JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER The home in which Lee Friesen was raised in the 1970s and 80s was one that encouraged creativity. Growing up at 113 N. Elm in Menno, Lee and his siblings — older sisters Catherine, Mieca and younger brother Shawn — were always invited to express themselves and go after whatever it was that piqued their interest.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER A 51-year-old with a 17-year career with the state of Maryland/Maryland Transportation Authority in Baltimore will be the new chief of police for the city of Freeman. Meeting in regular session Wednesday night, Dec. 2, the Freeman City Council voted to offer the job to Scott Brewer, who early this week accepted it. Brewer, who served in the Marine Corps from 1987 to 1991 before beginning his career in law enforcement, said he hopes to begin what will be his first-ever chief of police job the second or third week of February.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER Doc’s Bar, which has operated as such from the 200 block of Freeman’s Main Street since the spring of 2019, announced on Facebook last week that it will be closing on Jan. 2, 2021, with a liquidation sale starting this past Monday, Nov. 30.

JEREMY WALTNER  -  PUBLISHER Those who want to get into the spirit of Christmas will have an opportunity to do so in Freeman next Friday, Dec. 4. A “Frosty Fest” is being planned from 5 to 8 p.m. that will include a number of family-friendly activities as well as retail specials from local businesses.

JEREMY WALTNER  -  PUBLISHER The South Dakota High School Activities Association is expected to approve a new football cooperative between Menno and Scotland when the board meets in January. School boards from both schools unanimously OK’d the agreement at their regular monthly meeting held Monday, Nov. 9. The Menno vote was 5-0 and the Scotland vote was 7-0. “That was a very joyous night for me,” said Menno Superintendent Tom Rice. “We are optimistically looking to the future.”

JEREMY WALTNER  -  PUBLISHER More than 3½ years ago, when the coaching staff and players of the newly formed Canistota/Freeman football cooperative got together to come up with a team name, it wasn’t hard for them to settle on their pick, even if it took a little time. The team would be the Canistota/Freeman Pride.

JEREMY WALTNER  -  PUBLISHER When Freeman Academy students and staff reported for school on Friday, Nov. 6 it was a different kind of day — and it had nothing to do with concerns about COVID-19. Instead, it was the school’s annual Community Service Day in which members of the student body and faculty fan out across the town to rake leaves. No payment or donation is accepted.

JEREMY WALTNER  -  PUBLISHER The building that served as the government home for Hutchinson County from 1881 through most of 2019 will be coming down. Meeting in regular session Thursday, Nov. 5, the Hutchinson County Commission voted 4-0 to declare the former courthouse on Euclid Street surplus property, which will lead to its ultimate destruction and removal. Commissioner Steve Friesen told The Courier exactly when the building will be taken down will be based on room in the county’s budget, but it won’t be until sometime next year — possibly summer.

JEREMY WALTNER  -  PUBLISHER Freeman Regional Health Services Board of Directors is in the process of looking for a new Chief Executive Officer following the decision by current CEO Nick Brandner to retire.

JEREMY WALTNER  -  PUBLISHER The Freeman Public School Board voted unanimously Monday night, Nov. 9, to establish its winter sports attendance policy — at least for the time being — in anticipation of the basketball and wrestling seasons set to begin next month. The board agreed 5-0 to allow fans to attend without restriction with the exception of students in grades K-4 who do not have a sibling competing. That applies to varsity/junior varsity and middle school athletics.