News

Veterans who are residents at Latham Place and Lakeshore Rehabilitation Center were honored during a brief gathering on Saturday, May 25.

Veterans honored during ceremonies at care facilities

Veterans at Waseca’s care facilities were honored before Memorial Day with flags, flag pins, poppies, and a round of applause. On May 20, veterans living at Colony Court were recognized. Flags were presented to Veston Carter, Albert Denn, Galen Ewest, Paul Matthews, Richard Olsen, Cliff Strand...

Members of the Ann Hagen family

Together, one more time

As light rain fell, tears flowed freely among a large crowd of parishioners and guests gathering for the final time at New Richland’s First Congregational Church on Sunday, May 26, 2024. The final service of the 142-year-old institution was in no way rushed. The longest-serving pastor in the...

Waseca Exchange Club President Mikhail Rostislavovich holds the "Law Enforcement Officer of the Year" award presented to Waseca Police Chief Penny Vought (center), who has been a member of the Waseca Police Department since 1984. Vought received the award during a not-quite-a-surprise celebration on May 15. Joining them in the photo are members of the Waseca Exchange Club

Vought named officer of the year

In a gathering on May 15 which was meant to be a surprise, the Waseca Exchange Club presented Waseca Chief of Police Penny Vought with its 2024 “Law Enforcement Officer of the Year” award. Pointing out good-naturedly that she has performed detective work for the past 40 years, Vought commented...

Erin Kleve, Doctor of Nursing Practice, brought various pieces of medical equipment to the career fair. Here, two students test out a stethoscope.

Waseca career fair

A number of local businesses part in the Career Fair at the hockey arena near the Waseca High School on Tuesday, May 14. The purpose was to educate high school students in grades ten to twelve about local opportunities; each business informed students about what to expect during a typical workday...

Distinguished Air Force officer and Waseca native Col. Abraham Jackson will be speaking at Waseca's Memorial Day service.

Memorial Day program centers on remembrance

The Waseca Memorial Day Association is hosting its annual ceremony in honor of deceased veterans on Monday, May 27. Weather permitting, the program will be at 9 a.m. on the south courthouse lawn; those desiring seating are advised to bring chairs. If it rains that morning, events will be in the...

Staffing update provided during short meeting

At the Waseca school board’s brief business meeting on May 16, Superintendent Eric Hudspith gave updates regarding staffing for fall and the 2024-25 operational budget, saying that things look on track to meet the needs of students and that the preliminary budget would be brought to the board in...

Staff members and friends at the Waseca Intermediate School were among those who dressed in green to call attention to the importance of maintaining mental health

"Green Out" day builds mental health awareness

May has been designated “Mental Health Awareness Month” by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, a not-for-profit organization based in Washington D.C. Many local governments affirm this observance by making local declarations. The Waseca County Board of Commissioners also joined in naming...

Free resource offers answers, guidance

The Minnesota Alliance of Prairie Counties, often referred to as MNPrairie, is a human services agency which serves residents in Dodge, Steele, and Waseca counties. MNPrairie has made the on-line resource “CredibleMind” available for all Waseca County residents and their families with no fees...

One vehicle accident leads to fatality

Ronald Kenneth Maas, 57, of Mapelton, was killed in a single-vehicle accident after 10 p.m. on Friday, May 17. The accident scene was southwest of Waseca in the 6000 block of County Road 9 in St Mary Township. Upon arrival that night, members of the Waseca County Sheriff’s Office made contact...

New Richland’s First Congregational Church. Below, Pastor Pamela Jensen.

Very soon, it will all be history

Almost every Sunday since 1882, there has been some sort of activity at First Congregational Church in New Richland. It has been said that if you step into the building and listen closely enough, you can almost hear the echoes of countless worship services, weddings, receptions, funerals,...