enough to get a construction project started this year. “I feel very confident that staff has exhausted all options for a fall start,” Cziok said. “Therefore, (we) can put City Hall on a back burner.” He encouraged the council “to be fiscally conservative for the balance of ’04 and throughout 2005” so enough of a reserve fund could be established to “buy down” debt on a new city hall and keep costs to city residents minimal.