ROLLING OUT THE RED, WHITE & BLUE CARPET
JEREMY WALTNER – PUBLISHER
It will be a 48-hour, double dip of delight as the communities of Freeman and Menno use the backend of a long holiday weekend to celebrate the Fourth of July. Activities are planned at the Freeman baseball/softball park complex Sunday afternoon and evening, July 3, and a full slate of to-dos are planned in Menno throughout the day on Monday, July 4.
Here’s what to expect.
In Freeman
Freeman’s celebration will be marked by youth softball and baseball games starting at 11:30 a.m. and chislic sales starting at noon. The stand sponsored by Merchants State Bank and operated by the Freeman Blacksox will be open throughout the afternoon until all 250 dozen sticks of “the cheapest chislic in the country this weekend” — according to Blacksox booster and Merchants State Bank CFO — is gone.
All youth ball games on Sunday will be inner-squad exhibitions with the exception of the 14u and 16u Teeners. The 14u Sticks will face Scotland/Menno at 1 p.m. and the 16u Sticks will face Scotland/Menno at 3:30 p.m.; both games will be played on the baseball field.
Capping off Sunday’s celebration will be town team baseball featuring Freeman and Tabor at 7:30 p.m., followed by fireworks, which are once again being sponsored by CorTrust Bank. One admission ticket is good for all events, with grade school students and younger getting in for free.
As for Menno, the community will come together for the Patriotic Worship Service at the City Park Sunday at 10 a.m., with action picking up 24 hours later when the traditional Fourth of July makes its way north of Fifth Street. Children will begin the processional at 10:50 a.m., followed by a processional using the theme “The Price of Democracy?”
Following the parade, the Menno FFA will serve a barbecue lunch at the city/school auditorium.
Then at 5 p.m., American Legion baseball comes to the Lily Pad, and at 7:30 p.m. the Menno Mad Frogs will host the Freeman Blacksox in amateur action. Fireworks will close out the night.
Meanwhile, fireworks sales began for South Dakotans on Monday, June 27 and will continue through Tuesday, July 5. Fireworks may be discharged through Sunday, July 10.
