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BUSINESS WINNER - A multi-business hub to be called "Studio Row" planned by Jakob Lerhke, pictured with his family in front of his business site, was selected to receive the Janesville Economic Development Authority's $20,000 "New Business Challenge" grant for 2026. Along with the grant, he will receive 250 business cards. Photo by Katelynne Kratz
Thanks to the Janesville Economic Development Authority, (EDA) the Janesville Business Challenge for 2026 has been completed. The winner of the $20,000 business grant was announced during the July 8 Janesville city council meeting: Jakob Lehrke, who is planning a multi-business retail hub “Studio...
MUSIC CELEBRATION - This photo from the archives of the Waseca County Historical Society shows a band on the Teen Canteen stage during the City of Waseca 100-year anniversary celebration in 1968. Photo courtesy of Waseca County Historical Society
Waseca musician Jim Kozan remembers being among as many as 400 area youth who would attend “Teen Canteen” dances held during the 1960s and ‘70s in Waseca.
The Canteens existed prior to the beginning of Sheriff Don Eustice’s tenure from 1967 to 1976, but area residents who attended the...
FUTURE FUN - Members of First Lutheran Church of Waldorf put together a meal served in exchange for free-will donations. At least 100 people attended; funds received are designated for the new all-accessible play equipment being installed at the city park this week. Servers for the meal included (from left) Jean Groskreutz, Sue Kipp, Melinda Flemming, Marlys Nelson, Donny Behrns, Cheryl Dobberstein, Neil Groskreutz and Missy Sorbo. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently
New all-accessible equipment including a central play structure, a merry-go-round, swings, see-saw, log crawl tunnel and fire engine and tractor ride-ons is being installed this week at the Waldorf City Park; installation began on Aug. 4.
With the addition of funds from a fundraiser meal...
Dwight Tostenson says that, in exchange for a one-time investment of $11,300, he can save taxpayers up to $64,000 a year. In fact, he’s doing it already–by bringing The Redemption Project (TRP) to inmates at state and federal prisons and vastly reducing the number of them who return to...
RACE TO THE FINISH - Area youngsters who choose to take part in the Waseca Freemasons’ Soap Box race on Aug. 15 will be able to select one of the 11 unpowered cars the organization keeps for the event. Winners in the various Soap Box Race classes receive trophies donated by area resident Mark Wolff. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently
“It’s contagious,” declares Kevin Clemons. “When that switch goes down and those cars start rolling, the kids are smiling from ear to ear.
“And their parents are standing by watching, also with big smiles on their faces.
“It’s good, clean, family fun.”
The Waseca Freemasons are...
KEEPING UP TRADITION - 5415- The 47th annual Sweetheart (Sweathard) Bike Ride departed from the Northridge Plaza next to the McDonald's on Saturday morning, Aug. 1, 2026. Pictured from left: Mark Rasmussen, Bryan and Bruce Boyce, Bob Schwarz, and Douglas Engstrom. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann
Bryan Boyce sent out an email mid-July alerting people of the 47th Annual Sweetheart, (Sweathard) Bike Ride. The departure was from the Northridge Plaza next to McDonald’s and unlike last year’s pouring rain and lightning, this year on Saturday, Aug. 1 it was cloudy, but the forecast was rain...
The recent Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) and Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL) installation project at the Waseca Municipal Airport is nearing completion. Airport manager Brent Langer said, “They did everything but finish the earthworks, seeding and some landscaping. They also have...
GENERATIONAL TRADITION - In attendance at the outdoor mission festival on Aug. 2 were about 50 people from as many as four generations. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently
About 50 people gathered in a grove north of Waldorf on Sunday, Aug. 2, for an outdoor “mission festival” which has been a tradition at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Freedom Township for generations. Patterned after gatherings which began in a time before many area congregations had permanent...
Matt Holland, owner of Holland Agriculture in Ellendale, says he is pleased with his choice to hire 23 workers from South Africa through the H2A Agency of the US Department of Labor. "It's been great so far. These guys work so hard, they’ve been amazing.”
He said the workers started...
GRADING AND LEVELING-A lot of earth is being moved at the site of 17 lots in the City of Waseca’s Clearwater Preserve subdivision. Some locations will be as much as five feet higher than they were before excavating began. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently
A lot of earth has been moving lately at the phase 1 area of the Clearwater Preserve subdivision near Gaiter Lake at Waseca’s southeastern edge.
The city council approved a $1.5 million contract last September with W. Lorentz & Sons Construction out of Mankato. Work began in April, with...
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