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FULL FAMILIES - The Women of the Word at Christ the King Lutheran in Waseca held their annual potato bar and chili feed on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. Pictured from left: Eli and Keeva Rosenau, Mary Shemonek, Dianne Munson, Carol Thor, Alice Siems, Linda Henslin, Wendy Mann, Karen Nev, Beverly Ishimaru, Peg Olson, Deb VanderHorst, Marilyn Wilkus, Linda Jenzen, and Frank Schemonek. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

Christ the King’s baked potato bar gaining steam

Christ the King Lutheran Church in Waseca held its annual Baked Potato and Chili Feed in the church basement the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 7. Beverly Ishimaru, wife to Pastor Eric Ishimaru said, “Of the potatoes we’ve prepared, so far we’ve used 119. After we covered all costs, we were also able...

A Meet Your Candidate event was held on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. Pictured from left: Waseca County Republican leaders Allison Vander Plas and Charlotte Smith, Representative Brad Finstad and host to the congressman's fundraiser, Mikhail Rostislavovich. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

Brad Finstad joins meet- and-greet at Alexander House as election nears

Area residents were invited to visit with Minnesota’s First District U.S. Congressional Representative Brad Finstad during a “meet and greet” event hosted by Mikhail Rostislavovich at Alexander House the evening of Monday, Oct. 5. Former Minnesota House Representatives John Petersburg and...

Applications now open for opioid settlement grants

About $75,000 in grants will be available in 2027 to Waseca County groups whose proposals are selected by the county Opioid Advisory Council, a group of county staff members and interested citizens who have volunteered to administer funds the county receives under a lawsuit against pharmaceutical...

FALL FUN - The Farmamerica Fall Festival on Oct. 17 will fea-ture a variety of activities for kids.

Fall Festival to unite learning, fun Oct. 17

The Farmamerica Fall Festival, set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 17, is adding a range of new features to augment the activities which are traditions for the event, according to program coordinator Kari Wadd. The $10 admission fee includes a pumpkin for each child, which can be painted on...

Bethlehem Inn receives $42,000 in aid

Waseca County appropriated $42,000 in “homelessness prevention aid” to Bethlehem Inn shelter in Waseca during the Oct. 6 county board meeting. Bethlehem Inn program administrator Sue McIntosh and shelter manager Angie Alvarez told commissioners that the shelter is supported entirely by grants and...

Waseca City Council holds on nuisance law

During their meeting the evening of Oct. 6, Waseca city council members heard from city attorney Chris Kennedy regarding a proposed “repeat nuisance call” ordinance. As reported in a previous Pioneer article, the possibility of a nuisance law was proposed in August by city manager Carl Sonnenberg...

HELPING GROWTH - Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center director Cindy Kolander, center, shows off the "Community Builder" plaque presented to the Center for its role in bringing people together. Presenting the acknowledgement are Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) representatives Marcia Haley, Benja Kraus, SMIF board member Ann Staloch, and Katie Godfrey Demmer. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

SMIF acknowledges ‘Community Builders’

Representatives from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) spent the morning of Oct. 1 acknowledging eight area businesses and organizations for their roles as “community builders,” that is, for providing services and opportunities that help individuals, especially children, grow,...

BEERS, BRATS, BUSY - Valeska Melchert and Emily Meyer were busy keeping 300 brats moving. Pioneer photos by Ben Revermann

Area bars go to great lengths for ‘Beers and Brats’

Business owner Shane Wendland, owner of Barden's Bar in Waseca, dined with some of his customers during Waseca’s annual “Beers and Brats” night on Thursday, Oct. 1. He recalls being present at the inaugural launch of the event back in 1975. With seven taverns taking part, Beers and Brats turned...

Waseca board looks into ‘Learning for All’

At their Oct. 1 work session, members of the Waseca school board took a closer look at one of the key areas of the district’s strategic plan: “Learning for All.” Superintendent Eric Hudspith introduced the evening’s discussion alongside Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) coordinator...

VISITING AG - Home-schooled children were able to learn about agriculture in Minnesota recently as Farmamerica opened up for student visits. Whole families tended to visit together: here some children enjoy a display on the 1850s farmstead. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Farmamerica welcomes about 500 children, prepares for Fall Festival

About 500 children visited Farmamerica across Sept. 29 and 30 as the facility opened its doors to families who homeschool their children, and then about 160 students from the New Ulm school district. The facility offers educational tours of this type during the warmer months of the year,...