Without any snow on the ground — and without anything substantial in the forecast anytime soon — folks will have to settle for decorative snowmen like this one at 316 Cedar Street near the North County Road. The weather, meanwhile, remains sunny and mild for this time of the year, with highs expected in the 50s mid-week. 

It was another sunny day in Freeman on Sunday, Dec. 6 as demonstrated by the scene at the Bethlehem Reformed Church OPC around 10 a.m. The dry and mild weather is expected to continue in the week to come, with Christmas now less than three weeks away.

It's December, and that means that Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and their helper are making their rounds in communities big and small around the world. It was Freeman's turn on Friday night, Dec. 4 as the gift-givers spent a few hours greeting families in downtown Freeman. Because of safety concerns surrounding COVID-19, the greetings were done socially distanced and a number of children had lists that were handed to Santa for review. The visit was part of the Frost Fest holiday promotional event that included retail specials and other Christmas-themed activities for families. 

The elementary concert by Menno students scheduled for Monday night, Dec. 7 will be online only. Students will tape the concert during the school day on Monday and it will air at 7 p.m. that evening. To view the concert, there will be a link on the school’s webpage: https://menno.k12.sd.us and it will also be posted on social media.  

This space between Vintage Vault Floral and Fashions and Strasser Law Office, located on Freema's Main Street, was empty during the day but tonight will be home to Santa and Mrs. Claus, who are visiting the community as part of the "Frosty Fest" holiday event. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Clauses will greet families — socially distanced — while other activities take place around town. Freeman horse-drawn carriage rides will be available while family friendly events will be offered at both Doc's Mess Hall and Fensel's Greenhouse and Gift Shop.

Nick Lowrey, South Dakota News Watch South Dakota’s largest hospitals are at or above their capacity to care for critically ill COVID-19 patients, forcing some of the sickest patients to be flown out of state to receive care.

The moon is pictured above a tree and beyond several of the flags at the Freeman Area Veteran's Memorial on a crisp but pleasant Thursday morning, Dec. 3.

A large threshing machine was the backdrop for a stimulating conversation about the agrarian roots – as well as the future – of a rural South Dakota community at Heritage Hall Museum & Archives in Freeman last week.

Freeman Regional Health Services (FRHS) would like to inform the community that additional FRHS Oakview Terrace nursing home residents have tested positive for COVID-19. These residents were likely to test positive because they live in Southview Secured Memory Care Neighborhood, the same area as the resident who previously tested positive.

A Mexican restaurant that had been scheduled to open in the former Chislic House earlier this fall is still in the works, property owner Sherilyn Ortman confirmed Tuesday morning, Dec. 1. While an opening date was not specified, she said the plan is to have it open by the end of the year. The restaurant will be an extension of Tienda CentroAmerica, a Mexican grocery store owned by Irma Siyes that has been in operation on the north side of the Chislic House building since the end of August.