News

SMOOTH TUNES - The Dan Duffy Orchestra out of Mankato played some smooth crooner music at the Indian Island Winery on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

Dan Duffy croons at Indian Island Winery

The sun was setting and clouds were rolling in as the five members of the Dan Duffy Orchestra unloaded their vehicles and carried their instruments into the Indian Island Winery on Friday, Oct. 23. There was a chilly wind blowing in off the fields as the doors closed behind them and their setup...

Delphine Farley faced and survived cancer in 2010. Mother of 4, grandmother to 12 and great-grandmother to 8, Delphine loves spending time with her family, including Cooper, pictured here. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Cancer survivors encourage regular mammograms

Waseca area breast cancer survivors Delphine Farley, 81, and Angie Bohannon, a 1996 Waseca High School graduate, have two very different stories, but at least one very emphatic shared take-away: Women should not skip their annual mammogram. “They’re uncomfortable, and nobody likes...

County garage experiences significant rain damage

Waseca County Highway Engineer Jim Kollar reported to county commissioners during the Oct. 20 meeting that significant damage to the county garage on Fifth Street SE in Waseca occurred when preventive measures left in place by a roofing contractor failed and a 1-inch rain drenched the interior of...

50 YEARS OF CREATIVE ENERGY - The Waseca Art Center's Great Fall Get Together celebrated the organization's 50-year milestone at Waseca's Starfire Event Center on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. Pictured from left: WAC President Mikhail Rostislavovich, Monica Priebe, Ann Johannsen, Tara Bjerke, and Molly Hendrickson. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

Great Fall Get Together celebrates 50 year milestone

The Waseca Art Center’s Great Fall Get Together held at the Starfire Event Center the evening of Oct. 24 included an expression of gratitude to four volunteers who have made important contributions to the Art Center (WAC) and its programs. They saw over 200 partygoers through their doors. ...

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE - Sergeant First Class Miranda Rewe and Staff Sergeant Nate Engel were representatives on behalf of the United States Army, which was one of many agencies meeting with students and answering questions during the Waseca College and Job Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

Event gives high schoolers a glimpse of the future

About 140 Waseca area high school students had a look at various options for the future during the Waseca College and Career Fair held at the Mill the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 20. The event was organized by the Workforce Development Committee of the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership...

City determines assessments for Second Street project

During the regular Waseca city council meeting the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 20, Nate Willey, Waseca city engineer, summarized financial information regarding the Second Street NW reconstruction project which took place this past summer. As of September 11, the total project cost was $5.2 million...

School board looks at child care, trimester changes

October is National Principals’ Month, recognizing the important role school leaders play in supporting students, staff and school communities. At its Oct. 22 meeting, the Waseca School Board received updates from Superintendent Eric Hudspith on the district’s developing childcare plan and...

Hearing to address proposed changes to county tobacco retail laws

The Waseca County Board of Commissioners will be considering revisions to Tobacco Retailer Ordinance #73 that governs the regulation of tobacco related products. Minnesota Statutes 2025, section 461.19, subdivision 3 requires that the governing body provide notice to the public prior to the...

VISUAL TRAP - This roadway in Waseca County provides an example of a “visual trap.” An unfamiliar driver could easily believe this road continues straight ahead, but the hill is concealing a curve. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Roadway planning session examines statistics, local experience

Interested and invested parties were invited to a three-hour session which addressed the process of updating Waseca County’s “County Roadway Safety Plan” the afternoon of Oct. 6. Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Transportation and from the Twin Cities company SRF Consulting met...

Law enforcement, leaders, share local roadway concerns

During an Oct. 6 session which addressed safety on Waseca County roadways, local leaders and law enforcement officers were asked for their input regarding traffic and driver behavior, and how changes in signage, lighting, or road construction might be used to reduce driver errors. Session leader...