For the second time in less than a week, the community is dealing with another winter storm. While this one doesn't have the high winds that made for a blizzard on Dec. 23, there has already been more accumulation than last week's paralyzing weather event. The good news is that the snow is light and fluffy and is expected to clear out of the area by the afternoon.

The Menno High School girls basketball team — returning letter-winners are pictured here — was back in action Monday morning, Dec. 28 against Platte-Geddes at the Parkston Classic. The Wolves took a 2-1 record into the game while the Black Panthers went in 2-2. The Menno boys are also playing in the Parkston Classic later today and will face the host school. The Wolves are 0-3 while the Trojans are 1-3.

Karl Tieszen Karl A. Tieszen went home on Dec. 27, 2020 after a brief battle with COVID-19. He was born Sept. 21, 1931 to Abraham V. and Jacobina (Tiahrt) Tieszen. Karl attended and was baptized at Bethesda Mennonite Church in rural Marion, S.D., near the family farm.

The Freeman Post Office was one of the busiest spots in Freeman around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 26, and traffic can and went from all directions and vehicles lined both sides of the street. A high volume of packages left delivery outlets like the United States Post Service, UPS and FedEx scrambling to keep up — even past Christmas Day.

It was, indeed, a white Christmas across the region as the Dec. 23 blizzard left the landscape decorated with snow. The impact could still be seen on pines like these on a quiet Saturday morning, Dec. 26. More snow is in the forecast for next week.

A very merry Christmas and happy holiday season to all.

Workers with the city of Freeman remove snow from Main Street following the Dec. 23 winter storm that all but shut down the area. Not a lot of snow fell, but high winds created blizzard conditions and made safe travel impossible. The winds subsided last night and it's a sunny Christmas Eve day, albeit a cold one. Temperatures this morning were below zero.

For many, the year 2020 will be remembered for the coronavirus pandemic that significantly altered life as it had been known. For one rural Freeman family, however, the year will be remembered for something else — one where a husband and father nearly lost his life, only to overcome the threat of death through perseverance, support from family and friends, great care from the larger medical community and unwavering faith, prayer and belief in a larger purpose.

The following was submitted by the Salem Mennonite Home in Freeman and signed by its administrator, Shirley Knodel. Salem Mennonite Home (SMH) has been vigilant since the onset of the pandemic in an effort to keep our residents and staff safe from COVID-19. These measures came from recommendations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and the South Dakota Department of Health, Freeman Regional Health Services (FRHS) and Avera.

Well, those wishing for a white Christmas might want to consider the old adage, "Careful what you wish for." A blizzard descended on the region Wednesday morning, making for whiteout conditions in both town and country. Strong winds continue to whip the fine snow around, and while the precipitation is expected to clear out this afternoon, the winds will continue.