News

Preliminary levy set to 13.3 percent

At its Monday, September 12, meeting, the City of Janesville successfully lowered its preliminary tax levy from its initially anticipated 22 percent increase down to 13.3 percent. During a previous meeting, council members had directed city staff to reduce the levy increase to between twelve and...

Wishing Waldorf City Clerk DeeAnn Britton farewell during her final council meeting were council members, from left: Kevin Lines, Mayor Rob Wilkening, Jay Longeneker, Clerk Britton, Carrie Ferch and Melissa Sorbo.

Fond farewell

Someone in the Waldorf City Council must enjoy the TV show “The Office” because, for the second time in three months, there was cake for everyone in attendance Monday night, September 12, at the community center. Or, more likely, DeeAnn Britton is well loved and highly regarded, since both...

Indie Hughes admires the trophy her sister Violet took home during the 4th annual Freemasons Soapbox races.

Soapbox smiles

“Good American, clean fun,” Kevin Clemons said at the fourth annual Waseca Masonic Lodge Soapbox races. Normally an August event, the races had been delayed to September 10 because of rain, and barely escaped yet another delay, with spotty rain and threatening clouds throughout the first part...

Second home

Joe Fritz has owned a house in Waseca for a long time, but he has also had a “second home” for the past 35 years: the Waseca Bluejays marching band. Fritz started out in St. Cloud at the city’s Cathedral High School, then moved to St. Cloud State for the first two years of schooling, taking...

LEARNING TOGETHER: A group of Can Do Canines participants at Waseca's Federal Correctional Institution just prior to the dogs' graduation.

Service dogs in training at FCI

What’s one way to begin a service dog’s training? Send it to prison. Can Do Canines, the largest provider of assistance dogs in Minnesota, has partnered with the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Waseca since 2011 to provide the first phase of training for twelve of its dogs at a time....

VOLUNTEERS — Among the many volunteers at the St. Ann Fall Festival this past weekend were, from left, Mary Wickenhauser, and Ben, Tim, and Kristi Burns.

A lively time

It was a beautiful weekend for St. Ann Catholic Church in Janesville to hold its annual St. Ann Fall Festival. Although it was a little chilly and wet for the golf tournament at Prairie Ridge Golf Course on Friday, September 9, Mother Nature provided great weather for the rest of the festival....

Commissioners discuss ditches, bridges

A laundry list of regular items was approved during the first meeting of the Waseca County Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning, September 6. County board minutes for five meetings from May 17, 2022 through June 21, 2022 were approved. Petitioners Jones, Haugh and Smith Inc, received...

CONSTITUTION WEEK — Representing the Daughters of the American Revolution at the September 6 Waseca City Council meeting were, from left, Angie Sipe, Susan Jirele, and Marilyn Wilkus. Pictured with them is Mayor Roy Srp.

Light agenda, light hearts

A genuinely light-hearted regular city council meeting occurred in Waseca Tuesday evening. The gathering included a proclamation from Mayor Srp, in addition to his announcement of his “long goodbye” as he is not seeking reelection. Also mentioned in the meeting were a birth announcement, a...

Clemons appointed to fill seat

John Clemons was unanimously approved to fill the open Ward 1 seat during a special meeting of the Waseca City Council Wednesday, September 7. Clemons will hold the position until after the November election, at which time he will yield it to the winner, who will finish out the two-year vacancy...

Grand Marshals Dunn and Bohm

“This was a complete surprise to me. I got that letter in the mail, and I thought it was for a meeting or something. I was never expecting this,” says Gary Bohm. He and Dave Dunn will be riding in the Grand Marshal seat of honor for this year’s 35th Waseca Marching Classic parade, set to begin at...