News

REHEARSAL - Waseca high school one act play performers bottom row, from left: Allen Kopetzki, Cody Sieberg, Katelyn Robeck, Kylie Snow, Chelsea Richardson, and Thyme Lang. Middle: Sadie Schimming, Branden Busse, Sophie Farris, Lindsey Kopetzki, and Quinn Dahle. Back: Ava Norland, Arianna Krogseng, Nathaniel Andrs, Mason Wadd, and Cejay Pickett. Pioneer photo by Michael Roy

Succeed without really trying

With about a month of work put into rehearsing, the Waseca High School is presenting its one-act play How to Succeed in High School Without Really Trying in the school Performing Arts Center Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. In addition to giving public performances, the crew...

On behalf of Sacred Heart School, principal Chris Dahle accepts a donation for $8,000 from VFW commander Blaine Brooks. The donation was presented during the VFW’s Nov. 18 fish fry.

VFW donates $8,000 to Sacred Heart for Smart Boards

Sacred Heart Catholic School received a donation of $8,000 from the Waseca VFW to purchase two smart boards on Nov. 18, 2022. Sacred Heart Principal Chris Dahle was at a loss for words to express how thankful he was for the donation. “We are very thankful to them,” he said. The VFW’s gift...

Waseca County Sheriff Jay Dulas

Chief deputy decision not final

The Waseca County Sheriff's Dept. is in the process of filling the chief deputy position left open by the departure of Trevor Kanewischer, who held the post for the past 10 years. Recently elected and installed Sheriff Jay Dulas reached out to New Richland City Administrator and former chief of...

Practitioner Hua Zhu demonstrates “cupping” and acupuncture techniques on a volunteer. Hua has been offering her services to Wasecans for more than two decades.

Making a point

Acupuncturist Hua Zhu tells of a saying in Chinese medicine: “Everyone has a pharmacy inside his or her body; acupuncture is a key that opens the pharmacy’s door.” She explains that, in traditional Chinese medicine, the body has fourteen “meridians,” or “energy highways” that allow energy–the Qi...

SAFETY - MnDOT snowplow driver Adam Wacholz frequently puts in long hours to keep his section of I-35 clear and open. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Heart-racing moments

“I enjoy being out here when it’s crappy,” declares Adam Wacholz, snow plow driver with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), based out of Albert Lea. The 37-year-old Hollandale resident has had the job for the past 9 years, and has acquired an interesting collection of experiences...

ONLY HUMAN - MnDOT spokesman Mike Dougherty wants the public to know that snow plow drivers are giving their all to do a difficult job.

Time and effort

Mike Dougherty recognizes that it’s frustrating to have to slow down in bad weather conditions. But he points out that it’s even more frustrating to end up in the ditch. “You’ll get there faster driving safely,” he says. A spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT),...

More than 100 booths offered chances for Waseca area residents and travelers to buy, sell, or trade fire arms, or assorted blades at the Mill Event Center in Waseca on Jan. 6 and 7.

Crocodile gun show

For two days, Crocodile Productions held a Gun and Knife Show at the Mill. The show began Friday, Jan. 6 from 4-8 p.m. and resumed the following day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It was the first-ever gun and knife show for the organization. Over 100 booths offered chances to buy, trade, and sell...

OATH - In slightly anticlimactic fashion, school board members Dave Dunn, Julie Anderson, Charlie Priebe and new member Theron Kruger, took their oaths of office by reading aloud from a sheet of paper on January 5, 2023. Pioneer photo by Eli Lutgens

Ready for 2023

New Waseca school board member Theron Kruger was sworn in at the board’s January 5 organizational meeting. Alyssa Bowers, the other new member, was not present. School board chair Julie Anderson led the process of election of officers through school board policies 202 and 209, which can be found...

New Waseca city council sworn in

Waseca city council members Daren Arndt, Jeremy Conrath, and James Ebertowski were sworn in Tuesday, January 3. Mayor-elect Randy Zimmerman was not present, so after being selected unanimously, Jeremy Conrath took over mayoral duties for the meeting. The main topic of discussion was the...

Representing the City of Janesville the next two years will be, from left, Andy Ahlman, Ivan Maas, Mayor Andy Arnoldt, Jim Mulcahey, and Melissa Kopachek. Pioneer photo by Michael Roy

County to help with Lakeview park project

By MICHAEL ROY Editor The Janesville Council swore in two members and the mayor at its Monday, January 9 meeting: incumbent Melissa Kopachek, incumbent Mayor Andy Arnoldt, and new council member Ivan Maas. Kopachek and Maas beat out Daniel Frenk for the two open seats, while Arnoldt was left...