Welcome back Kyle: Nearly ordained Pastor Smith returns to Ellendale
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JOURNEY - Pastor Kyle Smith followed his heart in 2014, pursuing ministry. He has returned as new ‘old’ pastor at First Lutheran Church of Ellendale.
Star Eagle photo by Deb Bently
By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
In 2014 Kyle Smith decided he should “finally listen” to the messages in his life urging him to become an ordained pastor. He knew the path would be demanding, calling on him to complete about six years of schooling in addition to the two he had already completed. But he had no way of knowing how large a role First Lutheran Church of Ellendale would play in helping him attain his goals.
As he made his plans, it became clear that, before even starting his schooling, he needed a level of stability that his part-time position as a youth director for a North Dakota church could not provide. Based on that realization, he applied and interviewed for a full-time job of the same title at First Lutheran. “I warned them from the beginning that I would only be there for a short time,” he remembers. Even with that understanding, though, the church took him on.
Stennes grateful for 37 years
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STRAIGHT AHEAD - The Stennes sit in their classic 1970 Chevy Chevelle.
LOOKING AHEAD - Pete Stennes eyes his wife Jane as the couple sit on the rails of the camper they plan to travel the country in. Star Eagle photos by Eli Lutgens
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
The saying goes if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.
Pete Stennes, with the help of his wife, Jane, restored classic cars, provided mechanical repair and ran the car wash at Pete's Service Center in Hartland Minnesota for 37 years.
“I mostly did it for other people,” Pete said. “If I didn’t do it, then who would? More importantly, who else would put the time and effort into restoring all those vehicles?”
At 72 years old, and recently diagnosed with myositis, a rare autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy muscle tissue, Pete decided it was time to close the service center.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Pete shared. “This is the first time since I was 13 that I don't have a job.”
Pete talked about how difficult it was to be diagnosed with an incurable disease. “When I finally got the phone call and was told that, the phone kind of went dead. Cause what do you say? We can go to Mars, but we can’t find a cure.”
It took three years for Pete to be diagnosed. Nevertheless, Pete persists.
Vacancy pastor Joshua Skogen
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Filling in for Evangelical Lutheran Churches
By BARB FINSETH
Staff Writer
Pastor Joshua Skogen began serving the Hartland and Manchester Evangelical Lutheran Churches as vacancy pastor at the beginning of August of this year. Previously, Pastor Shawn Stafford served for 10 years with the people of these two churches before leaving to fill a position as an assistant professor in the Religion Department at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato.
In the Evangelical Churches, it is customary for a local pastor of their fellowship to serve a vacancy on a part-time basis until a full-time pastor is hired. Pastor Skogen is now serving as full-time pastor for Scarville and Center Lutheran congregations in Iowa. He has taken the responsibility to line up pastors or seminarians to cover each Sunday worship service for Hartland and Manchester. He also travels to Hartland to teach confirmation class, visit shut-ins, and provide personal pastoral care wherever it is needed.
Joshua and his wife, Katie, live in Scarville, Iowa with their six children, ages 12, 10, 9, 7, and identical twins three years old. In personal time, Joshua says he enjoys, "spending time with my family, visiting extended family, playing disc golf, and helping with the youth wrestling club in Lake Mills, Iowa.”
Circus visits New Richland
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By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
For most folks, “a day at the circus” conjures up images of performers in shiny costumes demonstrating feats of derring-do for an audience seated on benches under the big top snacking on peanuts and cotton candy. The picture includes, of course, trained animals, trapeze acts, and clowns.
All that was true, of course, of the two performances of the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus which came to New Richland Sunday, August 8. But for anyone whose “day” at the circus lasts more than a couple hours, the phrase acquires much deeper meaning.
“We arrived in town at 7 this morning,” said Leo Acton, also known as Leo the clown. “We’ll be gone by 5:30 a.m. tomorrow.”
Council approves 10% tax levy
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
The City of New Richland accepted its preliminary tax budget calling for a 10.9% tax levy increase during its regular council meeting, Monday, Sept. 27.
In the 3-1 decision, Council Person Jason Casey cast the first no vote of any council member, on any decision, all year.
“I would like to see if each department could provide us with a budget including a 5% cut and a budget with a 10% cut,” Councilperson Casey stated. “We will have another meeting to discuss changing it before the December meeting.”
Mayor Gail Schmidt agreed and said, following meetings with the heads of various departments, they would return to the budget proposal in November. A work session was scheduled for Monday, November 17, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
The final budget meeting is scheduled for Dec. 13, 2021, where residents of New Richland can voice their opinions/concerns.