Grateful for four years

Four years ago, the Waseca County Pioneer was founded on a simple idea: a hometown deserves a hometown newspaper. In a county of fewer than 20,000 people living on about 430 square miles of land, we know firsthand that everyone is connected in one way or another, even despite the distance. 

 

Families are centered here, people share connections through their occupations, our area is treasured for recreation. Those connections have shaped the Pioneer from its first edition to today. 

 

We are honored to share people’s stories and provide information about what is happening in our hometown county, and shall continue to do so as we enter our fifth year. 

 

“This is going to sound rather corny, but even though it's a business, the Pioneer's main purpose does not seem to be making money,” explains the Pioneer’s News Editor Deb Bently. “Yes, it must charge for its services, but the vast majority of its income goes back to keep itself operating and serving the public. We really do see ourselves as a community service, and we want to make all the positive contributions we can.”

 

The spark that started the Pioneer was when publisher Eli Lutgens observed that Waseca was being cheated of its own news, since the existing paper was no longer locally owned. He worked diligently to provide local news by local people through his confidence that while our society is constantly growing online, there will still ever be a need for newspapers. 

 

“The story of the Pioneer is still being written. My dad pushed me to start a newspaper here and I listened. I was warned it would not be easy and those people were correct. I would like people to know that we do this paper for them,” says Lutgens. 

 

The diverse and fascinating people of Waseca County deserve to have their news printed, shared and recorded. 

 

This week alone, our staff has been in council rooms, gardens, new businesses, and fun events. More importantly, they have met, spoken with, and photographed people young and old, shy and bold, unconcerned regarding social rankings. 

 

Lutgens emphasizes that the future of newspapers in general will be challenging. For the Pioneer to succeed, it will take a group effort of people in the community continuing to read, advertise and connect with local news. 

 

Editor Amelia Roessler says that even though Waseca was where she grew up, she truly didn’t know her community until she started reporting in it four years ago. 

 

“I started my journalism career here. Wasecans have supported me in many ways by letting me tell their stories and learn about the community through the Pioneer,” says Roessler. “I’m incredibly grateful for that.” 

 

“I am grateful that there are still newspapers out there,” says staff reporter Ben Revermann. “With the media the way it is today, and the way it was 20 years ago, I have no idea what to expect in the next 20. The Waseca County Pioneer is not vicious or malicious. We're not out to end careers or attack people. There are so many good things in the world, let's focus on that.” 

 

Bently states she is happiest of all when pieces she writes for the newspaper bring our hometown folks even closer together—building empathy and appreciation for each other.

 

“What I find gratifying and fulfilling about my role with the Pioneer is that I get to seek people out and ask them about their experiences and observations,” Bently says. “Our staff is small and we cannot get to everything, but we want to be an accurate reflection of our communities and neighbors—which means we need to find and tell their stories.”

 

Revermann enjoys covering events where he can take fun and unique pictures. A little girl playing in bubbles at the Janesville parade, brothers shooting hoops at this year’s Waseca County Fair, community members sharing their hobbies. 

 

As the Pioneer enters its fifth year and reflects on the past four, we understand that we are not perfect. While we diligently work to improve and provide accurate and timely information to the community, we encourage people to contact us with their observations and experiences. 

 

“It is not easy printing multiple novels’ worth of information each month. Mistakes happen. My most important values in life, which I base the newspaper's values around, are treating people with love– how I would like to be treated,” says Lutgens. 

 

“If you've been deeply touched or impressed or displeased by some part of the larger picture, feel free to contact us. If we feel it benefits the public to share it, we will do our best to represent the circumstances in a clear, unbiased way,” encourages Bently. 

 

As Lutgens stated in the very first edition, “We plan to find at least one story for every edition that makes the whole year’s subscription worthwhile. We know we don’t have everything for everybody in every edition, but we will definitely have something for everyone.” 

 

Our purpose at the Pioneer remains the same since day one, to bring the smalltown special feeling to a Waseca paper.

 

“My message to the community honors the immoral words of Al Batt: ‘Please be kind,’” Lutgens says.