News

Deb Hogenson takes a picture with Gov. Tim Walz.

Local DFL leader honored with award

Waseca County DFL Chair Deb Hogenson has been selected to receive the 2026 Minnesota DFL Orville Freeman Award, an honor which acknowledges “Distinguished Service to Greater Minnesota and Agricultural Issues.” Hoganson and two other honorees will be presented at the DFL Farmer-Labor Picnic...

FAMILY GALLERY - Art produced by Wes and James Taylor, father and son, will be on display at the Waseca Art Gallery through Oct. 9. An artists' reception was held on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. After a brief explanation of the craft, guests were invited to mingle with the photographers and enjoy refreshments in the Tea Room. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

Waseca Art Gallery exhibit shows father and son photographers

A Sept. 12 open house at the Waseca Art Center introduced a pair of new exhibits at the Waseca Art Center (WAC). Titled “Generational Confluence IV,” the exhibits feature photography by Wes Taylor, 57, an instructor at Mankato’s South Central Community College, and his son James Wesley Taylor,...

FAMILY FIRST - Five of the nine children of Don and Esther Eustice were able to attend a ceremony marking the fiftieth anniversary of Don Eustice's death. The ceremony took place next to the Eustice memorial plaque that stands next to the county law enforcement building. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Don Eustice honored in memorial ceremony

At noon on Friday, Sept. 4, the Waseca County Sheriff’s office sponsored an “End of Watch” memorial for Don Eustice, a Waseca County Sheriff who was shot and killed in the line of duty on Sept 4, 1976–50 years ago. About 50 people attended, including 5 of Eustice’s offspring and quite a few...

Ben Priebe during a visit to the 9/11 Memorial in Washington D.C.

9/11 Birthday is profound for local pilot

Waseca-based airline pilot Benjamin Priebe will turn 25 on September 11. “From a young age, I knew the significance of the day and what it meant to Americans,” he reflects. “I always knew 9/11 was much more than my birthday. “I remember growing up watching the morning news on my...

City’s new ladder truck to be shown at state conference

During the Sept. 1 meeting of the Waseca city council, fire chief Jason Forshee shared information about an opportunity to showcase the new fire ladder truck 523 at the Minnesota State Fire Chief’s Association conference in Duluth from Oct. 14 to 17. He told council members that, iIf there is an...

PLANT, STEP - Marching Band Teacher Devon Lawrence and drum major Colby Hoof were directing the Waseca Marching Jays at the Minnesota State Fair Parade on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. Pioneer photo by Jessica Revermann

Marching Jays overcome heat, distraction during Minnesota state fair

The Waseca Marching Jays were part of a competitive parade at the Minnesota State Fair on Sunday, Aug. 30. Besides the drum marching cadence, or “street beat” that was played during music down time, the students played the song, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston. Devon...

AWARENESS ADVOCACY - Heather Clark is pictured here with her daughters Vienna (left) and Zella. Clark is one of six people who advocated to have September named as "Recovery Awareness Month" in Waseca County in parallel with the national proclamation. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Area resident encourages others to join on a recovery journey

“I slept in her crib every night she was gone,” Heather Clark says of the time her daughter Vienna, then 4 months old, was taken from her household by child protection services. “But even that didn’t get me to change.” Clark, 22, has been a Waseca area resident for the past two years. She...

Katie Gonzales honored by Marching Classic

The Waseca Marching Classic has named State Farm Insurance Agent Katie Gonzales as this year’s “Friend of the Classic.” Now in its 39th year, Waseca’s annual band extravaganza is set for Sept. 19, with a parade through downtown Waseca beginning at noon and a field show at the Waseca High...

Waseca looking at change to semester schedule

At the September 3 work session, Waseca school board members heard from Area Learning Center teacher Eric Mix about his work with the pilot robotics program XRP through MSU Mankato. Mix was eager to implement robotics back into the district as there has not been an advisor for the program...

BERRY GOOD - Pat and Gordy Frisk were shopping Walter Bice's jam and jelly stand at the Waseca Farmers Market on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

Bice household offers variety of homemade spreads

It was foggy, yet pleasantly cool at the Waseca Farmers Market on Saturday, Sept. 5. There were low hanging clouds and high spirits, and that’s where Walter Bice comes in. Since 2012, Bice has been selling at the Waseca market: “I originally came from Faribault, but I grew up in Shieldsville,...