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STAFF- Most of the Pioneer staff is pictured above. From left, Jonah Stafford, Amelia Roessler, Deb Bently, Jim Lutgens, Eli Lutgens, Logan Piltingsrud, whose photos have been featured in the Star Eagle, held by Melanie Piltingsrud, Michael Roy, Chris Schlaak, and Reed Waller. Pioneer photo by Pam Goehrig

A paper to be proud of

“We plan to find at least one story for every edition that makes the whole year’s subscription worthwhile. We know we won’t have everything for everybody in every edition, but we will definitely have something for everyone.” –Eli Lutgens, publisher This issue of the Waseca County Pioneer is the...

Hans-Martin Buff, a German exchange student and Waseca JSHS student for one semester in 1985, won a Grammy for sound engineering while working with singer and creator Peter Gabriel.

Former WHS student wins Grammy

Hans-Martin Buff, who was an exchange student from the country of Germany at Waseca High School from September to December of 1985, recently won a Grammy Award for his sound engineering “Best Immersive Audio Album” while working on Peter Gabriel’s newest record, titled “I/O.” He currently...

Mikhail Rostislavovich next to a banner earned by the Waseca Exchange Club for its initiatives to help prevent child abuse.

Appalling childhood abuse motivates success, advocacy

While Waseca’s Mikhail Rostislavovich is active in a wide array of organizations and initiatives, he feels connected to one of them in a deeply personal way. A central pillar of the National Exchange Club of America is taking steps to prevent child abuse–so much so that the organization sponsors...

Ada Weber and Annabelle Jerry got their face and hands painted at the 13th Annual Bluejay Blast on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Annabelle said she couldn’t smile because it would ruin the picture being painted.

Bluejay Blast provides fun, supports education initiatives

The gym and cafeteria of the Waseca Intermediate School were humming with activity the morning of Saturday, April 12, for the Waseca Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) fundraiser known as the “Bluejay Blast.” More than 350 people attended and around $25,000 was raised. Among the first sights...

Lawyer Emily Loomis has rediscovered her appreciation for the small-town lifestyle since joining local law firm Patton, Hoversten and Berg. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

PHB’s Lawyer Emily Loomis

Emily Loomis, a lawyer with Patton, Hoversten and Berg (PHB) in Waseca, changed the course of her college training from criminology to law after learning a shortage of quality lawyers in the U.S. reduces people’s access to justice. When she finished an undergraduate degree at the University of...

Waseca High School seniors Lexi Kanewischer (left) and Sophie Chawra will be taking part in national-level competition at the Business Professionals of America convention in Orlando, Florida, from May 7 to 11. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Two Waseca seniors headed to national business competition

Waseca High School seniors Sophie Chawra and Lexi Kanewischer both earned a trip to compete at the Business Professionals of America (BPA) national leadership convention set for May 7 to 11 in Orlando, Florida after placing well enough in state competition in early March. The two advanced to...

The back wall of the building at 115 South State Street in Waseca fell in two sections at about 1:15 the afternoon of Wednesday, April 2. No one was injured; tenants have been helped in finding temporary housing. Pioneer photo by Eli Lutgens

Back wall of 115 S. State Street falls, displaces tenants

The back wall of an apartment building located at 115 South State Street in Waseca collapsed between 1 p.m. and 1:17 p.m. Wednesday, April 2. There were no injuries reported; power and gas were turned off that same day. First responders answered the call at 1:15 p.m. Waseca Police Chief Kris...

Local artist Robin Warburton has two especially large projects underway. Especially known for her lifelike sculptures of birds, she estimates she has completed close to 400 so far. Photo by Deb Bently

Artist Robin Warburton takes on two special projects

Janesville area artist Robin Warburton has shown her sculptures in the Waseca Art Center and consistently has her work on display in galleries around Minnesota and even in Branson, Missouri. She estimates she has created well over 300 sculptures of birds in sizes ranging from hummingbirds to...

Janesville area farmer Todd Selvik shared information about raising pigs with third-graders who attend Waseca schools during the April 1 "Ag in the Schools" event at Hartley Elementary.

“Ag in the Schools” lives up to its name

“If you ask a child where milk comes from, the answer will probably be ‘from the grocery store,’” observes Vicky Singlestad, organizer of a local annual program known as “Ag in the Schools.” On Tuesday, April 1, nearly 150 Waseca area third-graders from Sacred Heart, Team Academy and Hartley...

The card game Bridge has provided a decades-long network of support--and hours of good-spirited ribbing--for this group of Waseca ladies. They are (front, from left) MaryAnn Madel, Jacque Storby, (standing, from left) Wilda Smith, Cookie Rausch, and Phoebe Praxl. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Card sessions “bridge” changes

When Wilda and Keith Smith and their family moved to Waseca 45 years ago, Betty McIntire, who operated the drug store with her husband Homer at the time, pulled aside an out-of-town visitor who had stopped to ask for directions. “There’s something I have to ask you about Wilda,” Betty said with...