Meeker County tobacco retailers recently received a thumbs up for giving the red light to underage smokers.

All 22 Meeker County establishments licensed to sell tobacco passed a compliance check in the past year. The check, conducted by the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office and Meeker County Public Health, is an unannounced investigation to determine whether retailers are selling tobacco to underage youth.

The lunch hour is slowly winding down at Cricket Meadow Tea when owner Julianne Johnson finally takes a break on a leather couch in the back of the shop.

Surrounded by tea pots and cups of her own collection and inviting kitchen tables and chairs, Johnson recalls the long months of getting the shop off the ground.

“Now in retrospect, you don’t start a tea shop because you have china,” Johnson said chuckling.

Jack Higgins can’t wait until CentraCare Dialysis clinic starts seeing patients in Litchfield.

For nearly three years, the 82-year-old has traveled to Hutchinson three days a week for dialysis. Now, he can go right down the road, and he already has his chair measured out.

“I’m glad it fits,” Higgins said Tuesday at the Litchfield dialysis clinic’s open house.

Troy Atkinson is like most Americans — tired of the rising gas prices.

However, instead of complaining, Atkinson decided to do something about it. He purchased a 49-cc motor scooter in late April and is now feeling the savings all the way to the gas pump.

“I really enjoy it,” Atkinson said. “You feel a little funny riding it at first, but after a while you get used to it and actually it’s kind of fun.”

Fenton Motors has been part of the Litchfield business scene for nearly seven decades, but that changed Friday when owner Chuck Fenton announced he had sold the dealership to John Davis, owner of Princeton Auto Center in Princeton, Minn.

Fenton said Tuesday morning the sale was the result of conversations with Davis that took place during the past several months. The third-generation owner admitted the sale was a bittersweet transaction.

It’s an undeniable fact of life that nothing lasts forever. Well, except maybe that stamp you bought last week.

With U.S. Postal Service rates set to increase Monday, some consumers are locking in a good buy with the Forever Stamp.