News

More than $140,000 in grants and scholarships were awarded during Waseca’s annual Honors Night May 17. Above Sydney Kofstad and Arianna Krogseng.

Students honored

For more than four decades, Waseca has celebrated area student achievements with an annual Honors Night program. On May 17, a record, more than $140,000 in grants, and scholarships were handed out and nearly 100 students recognized. The program lasted more than three hours with dozens of speakers...

Pastor Eric Ishimara and his wife Beverly after the installation service at Christ the King Lutheran in Waseca.

Ishimara joins Waseca church

Pastor Eric Ishimara was installed at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Waseca in a special service on Sunday, May 21. Ishimara hails from the San Francisco area and has served churches in Colorado, Iowa, and California. Prior to being installed in Waseca, he was a pastor in Sacramento for 11...

Career Justice

One thing that’s been common among almost every business or institution is that they have been looking for people to hire; it seems the Federal Correctional Institution of Waseca is no exception. Currently, the facility is looking to hire correctional officers, an advanced practice nurse (or a...

A touch of country

Shoppers from near and far enjoyed an antique and craft show at A Touch of Country Class Boutique in Waseca the weekend of May 20 and 21. The show, an annual tradition since 1989, is owned and operated by Delores Boerigter of Iowa. She sends out her “crafter letters” about three months in...

HONOR — For decades, it was the pride of Lowell Wadd’s life to participate in the VFW honor guard, giving the traditional salute at funerals.

Lowell Wadd lived to serve

Editorial Note: This article was orginally published in the 2022 Veterans Day edition of the Pioneer. Both Lowell and his wife Jan have since passed away. Lowell Wadd, celebrated his 97th birthday in 2022 alongside his wife of 67 years, Jan Wadd. Wadd was born in 1925 to Anna and Oscar Wadd...

FATHER AND SON - Blaine and Lowell Root

Lowell Root: proud legacy

When Waseca resident Lowell Root died in February of this year, he left an impressive legacy. His contributions to the community and his family were immeasurable. In the 1940s and ‘50s, he worked with his father, Enoch, and brothers to develop housing on what are now Ninth and Tenth Avenues...

SACRED HEART — Sacred Heart Catholic Church confirmed 22 young Catholics on Sunday, May 21. They are Hunter Barnes, Maddy Benson, Ryan Borneke, Ava Bruhn, Carson Crawford, Brayden Hesch-Priem, Ethan Hiller, Anders Jorgenson, Layla Keith, Addison Kelm, Allen Kopetzki, Bennett Ludwig, Lucia Mansfield, William Mansfield, Lucas McQuery, Brayden Miller, Korbin Mulcahey, Addison Pfeifer, Jett Rohl, Zachary Schimek, Lucas Selthun, and Cody Weber.

Blessed by the spirit

It was a sunny day when 40 young Catholics were confirmed at the Waseca Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 21. Out of the 40 Catholics confirmed, 22 were from Sacred Heart;18 others were from the Communion of Saints Tri-Parish of St. Ann (Janesville), St. Joseph (Waldorf),...

Curt Swenson

Swenson family establishes fund

The Curtis Swenson Family has established a $25,000 donor advisor fund administered by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. The primary purpose of the fund is to benefit the New Richland Public Schools and Library. Born on December 27, 1939, Curt Swenson began his schooling at the one-room...

Waseca Intermediate fifth- and sixth-grade students performed their spring concert May 18.

Grades 5 and 6 hold concert

Student musicians at Waseca Intermediate School capped off a year of practices and performances with their Spring Band Concert the evening of Thursday, May 18. The fifth- and sixth-grade bands performed, both under the direction of Mr. Craig Brenden. The concert centered around the works of...

Waseca Mayor Charged with 2 felony counts

On May 31, 2023, Waseca Mayor Randy Zimmerman was charged in Waseca County Court with two felony counts of perjury. The court complaint alleged that Zimmerman committed perjury by signing his name to a voter registration form which included false information, implying that he was maintaining a...