The gap on Waitsburg's Main Street got a little larger when the building at 103 Main was demolished Tuesday morning. The building was damaged by fire last September when the adjacent structure, at 109 Main, which housed Hugs, Gifts and Collectibles at the time, burned to the ground. The 103 Main building was deemed unfit for occupancy (use) by the building inspector, following the fire.

City administrator Randy Hinchliffe says he encouraged J.P. Kelly, the building’s owner, to fix rather than destroy the building. However, the building was slated for demolition because repair costs would...