News

SOARING HIGH - The replacement steeple and refurbished bell for the LeSueur River Lutheran Church were lifted atop the church’s bell tower on the morning of Thursday, Aug. 14. Pioneer photos by Deb Bently

Steeple soars skyward

Roughly 40 feet tall and weighing 30,000 pounds, the replacement steeple for LeSueur River Lutheran Church lifted off the pavement where it had been constructed and moved directly to the place it belonged, easily 80 feet above the ground atop the church’s bell tower the morning of Thursday, Aug....

ALL THE BUZZ - Jan and Larry Hofmann, owners of Hofmann Apiaries located near Janesville, in front of the facility's honey harvesting barn during the Bee Bash Pollinator Party on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

Pollinator Party

From 1903 through 1985, the Hofmann Apiary near Janesville was a successful honey producer and breeder of Italian bees and queens. Nowadays, visitors are invited to tour the buildings and facilities and learn about traditional honey production methods. A Bee Bash! and Pollinator Party 3.0...

Council seeks negotiation from JWP

At their Aug. 11 meeting, members of the Janesville city council expressed a desire to reopen conversations about the School Resource Officer (SRO), a city police department member who helps plan and lead safety activities at the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (JWP) school district. Talks...

POP STOP - Waseca residents Mark and Judy Harinen stop by the Power of Produce table during the 8 a.m. to noon farmers market held Saturdays at the Waseca County fairgrounds. Assisting them are volunteers Brandon Rodriguez and Erica Forsythe. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Power of Produce

The Power of Produce (POP) table at the Waseca area farmers’ market is always a popular stop, since the public health program offers $5 in coupons to any child under the age of 18 who has signed up. Coupons can be used for fresh vegetables, eggs and herbs ad well as preserved foods such as...

CHAMPIONS - The Division 4 Waseca Novas won the national championship this past summer. Front row, kneeling left to right, Sophia Berg, Paislee Kwasniewski. Second row, Kinley Morrissey, Coach Michelle Berg, Aurora Malterer, Madelyn Holling, Elly Schroeder. Third row, Kendyl Priebe, Kiera Holmgren, Brynlee Spies, Ashlynn Nowacki, Cadence Britton, Coach Ashley Robbins

Champion Force cheerleaders triumph

About 45 young Waseca area cheerleaders won national-level titles this past summer through the “Champion Force” program. According to coach Ashley Robbins, Champion Force has been active in Waseca–and the whole state of Minnesota–since 2020.The Waseca program features five “divisions.”...

MERCHANT HOUSE - Built in 1868, the historic Bailey-Lewer house at 401 Second Avenue Northeast in Waseca, is the oldest existing house within Waseca County. Structural problems have officials studying the best way to facilitate upgrades. Pioneer photo by Amelia Roessler

More than a research library

The 157-year-old Bailey-Lewer house in Waseca is seeing some new — and needed — changes. A historic house, it has a foundation laid in a time when construction practices were rather informal. Waseca County History Center database manager Elizabeth Anselmo said a structural engineer...

IN THE FLiGHT DECK - Peter Suek, a Waldorf area resident for the past 17 years, is retiring after being a commercial pilot for 45 years.

Local pilot has special retirement flight

For the past 17 years, Peter Suek, 65, has been commuting from his home near Waldorf to his job in San Francisco. Suek, a pilot, explains it has not been anywhere near as impractical as it sounds. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules dictate that pilots of commercial flights...

IN BLOOM - Gene and Jody Buell next to their Black Eyed Susan Vines. Pioneer photos by Ben Revermann

Waseca Garden Club Summer Tour

The Waseca Garden Club’s summer tour took place Saturday, Aug. 2. Five locations were part of the event; well over 100 people attended. Included gardens belonged to Jen Dvorak and John Katz; Jody and Gene Buell; Julie and Maddie Poehler; and Andy and Kathy Miller. Home base for the tour was the...

TONS OF BENEFIT - The winners of the Yaunt 2 Cancer Rodeo benefit were Colt and Abby Hagen, Josie Sailor, Jo Holtz and Amy Lockie. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

Yaunt 2 Rodeo benefit saw high attendance

More than 200 people visited the thirteenth Yaunt 2 Cancer Benefit Rodeo the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Yaunt 2 Ranch southeast of New Richland. The rodeo competition, a silent auction, vendors, fellowship and good weather helped ensure everyone enjoyed themselves. Abby...

GREAT TASTE - Oscar Marquez, owner of El Molino and four other restaurants, stands at the counter of El Molino in Waseca despite having made a vow years ago never to own another restaurant. Pioneer photo by Amelia Roessler

Unexpected expansion

When Oscar Marquez was 18 years old, he made a promise to himself: to never open another restaurant in his life. But for about the last 20 years, Marquez has been successfully running El Molino, a restaurant in Waseca which serves Mexican dishes. Marquez’ acquaintance with food service...