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Wisconsin Church On Rebound Following Tornado
By Craig Pinley
SIREN, WI (July 8, 2002) - A little more than one year later, the building at
Siren Covenant Church still reflects the damage, but the congregation's
spirit is alive and well after a tornado devastated the resort town on
June
18 last year.
Pastor Mark Swenson said that the Siren Covenant facility was not
destroyed, as many buildings in town were, but repairing the damage from
the storm will cost more money than the church is willing to spend.
Instead, the church seeks to build in another part of town.
"We looked at the building immediately after the storm and it was still
standing, so we didn't think there was much damage," Swenson said. "But
there was a lot more damage and two weeks ago we voted to purchase new
ground (a four-acre plot) on the edge of town. We're moving - there was
an
overwhelming majority interested in going forward.
"One wall bows out more than 10 inches and there were roof problems as
well," Swenson continued. "There was a lot of damage that could not have
been easily repaired. Given what's been happening in the life of the
congregation, it made more sense to move. We'll have room to expand (in
the
new area) and we'll have extra room for parking and possibly a
children's
play area."
Swenson said his congregation and others have pitched in to make a
difference in Siren. Two parishioners, Dean Rolland and Judy Johnson,
were
notable contributors, the pastor said. Rolland, the town's police chief,
received numerous awards at the time for his efforts in alerting the
town
to the impending tornado. Johnson, a manager at a bank in
Siren, was a trustee for the Siren Relief Fund, which assisted many
townspeople who had lost homes or loved ones.
Siren Covenant was part of the Community Interfaith Connection (CIC); an
organization started by local churches and Native tribal community
members
to help needy people. Working with Christian Aid Ministries (affiliated
with the Church of the Brethren) and Salvation Army, among others, CIC
assisted 400 of the 900 who live in Siren. New houses have been built
and
the downtown area is undergoing a complete facelift, which has helped
revitalize the town.
"The destruction allowed for some incredible transformation of some old
buildings," Swenson said. "The main street business district is looking
to
re-invent itself as well. One of the anchor tenants, Jenneman's
Hardware,
built a new building and others are considering new projects as well.
"From a business and economic standpoint, it has been a real positive
movement for this town," he continued. "As a community, there's been a
real
pulling together. There's been a feeling that 'We'll survive better than
ever.'" One of the popular tee shirts that appeared following the
tornado
says it well: We've Spun Forward.
Siren Covenant Church, founded in 1911, has an average attendance of
around
80. Swenson has been pastor there for two years, part of the time as an
interim pastor. His church recently took an offering to help Covenant
churches in Roseau, Minnesota, and the congregation is considering
sending
a work team to help later in the summer.
Nearby Calvary Covenant Church in Grantsburg also was affected by the
tornado, but Pastor Doug McConnell said that the few parishioners whose
homes were affected have had most of their buildings rebuilt. Calvary
Covenant is located seven miles from Siren - the tornado struck in the
Grantsburg area, but touched down in fields and not in more populated
areas.
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