News

NEVER IDLE - Well-known Waseca fisherman José Niño walks six to seven miles a day enjoying being outside. Between stops to throw a line in, he takes the time to pick up trash and collect odds and ends. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Walking, fishing and finding things

José Niño has no patience for inactivity; one way he “rests up" from a day at work is to go for a walk. But he doesn’t go alone–he always takes his fishing pole. Daily, and sometimes more than once a day as long as the weather allows, he makes his way around Clear Lake, stopping to fish at...

Local elections taking shape in 2026

County offices which will be on area ballots Nov. 3 include the sheriff, county attorney, and three of the five commissioners. With filing for the offices closed on June 2, Waseca County voters now know that county sheriff Jay Dulas and county attorney Rachel Cornelius are running unopposed...

STEERING THE FUTURE - Members of the Waseca Farmers' Market steering committee are (from left) Amanda Riehm, Kari Wadd, Mairaid Orrie, Lindsey McCarty, and Cathy Klein.

Waseca Farmers' Market moves to new level

“We have an especially nice farmers market in Waseca,” observes Amanda Riehm. “We have gotten very big, with as many as 60 vendors at a time.” The market gathers on the county fairgrounds facing Eighth Avenue Northeast every Saturday morning from mid-May to mid-October, except during the county...

Waldorf may be raising water rates

The Waldorf city council meeting took place in the evening of Monday, June 8. Council members were informed nearly $2,000 worth of water bills went unpaid for the month. A $10 water base rate increase is being considered. A $10 sewer base rate increase is being considered. A $25 sewer...

Kaitlyn Schoenfeld displayed two of her family's chickens and a cow at the Waseca County Farm Bureau's Taste of the Farm event at the fairgrounds on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.

Taste of the Farm hits Waseca fairgrounds

Thanks to the Waseca County Farm Bureau (WCFB), a “Taste of the Farm” event took place at the county fairgrounds the evening of Tuesday, June 9. There were animals, vendors, food, and entertainment, all at no charge to the hundreds of visitors who attended. Mary Jo Schoenfeld, WCFB office...

ADVENTURE ON THE WILD SIDE - Dawson, 3, and Dalton, 1, were willing to be in a photo to show just how tall the "Wild Adventure" elephant was on June 8. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

One-day display is “Wild Adventure”

Four large trucks, five employees, and a whole lot of larger-than-life statuary–much of it animated–filled a significant part of the Bomgaars parking lot from 2 to 7 p.m. on Monday, June 8. Event manager Treyton Cole explained the “Wild Adventures” display is sponsored by I Heart Cookies, a...

HUNGRY? - Sacred Heart Catholic Daughters of America were volunteering their time at the salad luncheon on Thursday, June 11, 2026. Pictured from left: Deb Perreault, Deb Wobschall, Connie Ockwig, Pat Foley, Pam Fossum, Joanne Earle, Becky Petsinger, and Lori Mickelson.

Sacred Heart Salad Luncheon serves all

The Catholic Daughters of America held their annual salad luncheon in the Sacred Heart Church basement on Thursday, June 11. Held in June every year, this will be the 15th time these ladies have held their event; they saw a little over 70 guests through their doors. Pat Foley was the lady...

Letter to the Editor: Flag research continues

We’re delighted by the community’s interest in the 48-star flag and by the photographs, memories, and research leads people have already shared. Since the flag was found at Hodgson Hall, WCHS has invited the public to help piece together its story, and that research continues. Many differing...

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Waseca graduates 137 on Sunday

Resilient, determined, athletic, musical and talented are the words Waseca High School’s senior class president Paige Dufault chose to describe the past 13 years of the seniors’ lives as they sat for graduation on Sunday, June 7. The motto selected by the 137 members of the Class of 2026...

SUNNIE FUN - Brantley Swanson, with the help of his mother Alyssa, caught a fish during the Take a Kid Fishing event at Clear Lake Park on Saturday, June 6, 2026. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

Third annual Take a Kid Fishing event draws "capacity" crowd

Saturday’s weather was made to order for the Waseca Lakes Association’s Take a Kid Fishing event at the Clear Lake fishing pier on Saturday, June 6. The wind was even nice enough to back off a little long enough to give plenty of prizes away and hopefully allow young anglers to take a few...