News

Blair Nelson bench dedication

DEDICATION - Many members of the Blair Nelson family gathered on Wednesday, Sept. 3 to dedicate a new bench overlooking Clear Lake in Waseca. Top, pictured from left: Carissa, and Brock Nelson, Taylor, Carson and Chad Ziemke, Jace Jennings. His wife Deanne and Nicole Nelson, Tenelle Jennings,...

Council sets 6.3% preliminary levy increase

Members of the Waseca City Council continued their discussion about the 2026 budget and levy during a Sept. 2 work session. The work session, lasting only 11 minutes, concerned a short summary from City Manager Carl Sonnenberg about the two levy options previously presented to the council...

MARSHALS - Dale and Cindy DeRaad are the grand marshals of the Waseca Marching Classic parade, set to begin at noon on Saturday, Sept. 20 in downtown Waseca. Ten high school bands will be taking part, along with special guest, the Maverick Drumline from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

DeRaads feel honored to contribute to Marching Classic

Dale and Cindy DeRaad will be near the front of the Marching Classic parade in Waseca on Sept. 20 as this year’s grand marshals, but it wouldn’t be surprising if they spend part of their time looking over their shoulders to check on their “usual” places. The Marching Classic parade will...

Summer session discussion

During the Sept. 4 meeting of the Waseca school board, superintendent Eric Hudspith reviewed summer programming within the district. He shared that 75 students attended summer school at Hartley and 45 at the intermediate school in June. Hudspith says summer sessions occur in June to take...

Justice center, jail now expected to cost $25 million

After numerous discussions with the architects, the Waseca County Board of Commissioners approved moving work on the new county jail and justice center into the “schematic design” phase during their Sept. 2 meeting. With a target construction price of about $25 million, three stories and...

Fall Festival brings community together

This year’s Sacred Heart Fall Festival is set for the weekend of Sept. 19, 20 and 21. This yearly event draws hundreds of visitors to a wide variety of activities and entertainment across its three-day run. As has been the case for decades, a giant white canopy tent will be set up over the street...

SCONES AND MORE - Tracy and her sister Lindsey McCarty were selling lots of scones at the Waseca Farmers Market on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 on behalf of the McCarty Farm stand. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

McCarty Farm scones are a hit at farmers' market

The Waseca Farmers Market was alive with activity during the chilly Saturday morning of Sept. 6. Lindsey McCarty of McCarty Farm was operating her booth with the assistance of her sister, Tracy Arola. Lindsey says her biggest seller is homemade scones in various flavors including chocolate chip,...

Waseca Council proclaims Constitution Week

The Waseca City Council proclaimed Constitution Week and discussed mosquito spraying at the regular City Council meeting Sept. 2. Waseca resident Marily Wilkus, who is also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), requested that the city commemorate the framing of the...

Waseca Hockey awarded grant to support young players

The Waseca Hockey Association is proud to announce it has been awarded a grant from the Minnesota Wild Foundation's Skate It Forward initiative. In this inaugural year of the program, the grant will cover the first-year registration fees for all new Waseca Hockey players ages 8 and under. ...

SCULPTING - Janesville area artist Robin Warburton's piece "Daybreak" was selected for inclusion in the fine arts display at the Minnesota State Fair. More than 2,800 works were submitted, only 337 were included. Warburton's piece, pictured bottom right, features a meadowlark and placed fifth in the show.The Waseca Area Art Center will be featuring a display of works by Robin Warburton in November. The show will feature at least 20 new sculptures and will include the unveiling of her larger-than-life size sculpture of a bald eagle. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Local artist places well at prestigious state fair show

Local artist Robin Warburton’s sculpture “Daybreak,” which features an open-mouthed eastern meadowlark apparently in the act of singing, placed very highly at the competitive “juried” fine arts show held at the Minnesota State Fair. A summary sheet displayed at the show indicated more than...