News

HERE WE GO AGAIN - JWP students will be performing the musical “Mamma Mia” in the school auditorium at 7 p.m. the evenings of Nov. 6 through 8, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Pioneer photo by Rachael Jaeger

Mamma Mia to run Nov. 6-8

After rehearsing the musical “Mamma Mia” for a few months, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (JWP) High School English teacher and theater director Teagan Knoblich says she is thrilled to see the fruits of her labor. The play will run in the JWP auditorium beginning at 7 p.m. from November 6 to 8,...

NEW BEGINNINGS - Waseca leaders, investors and local officials gathered on the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 27, to celebrate the groundbreaking of Marketplace Commons.

Major milestone

Community leaders, investors, and local officials gathered Monday afternoon, Oct. 27, 2025, to celebrate the groundbreaking of Marketplace Commons, a new multi-unit apartment complex that marks a transformative step forward in Waseca's housing and economic development. This long-anticipated...

HELPING HANDS - Angela Motz (left) and Cindy Kolander stand near the temporary access to the Waseca Area Food Shelf. The double-wide door is on the south face of the building. The large white sign indicates the path to the front entry of the Neighborhood Service Center's thrift store, a business which helps pay many of the costs incurred by the charitable organization.

Food Shelf supplies far from 'free'

Even though they hear it fairly often, members of the Waseca Area Food Shelf leadership board are taken aback each time somebody claims the produce, frozen food and shelf stable goods available at the food shelf are “free.” “Of course we know we don’t charge anyone for it,” clarifies board...

WELLNESS LEARNING - Walmart Pharmacist Dale Rudolph and Waseca Area Caregiver Services Executive Director Kelly Boeddiker presented at the educational session on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025.

Waseca Caregivers Services advises proper health and wellness

Waseca Walmart pharmacist Dale Rudolph addressed the topic “Understanding Health vs. Wellness vs. Wellbeing as we Age” during a session the morning of Oct. 21. Also addressing the topic was Waseca Area Caregiver Services Executive Director, Kelly Boeddeker. With 15 members of the elderly...

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE - From left: Ryan Berg, Philip Bolfer and Jason Reger were present on behalf of Greener World Solutions at the job fair at the Mill on Oct. 21, 2025.

Career Fair at the Mill introduces students to the future

High school juniors from the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (JWP) and Waseca Junior Senior High School, along with those from the Waseca Alternative Learning Center (ALC), attended a college and career fair organized by the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce at The Mill in Waseca during the business...

Council sees short meeting, updates

The Waseca City Council experienced a short meeting, discussing land purchases involving the Clearwater Preserve during their regular city council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21. The first land purchase, presented by City Engineer Nate Willey, involved Rachel Kluver, owner of 1100 10th St. SE...

HEATING UP - The Waseca Legions Ladie’s Auxiliary hosted a hotdish luncheon on Friday, October 24. Pictured from left are Deb Dobberstein, Cheryl Frear, Connie Hoehn, Cindy Dickie, Deb Tappe, Connie Ockwig, Nancy Kelling, and Judy Waters.

Ladies Auxiliary crock pot lunch well attended

The Waseca American Legion post 228 held its annual hot dish luncheon Friday, Oct. 24. This event was made possible thanks to the Legion’s Ladies Auxiliary volunteers, bakers and cooks. When asked how many lunches there have been, Mary Jo Knudson said, “I’m not sure, I would guess 10, or just shy...

JWP approves policy allowing opiate antagonist chemicals

Members of the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (JWP) school board approved a policy which had been tabled at their previous meeting. Board members had expressed concern because the policy, suggested by the state, allows one student to administer medication meant to counter an opioid overdose to...

LIVE GENEROUSLY - The St. John's Lutheran Church Fall Festival took place on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. Pictured from left: LuAnne Huber, Carol Randall, Rhonda Conrath, Pat Scholljegerdes, Kate Bartz, Marsha Sommers, Jenny Kluver, Lynne Gorell, Carol McColly, Nancy Graumann, Lonnie Kuhns, Mary Conway, Doreen Bathke and Janet Wichman. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

St. John's Fall Festival draws satisfying crowd

The St. John’s Lutheran Church’s Fall Festival took place on Saturday, Oct. 25 over the lunch hour. There were numerous different items being sold or given away, and a full house in the basement, with volunteers just about everywhere. More than 125 guests came through the lunch line, adding to...

NRHEG receives strong audit report

Members of the NRHEG school board were given a positive audit report during their regular meeting the evening of Monday, Oct. 20. Chad Guse, a senior associate with Abdo accounting firm out of Mankato, attended Monday’s meeting remotely, and announced NRHEG’s required annual audit is “clean...