We'll be able to have more in-house projects rather than taking meetings elsewhere. We also plan to hire additional staff.

We're looking at an Aug. 18 completion date for the facility. That's our target date for now. We also have some long-range plans. Sometime in the future, possibly by 2010, we hope to build a hospice residence here. We haven't applied for the license yet, but that is our intention. Currently there is only one in the state.

With the growth that we've seen in the last two years, moving into the a facility will provide us with space for our existing needs and room to grow.

The commissioners can spend money on juvenile detention but seem to have no consideration when it comes to projects that help keep youngsters out of trouble. I just don't understand how they can charge 4-H groups $35 an hour when these youngsters are doing something so productive for their community.

There's been a lot of ups and downs and a lot of meetings. When you consider this has been an all-volunteer effort, it's a good feeling to know we've met this milestone. Owning the building is a big feather in our cap. But it's still an uphill battle.

After it closed in 1940, the Boy Scouts and the 4H used it for meetings, and then all of the sudden, there was no 4H.