News

Jay Brown, owner of Icon Barber at 113 State Street North in Waseca, has been cutting Wasecans' hair for the past 16 years.

Pioneer photos by Deb Bently

It's not all about the haircut

Jay Brown has owned Icon Barbers at 113 State Street North in Waseca for about 16 years. Brown, 61, tells of having worked in construction much of his life. “I bought a house in Waseca to fix up and sell, then ended up liking it here and staying,” he remembers. At that time, he decided to follow...

The Waseca Mental Health Collective, formerly known as the Waseca Suicide Prevention Cohort, sponsored a wellness fair at The Mill in Waseca the afternoon of Thursday, May 15. Planners for the event included (kneeling, from left) Pastor Jillene Gallatin of Grace Lutheran Church; Cindy Wofford of Sparrow Crisis Response; Ashley Killday and Colin Ayers, both of Waseca County Public Health; Sue McIntosh of Bethlehem Inn; (standing, from left) Mariana Izaquirre of Waseca County Public Health, Marty Johnson of Keep Fightin' Recovery; Afton Finley of the Waseca Public Library; and Meg Monahan. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Mental Wellness event promotes connection

Activity was already brisk at the 4 p.m. start of the Waseca Area Mental Health Resource Fair at The Mill in Waseca the afternoon of Thursday, May 15. The free event featured more than 20 mental health support groups from Waseca, Owatonna, Wells, and even Rochester, according to Marty Johnson,...

May is Foster Care Month

In Minnesota, nearly 6,000 children and youth are in a foster care setting on any given day, according to preliminary 2024 figures recently released by the state’s department of youth, children and families. Speaking with people involved in the foster care system, however, quickly reveals a set...

2025 Waseca Marching Classic

Hundreds of people lined up along State Street at noon for the Marching Classic parade this past Saturday and hundreds took seats in the high school football field stadium to watch the field show performances of 15 different bands beginning at 5:30 p.m. The high school grounds became a field camp...

VOLUNTEERS - Ron Wood (right) and Jerry and Rita Janish say volunteering at Farmamerica provides a source of personal enjoyment and variety for them while also helping the organization accomplish important goals. They invite others to come join in the fun. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Farmamerica seeking volunteers

“You’ll be glad you did,” is the message three persistent volunteers at Farmamerica have for anyone who would like to join them. Janesville area residents Rita and Jerry Janish have been volunteering for more than a decade. Both in their mid-seventies, the two say they feel richly rewarded...

County Board sets preliminary levy increase

After considerable discussion surrounding the county budget and a new circumstance with funding spent toward supporting the libraries in Waseca County communities, members of the county’s board of commissioners voted on Sept. 16 to set the preliminary levy increase for taxes payable in 2026...

WOMAN-OWNED - Jill Stagman (left) and Reyna Monson are at the helm of Pantheon Computers, a Waseca-based business which provides IT assistance to companies in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and North and South Dakota.

Pantheon Computers acquiring recognition as "woman-owned"

Pantheon Computers, based in Waseca with offices also located in Rochester and Mankato, has completed the initial process to be certified as “woman-owned,” an official designation which lets their customers show they have a diverse vendor base as required by some contracts. The business has...

Council adopts preliminary levy, passes Marketpalce TIF

The Waseca City Council adopted a preliminary tax levy and budget and passed the Waseca Marketplace tax increment financing (TIF) during their regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16. After reviewing recommendations that would affect the budget or levy during Aug. 19 and Sept. 2 work sessions...

FESTIVAL FUN - Volunteer Jason Rohe (left) was busy serving Dianne Michael her choice of pies during the Sacred Heart Fish Fry which was part of the Fall Festival on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. Pioneer photos by Ben Revermann

Sacred Heart Fall Festival enjoys lively weekend

The Sacred Heart’s Fall Festival started out first with the fish fry and children’s dance the evening of Friday, Sept. 19. Also underway were the weekend-long features including the spirit wall, concessions, white elephant thrift sale, silent auction, book fair and much more. Church member Tonya...

Council tables preliminary levy, hears reports

Members of the New Richland City Council tabled discussion of the preliminary budget and tax levy and heard department reports during their regular city council meeting Tuesday, Sept. 2. A resolution adopting the 2026 preliminary budget and tax levy was brought to the council, but due to...