When the Stephens community has their annual fundraiser barbecue Sept. 15, they will gather in a building significantly improved from the small, leaky, drafty community center that once served the town.
Instead of funding for improvements to the one-room community center that lacked running water, heat or air conditioning, this get-together will recuperate some of the $20,000 spent on a three-year renovation project that added a new roof, restrooms, a furnace and doubled the size of the building.
Community center treasurer Linda Daly said people had been trying to raise money for a new community center for a long time, but the project finally picked up steam about three years ago.
"Everybody got together and decided they wanted it fixed," she said. "We expanded to twice the size, do have heating and air, and have a real nice kitchen and two bathrooms. Now they're trying to pay off the note."