‘Today is a celebration’ Hutchinson’s new $23 million Harmony River Living Center was dedicated Wednesday with speeches, a hymn and prayers
By DOUG HANNEMAN hanneman@hutchinsonleader.com
H
armony River Living Center residents moved into their new home in January, but it wasn’t until Wednesday that those involved in building the $23.4 million center celebrated. Dr. Steve Mulder, president and CEO of Hutchinson Area Health Care, the building’s owner, told about 100 people attending the 35-minute ceremony in the building’s chapel that Harmony River represents a large step forward in long-term care for Hutchinson. “This does not replace Burns Manor,” Mulder said, referring to the previous home of most of Harmony River’s 120 residents. “It builds on Burns Manor. It builds on the great care provided there.”
See HARMONY RIVER Page 4A ATTENDEES AT WEDNESDAY’S DEDICATION of Harmony River marveled at the twostory stained-glass window overlooking the chapel. The window was done by Plymouth artist Wayne Norton, who said he was inspired by the 19th-century hymn, “Like a River Glorious.”
$1
Leader HUTCHINSON
More than 12,000 readers today
hutchinsonleader.com
STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG HANNEMAN
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SUNDAY, . . . . . MARCH . . . . .4,. 2012 .......................................... REDISTRICTING CAUSES BOUNDARY SHUFFLE IN HUTCHINSON
NEW PRECINCTS PROPOSED Current
Proposed
As Hutchinson officials race to realign the city’s precincts, the impact on McLeod County’s commissioner districts remains somewhat unclear
Hutchinson precinct populations Precinct Precinct 1 (east/southeast) Precinct 2 (north end) Precinct 3 (southwest
By TERRY DAVIS
Current 4,125 4,972 5,081
Proposed 4,681 4,814 4,683
Source: City of Hutchinson election official Melissa Starke
davis@hutchinsonleader.com
When the state’s judicial redistricting panel on Feb. 21 split Hutchinson into House District 18A and 18B by using State Highway 15, that meant the city would have to redraw its precincts. That’s because it divided two precincts between the two Minnesota House districts. That’s a no-no. “State law mandates that a municipal precinct not be in more than one legislative district,” City Attorney Marc Sebora told City Council members Tuesday night. As a result, Sebora and city election official Melissa Starke drew up a precinct map proposal that would shift about 3,000 city residents along the Highway 15 corridor into different precincts. The city is racing a April 3 deadline. Then McLeod
See PRECINCTS Page 6A
STAFF MAPS BY BRANDON VAN WESTEN
INSIDE
Happy Panda draws Chinese food fans as often as twice a day
COSMOS SCHOOL TO CLOSE This school year will be the last time students at South Elementary in Cosmos will attend that school. The AtwaterCosmos-Grove City School Board voted 4-3 Monday for all ACGC kindergarten through fourth-grade students to attend classes at North Elementary School in Atwater.
CORRECTION FILE PHOTO
THE BOX CULVERT under State Highway 7 between Campbell and Otter lakes is barely passable with a canoe or row boat.
Hutchinson aims to connect two lakes for boaters By TERRY DAVIS
Rose Anne Sanden was misidentified in a story about leap year birthdays on page 1B of the Feb. 29 Leader.
WEATHER STAFF PHOTO BY TERRY DAVIS
Mostly cloudy. Details, 3A
27 14
Sunday’s high Sunday night’s low
davis@hutchinsonleader.com
When people think of Minnesota cities known for their lakes, Hutchinson isn’t often included in that thought process. But its extensive shoreline along the Crow River and the adjoining Otter and Campbell lakes definitely makes it a lake city. However, man-made obstacles in the form of bridges and culverts too low to permit passage of even the smallest watercraft have hindered full use of Hutchinson’s water resources. That is changing. The City Council on Tuesday heard of plans to
See CULVERT Page 7A
JIAN YING YANG AND FENGEN WANG comprise the wife-and-husband team that opened Happy Panda Chinese restaurant last month in the County Fair Marketplace building at the intersection of State Highway 15 and Denver Avenue Southwest. Happy Panda has limited seating, so takeout is its main business.
CALL US QUESTIONS ABOUT DELIVERY OR SUBSCRIPTIONS: 320-234-4142 OTHER INFO: 320-587-5000 32 PAGES IN 3 SECTIONS
With a choice of more than 150 menu items, the family-owned eatery is making diners, well ... happy By TERRY DAVIS davis@hutchinsonleader.com
Customer encouragement led Jian Ying Yang and her husband, Fengen Wang, to open their second Chinese restaurant, Happy Panda, in Hutchinson’s County Fair Marketplace, 1310 State Highway 15 S., off Denver Avenue near Best Buy. The couple has operated Lucky Kitchen along U.S. Highway 12 in Cokato for three years.
“We had a lot of customers from Hutchinson who liked (Lucky Kitchen) and they encouraged us to open one here,” Jian said. “And a lot of them have been coming here. They recognize us.” Happy Panda has just a handful of tables, so takeout is the restaurant’s bread and butter — or fried rice and soy sauce — so to speak. Since it opened Feb. 20, Jian said business has been brisk. “I am so excited we’ve opened here with a lot of business,” she said. “People have been telling their families and friends. Some have come in twice a day or almost every day.” Diners find an extensive menu of more than 150 items.
See HAPPY PANDA Page 7A