News

Front are Harriet and Ken Eaton. Back: Carol and Rolland Swenson. Rolland was the general contractor for the building project. Ken, along with many men of the church, donated their labor to complete the building. The women provided coffee and meals as well as kept things going at home.

Vista church celebrates 60th anniversary of building

In 1962, the congregation of what was then called the “Swedish Evangelical Mission Church” was experiencing growing pains. The wooden structure that had housed their services since 1878 did not have enough space for Sunday School classes; the building’s “auditorium” was not large enough to...

Tae Born and Boxbar Bar owner Todd Schmidt. A two day celebration of the anniversary of the day Schmidt purchased the bar is set for Friday and Saturday. Pioneer photo by Eli Lutgens

25 years and counting

The Boxcar Bar of Waseca is honoring owner Todd Schmidt, 70, for his 25 years as proprietor of the decades-old establishment. On September 20, 1999, Schmidt purchased the bar located at 202 W. Elm Ave, along Waseca’s now “Old highway 14.” To mark the milestone, the Boxcar is inviting members...

From left, Waseca High School social studies department chair John Hanson; Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Ann Fitch, and Chamber legislative committee chair Mikhail Rostislavovich.

A new kind of debate

The Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce’s new Legislative Committee is excited to announce a collaboration with Waseca High School’s American Government and Political Sciences classes to host upcoming candidate debates. Chamber executive director Ann Fitch states this partnership will modify the...

Grant Whissemore (left) hands over the record book which contains information from Waseca County Memorial Day programs spanning nine decades. Going forward, fellow event volunteer Kevin Dickie (right) will have the leadership role.

Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Reins to Memorial Day program in new hands

The records and notes for Waseca county’s annual Memorial Day program go back to 1933. They summarize the many ways local communities and organizations have honored the region’s deceased veterans going back even to the Civil War. Waseca resident Grant Whissemore has been the volunteer organizer...

Left to right: Reid, 16, with his sister Claire, 12, and their father Grant Wildgrube, owner of Sportsman's Campground in Janesville.

Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

A year of growth

Sportsman’s Campground is a little country hideaway located two miles north of Janesville, just a block south from Lake Elysian. With a cloudless sky above and a perfect temperature for swimming and a light breeze, owner Grant Wildgrube was found handing out root beer floats by the pool....

Marilyn Wilkus of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) with Waseca Mayor Randy Zimmerman. Wilkus spoke on behalf of the DAR encouraging the city of Waseca to mark the Sept. 17 anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution.

Pioneer photo by Eli Lutgens

Constitution week declared in Waseca

At the most recent Waseca City Council meeting, Sept. 17 through 23 was declared Constitution Week in Waseca. Marilyn Wilkus, from Daughters of the American Revolution gave a short presentation during the regular meeting of the Waseca City Council Tuesday, Sept. 3. This year will mark the 237th...

In tribute to their husband and father Brian Sommers, Kirsten Sommers and her children Jameson, Evelyn, Caden, and Owen served as honorary captains during Friday’s home opening Bluejays football game. Head Coach Brad Wendland is pictured on the right.

Sommers family named honorary captains

Kirsten (Muotka) Sommers alongside her children Jameson, Evelyn, Caden and Owen Sommers all served as honorary captains during Friday’s home opening Bluejays football game. Kirsten’s late husband, Brian Sommers, was a 2007 graduate of Waseca High School and a member of the Bluejay football team....

Kaitlyn Hoehn says her interest in cemeteries steps from her lifelong fascination with history. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Individualized history

To Kaitlyn Hoehn, 37, cemeteries have at least as much to do with life as they do with death. “These were people. They lived full lives…or they had their lives cut short. “These stones, even crumbling and almost gone, were what they chose to record those lives. They’re important.” Hoehn...

Local Waseca Groomer Sofy Clayton

Groomer Sofy Clayton traveled long road to her Waseca home

“I was so scared! My English was very poor–just basic,” says Waseca veterinary clinic groomer Sofy Clayton, describing her early years in southern Minnesota. “I watched a lot of TV; I took some classes, and I always carried a dictionary with me. But it was a very scary time. If I had to go to the...

Johnathan DePauw

DePauw joins Waseca special education department

Johnathan (JJ) DePauw knew he was destined to teach: “Since I was a child, I have always wanted to grow up and help people. I went through college looking for the right place for me to make a difference. With my skills, personality, and goals; it seemed like education was the fit for me,” he says...