News

GENEROSITY - Waseca Area Foundation leaders pose with representatives from area agencies which received grants this fall. More than $100,000 was awarded Thursday evening at the Starfire Event Center in Waseca.

WAF awards more than $100,000

The Waseca Area Foundation/EF Johnson Foundation held their annual fall grant awards program at the Starfire Event Center in Waseca on Thursday evening, Nov. 6, 2025. Though the organization started as a “$6,000 pipe dream” in the 80s, when it awarded its first grant of $600, it has now...

HONOR - A total of 23 Waseca students were inducted into the Waseca Chapter of the Minnesota Honor Society on Wednesday evening, Nov. 5, 2025.

Waseca inducts 23 into Honor Society

The Waseca chapter of the Minnesota Honor Society (MHS) inducted 23 new members the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 in the high school performing arts center. Waseca principal Justin Johnston welcomed a couple hundred friends, family, and parents to the ceremony, which began at 6 p.m....

RINGING OF THE BELL - RINGING OF THE BELL - Jeanne Sexton, seen here with her husband Tom while ringing the bell which indicates a round of cancer treatment has been completed, has been diagnosed with and treated for two different types of cancer since 2022.

Jeanne Sexton faces two cancers

It was definitely a case of one thing after another. Long-time Waseca resident and Community Education swim coach Jeanne Sexton, 62, was diagnosed with “multiple myeloma," a cancer of the white blood cells, in October of 2022. Since white blood cells are among the chief warriors of the...

Board hears from coaches, advisors

During their Nov. 6 work session held at the high school, members of the Waseca school board heard from business teacher Sandy Schumacher who spoke about the Youth Service Learning (YSL) program. Schumacher, who has been leading YSL for eleven years, says this year’s class has 19 students. During...

Waseca artist Brad Donner with one of his favorite paintings now on display at the Waseca Art Center.

Brad Donner, Wildlife artist

For the next few weeks, visitors stopping by the Waseca Art Center will likely feel as if they are stepping into the great outdoors. Sculptor in wood Robin Warburton and painter Brad Donner have brought their true-to-life portrayals of natural settings and animals to the Center’s main...

From left, Exchange President Mihail Rostislavovich, Sheriff Jay Dulas, and Exchange Member Robin Dulas.

Sheriff spoke to Waseca Exchange on First Responders Appreciation Day

The Waseca Exchange Club proudly hosted Waseca County Sheriff Jay Dulas as guest speaker in honor of First Responders Appreciation Day. Sheriff Dulas shared valuable insight into the vital work of the Sheriff’s Office, the scope of its responsibilities, and the growing challenges faced by law...

Janesville Library session focuses on reading for adults

During an adult-oriented instructional class at the Janesville Public Library the evening of Monday, Nov. 3, participants created “To Be Read” (TBR) jars, a project intended to encourage reading and to hopefully inspire as many people as possible into literature related topics. Before the...

Chelsea Schnepf of Midwest Pastures was working the Winter Farmers Market at Farmamerica on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.

Midwest Pastures plans to expand menu

The first installment of a Waseca Winter Farmers Market being held indoors at Farmamerica took place the morning of Saturday, Nov. 8, inside the main building. Parked outside, under the white sky with just a few snowflakes beginning to fall, was a vendor by the name of Lucia’s Cocina, ready to...

Ceremony inducts 16 to National Honor Society

Membership in the NRHEG chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) grew by 16 the afternoon of Nov. 5 during a ceremony held near the end of the school day at the NRHEG Secondary school building in New Richland. High school seniors inducted are Olivia Johnson, Gabrielle Schlaak and Owen...

CONNECTIONS - New Richland area veteran Dale Baker discovered rich connections to history when he began studying the genealogy of his family. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Military service links generations of Baker family

A veteran who served in Korea and the son of a veteran who fought in World War II, New Richland area resident Dale Baker, 71, discovered in 2007 that his family is even more richly connected to the military than he had always realized. As he was helping sort through his mother’s papers...