A recent sunset lights up the western sky — a reminder of the beauty in the world. The following editorial appears in the Nov. 26 edition of The Courier and serves as a good reminder of what today is all about.   Being thankful this Thanksgiving Our opinion: There are so many around us who offer service, care and grace, yet we take them for granted. So let’s stop to offer our thanks.

Decorations dress up this Cherry Street home in advance of Thanksgiving, which is now just one day away.

Freeman High School's Rijjy Peterson and Menno's Jesse Munkvold were both named to the 2020 Cornbelt Conference First Team for their play on the volleyball court this past season. Freeman's Odalite Pankratz was named to the second team while Freeman's Kate Miller and Menno's Kaylie Schempp and Kylie Harriman were named to the third team.

One of the city of Freeman's familiar green garbage calls sits curbside along Fifth Street following the Tuesday morning collection. The city has announced that, with a number of holidays coming up, it has altered its Friday collection. The Nov. 27 pickup has been moved to Monday, Nov. 30, which will also be the schedule the week of Christmas Day and New Year's Day — both of which fall on Fridays.

Just two school vehicles were parked in the Freeman Elementary lot Monday morning, Nov. 23 — an eerie reminder of the reality at the local public school district. All is quiet across the Freeman Public campus as instruction has been suspended for the week. Administration made the decision late last week in response to the growing spread of COVID-19 locally as well as the mental well-being of a frustrated and exhausted staff. Instruction will resume Nov. 30, although Freeman Public has not yet announced what that will include.

From the City of Freeman: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the Friday, Nov. 27 garbage route for properties south of Sixth St. will instead take place on Mon., Nov. 30. The same Friday-to-Monday schedule shift will also be in place following Christmas and New Year's Day. Tuesday garbage routes will not be impacted.    

Randy Wieman, 64, passed away Nov. 20, 2020 at the Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion, S.D. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov,. 25 at Walter Funeral Home in Marion with a grave-side family service at Monroe Cemetery immediately following. Randy Mark Wieman was born on Dec. 23, 1955 to Hilbertus and Goldie Wieman of rural Monroe, S.D. Randy will be missed for his gentleness and his loving spirit.

A row of trees stands tall on the south side of Fifth Street in Freeman — a "tree city."

Yes, that is a moose in a field just west of the Freeman Prairie Arboretum, located in the southwest corner of Freeman, on Saturday morning, Nov. 20. The unusual spotting drew quite a bit of activity along the West County Road as residents stopped for a look at the animal that was an estimated 150 yards from the road. One of the onlookers said the moose had previously been spotted near Wolf Creek, and further west before that.

The Friday morning sun lights up the "Experience Freeman" sign located on the east side of Highway 81 at the Sixth Street corner. The Freeman Community Development Corporation has been using the "experience" messaging as a way to promote the community for years.