Sun Patriot

09/25/2025

Just in time for hockey season, the Waconia Ice Arena has a new Zamboni that will be grooming the ice for hockey players and skaters. Next door, Safari Island community center has a new attraction too – a sauna on the pool deck, which officials say has been very popular among members and visitors.

Just in time for hockey season, the Waconia Ice Arena has a new Zamboni that will be grooming the ice for hockey players and skaters.

09/22/2025

Waconia schools mark Homecoming this week with pep fests, dress-up days, several varsity sports events, a parade, coronation, and dance.

09/18/2025

State fair-goers not familiar with Waconia 17-year-old Aria Ingenito probably haven’t been to the Carver County Fair where she has been performing in the local talent contest the past 10 years since she was seven. This year she earned top honors at that contest and a spot in the state fair lineup, winning her way through state contest qualifying rounds during the fair to the Sunday night finals in the State Fair grandstand.

Def Leppard, Daryl Hall, Melissa Ethridge and Indigo Girls, rapper Nelly, Hank Williams Jr., and Aria Ingenito were some of the performers on the grandstand stage at the 2025 Minnesota

09/18/2025

An 85-year-old woman is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle Wednesday while crossing the street in Victoria.

An 85-year-old is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle Wednesday while crossing the street in Victoria.

09/15/2025

A few dozen Waconia High School students joined students around the nation at noon on Sept. 5 in a short school walkout over gun violence. The walkout came in the aftermath of the latest and close to home school shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis through the organization Students Demand Action.

A few dozen Waconia High School students joined students around the nation at noon on Sept. 5 in a short school walkout over gun violence.

09/15/2025

Waconia Public Schools welcomed 14 new teachers to the district as staff and students returned for the new school year.

Waconia Public Schools welcomed 14 new teachers to the district as staff and students returned for the new school year last week.

09/11/2025

Festivities begin Friday, Sept. 12, with the Nickle Dickle Eve Street Dance downtown. Saturday’s schedule features an arts and crafts fair, live music in the park, book sales and food from local restaurants and vendors in City Square Park.

The Waconia Chamber of Commerce will host the 64th annual Nickle Dickle Day on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Waconia.

09/08/2025

The needs assessment will compile demographic information (where people are living and working), trip data (how people are moving), stakeholder engagement and input, and address potential transit solutions and alternatives, such as tailored or on-demand services, and designing services where they are needed most. The assessment report also will explore transit options through existing funding and potential future funding.

Most transportation activity in Carver County in recent years has been the construction of new roadways.

09/04/2025

Marlin Hecksel started out in a small shop on his family’s farm west of Watertown doing welding and equipment repair for neighboring farmers. Sixty years later, Hecksel Machine, Inc. turns out water treatment system tanks and other fabricated equipment for customers as far away as Florida and Puerto Rico. The Watertown business, located at 609 Carter Street NE, is marking its 60th anniversary Sept. 5 with an open house from 3-7 p.m.

Marlin Hecksel started out in a small shop on his family’s farm west of Watertown doing welding and equipment repair for neighboring farmers.

08/28/2025

Zach Jacobs and Braeden Bates, both seniors from Mayer, landed a spot in the Minnesota High School muskie tournament in June fishing on Lake Waconia. This month, Aug. 8, they took second in that competition from among 14 teams fishing on Lake Vermillion in far northern Minnesota.

Two Mayer Lutheran students will have a big fish story to tell as they return to school this week.

08/27/2025

A Mass slated for 7 p.m. this evening at St. Joseph’s to mark the beginning of Confirmation classes will proceed as scheduled, according to Fr. Stan Mader. He said that all parishioners and community members are invited to attend “and pray for those affected by this heinous tragedy. “

Two children and a suspected gunman are dead following a shooting Wednesday at Annuciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, according to law enforcement officials.

08/25/2025

60-year-old Wade Kenneth Halvorson of Waconia was killed in the crash west of Brownton.

A Waconia man was killed Sunday morning in a Mcleod County crash, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.