News

Eli Lutgens, Michael Roy, Deb Bently, Amelia Roessler

A year of stories

People and their stories. Every member of the Waseca County Pioneer staff finds his or her motivation in the people of the community, their passions, motivations, and projects. “Being a news writer pulled me out of my comfort zone,” comments writer Michael Roy. “It’s very demanding and it...

Growing together

It has been a long, quick year. That’s how I would describe our season at the Pioneer. Time went by in the blink of an eye, and the work, well that went even faster. Over that time the memories we’ve made–I’ve made–feel like a lifetime's worth. Well, actually many lives worth. It’s an honor...

SOUND EXPERT — Audiotronics owner Riley Poe settled into his Waseca location last August.

One man crew

Riley Poe is not an ordinary man in his 20s: He is a one-man crew running Audiotronics in Waseca. “I’ve been slowly able to grow this doing it all on my own,” he says. Poe grew up in the neighboring Medford-Owatonna area and graduated from high school in 2014. Instead of going to post-...

Conagra study approved

At their regular June 20 meeting, members of the Waseca City Council approved a wastewater impact study which will help determine whether it will be possible for ConAgra to move to year-round operation. Earlier this year, ConAgra informed the council that it wants to continue processing foods...

Katelyn Hodgkins braces herself to be dropped in the dunking booth.

Waseca library water carnival

An estimated 450 children and a few adults had the opportunity to cool off from the summer heat with a water carnival at Trowbridge Park on Thursday, June 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event has been held annually by the Waseca Public Library for the past few years to give families a reason to...

TEA ANYONE? - Susan Jirele started “Antiques of Waldorf” this past May after renovating the old Deml grocery store building.

Museum worthy

Susan Jirele is selling her antiques every second weekend of the month from May through October in Waldorf because her son told her he needed to downsize. “I was at home with all sorts of things,” Jirele explained, “and my son said ‘Mother, you need to get rid of stuff.’ I said, ‘Well if I had...

One year and many comments later...

“Finally, a local paper I won’t be wrapping fish in, or lining our birdcage with!” wrote area resident Jurgen Peters on the form he submitted to subscribe. Patricia Skov commented, ““Thanks for taking the chance on this great idea for a local paper. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this edition....

Officers chosen

The Waseca Exchange Club elected its 2023-24 board of directors and officers at its meeting on Tuesday, June 27. Although there wasn’t an official vote count by the end of the meeting, the following members were written as volunteers and candidates: Sally Takala, President; Mikhail Rostislavovich...

Alexis Myers and Amy Nelson of Waseca 4-H publicizing a new “Power of Produce” program.

Program offers free produce

The Power of Produce (PoP) club, a new 4-H program meant to assure children have better access to fresh produce, shared information about a service it will provide beginning after the county fair and continuing until the farmers’ market stops operating sometime in the fall. According to Amy...

Library event centers around Taylor Swift

Swifities rejoiced as the Waseca Public Library put on a Taylor Swift party on Thursday, June 22. It was the perfect time to celebrate the music superstar, as Swift performed two concerts at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis last Friday and Saturday night. Adding to the spectacle, Minneapolis...