News

ON SCENE - Janesville Fire Chief Mike Santo downtown where a black Kia Forte went over the curb and crashed between Gidgets and the post office.

Pioneer Photo by Michael Roy

One injured in Janesville shooting

Following a drive-by shooting on Main Street in Janesville about 3 p.m. Tuesday, a man in his 20s is in stable condition after being treated for a gunshot wound to the back. Two men are in custody at the Waseca County Jail awaiting criminal charges, likely for attempted murder and aiding and...

Matthew Feldkamp, right, was named 2022 Premier Showmanship Champion during the Waseca County Free Fair. Karley Hamilton, left, was this year’s reserve champion.

Pioneer photo by Tristan Jensen

The pinnacle of Waseca 4-H

By TRISTAN JENSEN Staff Writer The pinnacle of the Waseca County Fair’s 4H Livestock Showmanship category is the Premier Showmanship event, in which the champions and reserve champions who showed each livestock species compete to become the champion of champions. This year, the announcers...

It’s a derby, not a dance party

There was a sellout crowd at Waseca County Fair Grandstand Friday, July 15 as cars, trucks, and minivans went to battle at the demolition derby. This event only required a small section of the track, which the fairgrounds crew muddied up for the night’s action. The derby had an array of prizes...

Waseca Music owner Jim Kozan stands proudly in an aisle filled with vinyl records. The business has been in the Kozan family since 1952, with Jim taking ownership in 2006.

Pioneer photo by Jessica Lutgens

A ‘Kozy’ time

By JESSICA LUTGENS Staff Writer Jim Kozan is a name that most Wasecans are quite familiar with. Having lived in this town for about 60 of his 73 years, Kozan has been an important part of the community via his small business, Waseca Music Co., as well as his many music endeavors. This year...

Surrounding Magic Norm prior to his final performance on Sunday July 17, are Jaxon, Avery, and Jace Seovik; Griffin Storey; Braxton Rowe; Lilly Muff and Michael Petsinger. Pioneer photo by Eli Lutgens

143 years and still counting

It takes a lot to disrupt the Waseca County Free Fair, which has been held every year since 1879, except for three times, when it was not held because of World War II, Polio, and Covid. This year’s celebration began Saturday, July 9 with the 4H dog shows and ended Sunday, July 17 with a grand...

The 4H dog showmanship, obedience, and rally show began at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 9 in the 4H building at the Waseca Fairgrounds. Handlers Sarah Fredericks, McKinsy Rew, and Mattea Dann are shown above.

Obedient dogs at Waseca fairgrounds

July 9 brought a bright morning and many beautiful dogs as the 4H Dog Showmanship, Obedience, and Rally Show began at 9 a.m. Gathered in the 4H building at the Waseca County Fairgrounds were handlers from middle- and high-school levels, along with the dogs they have been working to train. Three...

Johnny Griggs shows off his Green Bay Packers cap. Pioneer photo by Michael Roy

Dueling Pianos at Indian Island Winery

What do you get when you combine one pianist from Minnesota and another from Wisconsin? A talented duo who shows their musical prowess interspersed with comedic relief. That’s what the duo Crazy Keys Dueling Pianos brought to the Indian Island Winery in rural Janesville on Saturday afternoon....

Pastor Keith Bilitz served as pastor for 21 years at St. John and Trinity Evangelical Lutheran churches. Pioneer photo by Jonah Stafford

Bilitz retires after 21 years

After 21 years of service in the Waseca County area, Pastor Keith Bilitz of St. John and Trinity Ev. Lutheran churches has retired, with his last service having taken place Sunday, May 22. While “some pastors go longer,” Bilitz said, he chose to retire at 65 due to the stress of the Covid-19...

Mayor Rob Wilkening presented Airianna Knuteson with the “Mayor of the Day’ award prior to the Waldorf City Council meeting Monday, July 11. From left Amanda Petersen, Mayor Wilkening, Arianna Knuteson, and Alex Ahrendt

Pioneer photo by Amelia Roessler

Knuteson named mayor of the day

As 15-year-old Airianna Knuteson called the July 11 Waldorf City Council meeting to its close, her term as “Mayor of the Day” ended. It had begun only a few hours earlier when she and her family had dinner with the town’s actual mayor, Rob Wilkening. During the meal, Wilkening and Knuteson...

Performing and attending a Back Alley Concert at Barden’s Bar were: Molly Byron (Waseca Chamber of Commerce), Jim Kozan, Louisa Byron, Mick Barrens, Jerome Broughton, John Lucca and Marty Buum. Pioneer photo by Jessica Lutgens

Los Tequileros band performs outdoor concert at Barden’s Bar July 1

“Friday was like an all-school reunion and memory lane all in one,” said Craig Schuster, one of the hundreds of attendees at the second annual Back Alley Concert hosted by Barden’s Bar in Waseca. “I didn’t want to go home.” The Friday, July 1 event, was held outdoors with picnic tables where...