Nurse Practitioner

New bookstore offers more than books. Former nurse Kalli Mimmack opens eight: twenty eight as a place for faith, fellowship. July 21, 2026 at 2:59 PM News Reporting MITCHELL - For 14 years, Kalli Mimmack cared for patients in hospitals and clinics. Today, she hopes to care for people in a different way. After leaving her position as clinic manager at the Avera Cancer Institute in June, Mimmack has opened eight: twenty eight, a Christian bookstore in the Corn Palace Plaza, trading scrubs for shelves filled with Bibles, devotionals, apparel and faith-based gifts. Keep Watching Midweek Update- Mitchell Activities Director For Mimmack, the career change wasn't about leaving behind a calling to serve others. It was about following what she believes is God leading her in a new direction. "Sometimes you have to just take that leap of faith, trusting God's plans with all your heart," Mimmack said. The store's name comes from Romans 8:28, one of her favorite Bible verses: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." Proverbs 3:5, which encourages believers to trust in the Lord rather than their own understanding, also helped guide her decision. Mimmack began her nursing career in Mitchell in 2012 at Queen of Peace Hospital before working in labor and delivery, the operating room and clinic settings. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing in healthcare leadership in 2019 and most recently managed the Avera Cancer Institute clinic. Her final day in healthcare was June 12. While opening a bookstore may seem like an unlikely next chapter, Mimmack sees a common thread between the two careers. "I still get to care for people," she said. "I just get to do it in a different way." Rather than simply operating a retail business, Mimmack envisions the store as a gathering place where people can grow in their faith together. She hopes church groups, Bible studies, college students from Dakota Wesleyan University and Mitchell Technical College and anyone seeking a quiet place can use the space for fellowship. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but Mimmack said she's willing to open as early as 5 a.m. for devotional groups and gatherings over coffee. Her husband already hosts a weekly men's Bible study, and their daughter hopes to begin leading a devotional group for high school students. The bookstore also features an espresso bar using coffee beans supplied by Bread and Vine, another downtown Mitchell business. Located in the former Cornerstone Too storefront, which had been vacant since October, Mimmack and her husband transformed the space into the new bookstore. Customers still occasionally wander in looking for ice cream, a reminder of the building's previous tenant. The store offers a variety of products, including study Bibles, journaling Bibles, children's Bibles, devotionals, apparel, jewelry, gifts and children's toys. One feature setting the business apart is free Bible embossing with purchases. Mimmack is also preparing to offer custom laser engraving and embossing for customers' personal items once additional equipment arrives. Near the front of the store sits a prayer and verse wall where visitors can leave prayer requests or favorite Bible verses. During the first week alone, three rows quickly filled with handwritten notes. Mitchell has been without a local bookstore since The Reader's Den closed in 2021, and Mimmack said many customers have expressed excitement about having a faith-focused bookstore back in town. The community response has exceeded Mimmack's expectations. She said complete strangers have walked into the store and prayed over her, while others have circled the building outside to pray before introducing themselves. Many have shared stories of how God has worked in their own lives. "I'm feeling pretty lucky to do this every day," she said. Sales have also been strong. During Crazy Days, Saturday sales were double any other day during the store's opening week, and several popular items sold out quickly, including "Bible in a Year" reading guides. Residents have already expressed interest in working at the store, but for now, Mimmack is running the business with help from family and friends as needed. Read more stories from Jen Leither here... Launching the business was made easier through community support. After Mimmack presented her business plan, the Mitchell Area Chamber and Development Corporation approved a $2,500 entrepreneur loan and offered the storefront at a reduced rate for the summer to help launch the business. As part of the agreement, businesses filling the space were required to include a retail component. The Chamber began offering discounted space after launching its student business competition this spring, hoping to give entrepreneurs an affordable place to start. "We're excited to welcome 8:28 Christian Bookstore to the Chamber Courtyard," Mitchell Area Chamber and Development Corporation CEO Mike Lauritsen said. "We believe 8:28 is a great addition to downtown Mitchell, and we're excited to watch them flourish as they build their business and become part of our community." For Mimmack, opening the bookstore fulfills a dream rooted in faith and family. Her parents own a medical transport business in Florida, her in-laws own Simply Unique in Mitchell, and her husband founded Anchor'D Recovery. Though Mimmack has collected Bibles for years - she owns nine different versions herself - she said the store's greatest purpose isn't selling books or gifts. Instead, she hopes it becomes a place where people find encouragement, community and a deeper relationship with God. News Reporting Jennifer Leither joined the Mitchell Republic in April 2024. She was raised in Sioux Falls, S.D. where she attended Lincoln High School. She continued her education at South Dakota State University, graduating in December 2000 with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. During her time in college, Leither worked as a reporter for the campus newpaper, The Collegian. She also interned for Anderson Publications in Canistota, SD the summer of 2000. Upon graduation, Leither continued to reside in the Sioux Falls area and worked as a freelance writer for the Argus Leader for a number of years. /jennifer-leither More stories for you. Conversation

According to a release: The partnership includes over 100 CNOS physicians, advanced practice providers, physical therapists, occupational therapists and athletic trainers across 9 specialties and subspecialities with over 350 staff.

Avera, SDSU partner on respiratory therapy education, hands-on clinical training in Mitchell. The hospital will host up to eight students annually who will receive extensive hands-on learning opportunities alongside Avera's team of respiratory care and medical professionals. June 09, 2026 at 4:00 PM News Reporting MITCHELL - Avera Queen of Peace is partnering with the South Dakota State University Respiratory Care program to provide respiratory therapy education and hands-on clinical training in Mitchell as part of an initiative to strengthen rural health care workforce development. The professional training year consists of respiratory-specific coursework, lectures, labs and clinical experiences. Keep Watching KNBN-6 00 PM - 7 00 PM-6 5 2026 5 33 54 PM - 6 5 2026 5 35 33 PM-2026-06-05 The hospital will host up to eight students annually. The upcoming cohort which started in May will include two students. They will receive extensive hands-on learning opportunities alongside Avera's team of respiratory care and medical professionals. Clinical experiences at Avera Queen of Peace will include medical/surgical care, emergency department experiences, ICU patient care and pulmonary function testing. Specialized experiences including neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care and dedicated intensive care rotations will take place at facilities in Sioux Falls. Additional experiences will include tracheostomy training and home ventilator care through Avera Home Medical Equipment and an inpatient/outpatient rehabilitation center. "We are grateful to partner with Avera Queen of Peace to offer our respiratory care program in the Mitchell community," said Ranae Phinney, clinical instructor for the SDSU Respiratory Care program, in a statement. "We are committed to increasing access to education for students through partnerships. Our goal is to help build a rural workforce pipeline for the respiratory care profession." Phinney serves as the clinical instructor for the program at Avera Queen of Peace. She teaches clinical and lab courses on-site while facilitating hybrid lecture courses delivered online. Weekly lab sessions focused on respiratory equipment and patient care skills will also take place at Avera Queen of Peace. In addition to supporting student education, Phinney will also help develop a breathing program for Avera Queen of Peace's pulmonary rehabilitation services. "Avera Queen of Peace will provide these students with hands-on, real-life events," said Julie Hoffmann, Avera Queen of Peace vice president of patient services. "We are small enough where we will get to know them by name yet large enough to give them a wide range of experiences, so they are well-prepared for their careers after graduation." News Reporting Its newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of "Mitchell Republic." Often, the "Mitchell Republic" byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story. More stories for you. Conversation