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‘Happy place’ is everything Rourke wanted
By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
“The bed. And the ‘fridge.”
Rourke Wacholz, 6, has little patience with questions this morning of Sunday, June 25. He has returned home to see the makeover his room has been receiving the past couple of days. But he is able to identify two favorites.
In addition to the lofted bed–the request he was most excited about–he has returned home to find new carpeting, freshly painted walls, a toy chest filled with dinosaurs, a special circular ceiling light with a small ceiling fan inside it, and even a karaoke machine and a small refrigerator that can hold up to four child-sized beverages.
All four members of the Wacholz family–Rourke, his younger brother Arlo, 4, and parents Chelsey and Mike–have spent the last two days elsewhere, asked to return no sooner than 11:30 today.
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By JONAH STAFFORD
Staff Writer
Pastor Billie Jo Wicks is taking on a new role in her Ellendale and Meriden congregations, Zion and St. Paul Lutheran churches. Wicks has already served as deacon at both churches for nearly two years, and, after being ordained in January, has been their pastor ever since.
Wicks is a native of Austin and currently lives in Mankato with her husband Michael and their children Violet, Theodore, Sam, Rob, and Ray. She is a graduate of Winona State University and the University of Minnesota, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. After working as an elementary school teacher for 10 years, however, Wicks felt called to the ministry and became a children’s ministry coordinator at a church in Austin. She soon began studying at Luther Seminary and worked as a deacon at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Mankato.
She says she enjoyed being a deacon, but decided to become a pastor after feeling a calling to be more directly involved with the sacraments. While studying for her master’s degree in divinity, Wicks took up an internship role at Zion and St. Paul’s, during which she was the sole leader of those churches, with the assistance of supervisors. Now that she has become ordained, she will continue to serve those congregations in the pastoral role.
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Makeover reveal expected Sunday
By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
As surprises go, this should be a big one.
Rourke Wacholz, 6, his brother Arlo, 4, and parents Chelsey and Mike are expected to leave their rural Ellendale home Friday morning, and are forbidden to return until 11:30 Sunday. While they’re gone, Rourke’s bedroom will have new carpeting installed. The walls will be painted and decorated, new curtains will likely be hung.
And, if Rourke has his way, his bed will be much taller than the standard double-sized bed he inherited when he moved out of the room he once shared with his brother. But although he can be fairly sure his wishes will be followed, he is not being given any details.
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
The Waldorf City Council held a public meeting the evening of Thursday, June 15, in the community center, to discuss two items: Waldorf Veterans’ Memorial Park and the relocation of the St. Clair Wood Ducks to Waldorf which would include the construction of a new baseball complex.
Waldorf native Charlie Barnes presented the same idea he had a couple months ago regarding the Veterans’ Memorial Park. Barnes would like to donate a 50 x 70 foot lot in front of the new city mural, across from the Community Center, to the city for the park.
“This won’t cost the city any money for the building of the park,” Barnes assures. “The city would only be responsible for maintenance, repairs, and insurance.”
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
A full lineup of events, minus Martin Ellingson jumping off the room of the Ellendale bank (in a theatrical performance), is in place for the annual Ellendale Days celebration, beginning with food vendors and a street dance at 8 p.m., Friday, June 23, 2023.
Formerly known as “Crazy Days,” this year’s events may seem a little pedestrian compared with the times of old.
“Ellendale Days lets people know that we’re still here,” Ross Sletten, Lerberg’s Foods owner says. “There are a few things that have changed over the years. It’s not so crazy, as the name used to indicate.”
As a lifelong Ellendale kid, Sletten said his fondest memory of “Crazy Days” is Martin Ellingson jumping off the roof of the bank onto a small mattress on Main Street. Of course, he failed to mention until the conclusion of his story, that he didn’t really do it. A mannequin was tossed from the building and quickly scooped up into an ambulance and driven away.