Ellendale Days starts Thursday
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
Roger Swearingen was born and raised in Ellendale and, except for a stint in the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s, has lived there all his life.
For upwards of 20 years, Swearingen faithfully served Ellendale as the town’s maintenance man.
Since 2012, he’s been known as Mayor Swearingen.
On Saturday, he’ll assume another role — grand marshal of the 2014 Ellendale Days Parade.
“It’s quite an honor,” said Swearingen. “I didn’t expect it.”
Ellendale City Councilman Scott Groth said Swearingen was selected for all his years of service to the city, especially as maintenance man.“They thought he did a good job,” said Groth.
Swearingen, a 1965 graduate of Ellendale High School, was drafted into the military in 1966 and served 21 years in the USAF and Minnesota National Guard. He spent 18 months in Vietnam and Taiwan as an airplane mechanic.
He worked odd jobs in Ellendale for about five years before being asked to be the city maintenance man.
Why did he run for Mayor?
“We had a couple issues going on, and I wanted to see some change,” said Swearingen. “The town was kind of stalemated. We’ve been livening things up a bit.”
Swearingen said he’s honored and his wife, Caren, is excited about the grand marshal recognition. For the first time in about a dozen years, however, he won’t be at the starting point of the parade with microphone in handing, announcing parade entrants. A DJ will handle that role this year.
“I’m just honored to be the grand marshal,” he said. “And I’m happy to be major at this time. We’ve made progress, and we’re going to try and continue.”
Ellendale Days — which runs Thursday-Saturday, June 26-29 — is billed as “an annual old-fashioned country town celebration, always good food and good fun.”
The parade starts at 4 p.m. Saturday.
The schedule of events for Ellendale Days:
Thursday, June 26
6-9 p.m. — Dan Stursa Polka Band - Ellendale Muni
8-10 p.m. — Meat Raffle - Ellendale Muni (sponsored by Ellendale Lions Club)
Noon-6 p.m. — Drop off Military items at the Veterans Museum
Friday, June 27
1-7 p.m. — Petting Zoo - Empty lot West of Floors 4 U
10 a.m.-8 p.m. — Veterans Memorial Museum
10 a.m.-? — Country Charm Ceramics Paint Until you Faint
4- p.m. — Tacos at the Methodist Church
5 p.m. — Karaoke - Ellendale Muni
6:30 p.m. — Dodge Ball -Ellendale School (sponsored by Ellendale Fire Department)
8-10 p.m. — Meat Raffle -Ellendale Muni (sponsored by Ellendale Lions Club)
8 p.m-midnight — Murphy Bros. Band - Ellendale Muni
7-10 p.m. — Family Movie night Ellendale Community Center. Bring a Blanket to sit on. Showing Frozen or Lego Movie (sponsored by Ellendale Ambulance)
Saturday, June 28
City Wide Garage Sales
8 a.m. — 5K Color Fun Run - Fund Raiser for trip to Costa Rica in 2015 (NRHEG School Spanish Class)
8 a.m. — Breakfast Burritos - Ellendale Fire Hall (sponsored by Ellendale Fire Department)
9 a.m. — Farmers Market (empty lot east of the Muni)
9 a.m.-3 p.m. — Car Show - Ellendale Bus Garage (sponsored by the Ellendale Lions Club)
10 a.m.-? — Country Charm Ceramics Paint Until you Faint
10 a.m.-8 p.m. — Veterans Memorial Museum
Noon — Car Judging - Ellendale Bus Garage
4 p.m. — Ellendale Days Parade
After the Parade:
• Turtle races (sponsored by the Ellendale Sportsman Club)
• Pedal pull (sponsored by the Ellendale Fire Department)
• Kids games (sponsored by Ellendale Lions Club)
• Lions Bingo until 7 pm - Open lot east of the Ellendale Muni
5-7 p.m. — Pork Chop Supper $9, extra pork Chop $4 – Ellendale Community Center (sponsored by Ellendale Fire Department)
8 p.m. — Teen dance - Ellendale Community Center (sponsored by Ellendale Fire Department)
8 p.m.-midnight — Street Dance - Tom Cats - Ellendale Muni
Sunday, June 29
8:30-11 a.m. — Pancake Breakfast - Ellendale Community Center (sponsored by Ellendale Lions Club)
9 a.m.-noon — Veterans Memorial Museum
11 a.m. — Tractor Pull - North side of the Ellendale Bus Garage (sponsored by the Ellendale Lions Club)