News

A piece of history

A piece of Waseca County history that spent decades out of the public eye is now the centerpiece of the Waseca County Historical Society’s newest presentation, “48 Stars: Then and Now.” This exhibit pairs historic black-and-white photographs of the 36-foot by 19-foot 48-star flag recently...

Charlie Barnes, who donated the land where the Waldorf Veterans Memorial Park is located, opened the dedication ceremony for the First Responders Memorial the morning of Saturday, Aug. 22. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

Barnes unveils First Responders Memorial

It was a beautiful and sunny day during a special dedication at the Veterans Memorial during Waldorf Days on Saturday, Aug. 22. The city unveiled a brand-new structure in the Veterans Memorial Garden under the flag poles, the First Responders memorial statue. Veteran Charlie Barnes opened...

A WHOLE NEW LOOK - A group of children taking part in a daycare program at the NRHEG Secondary Site take their ease in the recently remodeled student commons area. Lockers which once stood in rows have been moved against the walls of the space; the area under the skylight is now carpeted and offers inviting areas for sitting or working at tables.

Preparing for pre-Labor Day

“I can’t wait to see them talking to each other at lunchtime,” enthused school board member Terry Engel during the Aug. 17 meeting of the NRHEG school board. Engel was responding to Secondary School Principal Grant Berg’s explanation of the cell phone policy for the coming school year: “...

Braves punch ticket to state after decade absence

On to state. The third-seeded Waseca Braves upset the second-seeded Waterville Indians 5-1 at Waterville in the Region 5C championship game Friday night, earning the team's first trip to state since 2016. The Braves have taken steps over the past four seasons, improving each year, falling one...

Young drivers learn Soap Box technique

A long, downhill block of Waseca’s Fourth Street Northeast became a racetrack the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 15, as the Waseca Freemasons invited all area youth ages 8 to 15 to take part in the organization’s eighth annual soap box races. Money raised by the event is donated to local public...

Council looks into allegations of improper payment

During the Aug. 10 meeting of the Waldorf city council, city attorney Christopher Kennedy was asked to review and clarify data center ordinances, which he will present to the council for review. Kennedy was also present because it was brought to his attention there are allegations of improper...

GUEST SPEAKER - The Exchange Club met over lunch on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. Pictured from left: Josh Sorenson, outgoing Exchange Club President Mikhail Rostislavovich, guest speaker ICAN Nurse Tonya Miller, incoming President Dr. Jay Bulfer and Jen Williamson. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

ICAN nurse offers health advice at Exchange Club

The Exchange Club met over lunch on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Guest speaker for the day was ICAN Nurse, Tonya Miller. Treasurer Jeanne Sexton said there will be a VFW breakfast on behalf of the Exchange Club on Sept. 13. There will also be a Legion burger fry on Oct. 16. Jake Lieser, recent...

TREBIE TRAVELS - New Richland native Debra (Shurson) Repya read her book Trebie Gets a Passport to children at the town library. She is pictured here with her husband Joe and Trebie. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

New Richland book reading

About 35 children attended a special reading at the New Richland library the afternoon of Tuesday, Aug. 11 to hear Trebie Gets a Passport, a children’s book written by Debra Shurson Repya, a New Richland native and a 1969 graduate of the New Richland-Hartland school district. Deb and her...

County WIC agency offers breastfeeding support

Waseca County Women Infants and Children (WIC) and the Minnesota WIC Program are celebrating August as National Breastfeeding Month by reminding families to take advantage of the lactation support and education WIC provides for pregnant and breastfeeding parents. Breastfeeding includes...

Wild shows Witherspoon at her best

The movie Wild was released in 2014, this biographical drama was directed by Jean-Marc Vallee and written by Nick Hornby. It was based on the memoir “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail” written by Cheryl Strayed. The movie stars Reese Witherspoon as Strayed, a woman whose life is...