Adding Some Color to the Northfield Senior Center

Rice County residents beset by past mistakes are painting their futures with brighter hues as part of a rehabilitative program that also benefits the .

As part of their terms from Rice County District Court, people in the sentencing-to-serve program painted the entrance to the center Saturday morning.

Senior Center director Lynne Pederson was enthusiastic about the help from the program's participants, who were on their fifth session of "adding some color to the senior center."

"We're very grateful," said Pederson, highlighting it as an example of cooperation. "This is a community service helping a community service."

Last year nearly 14,000 hours of service were completed through Rice County's sentencing-to-service program, according to records from Rice County Community Corrections.