Jacob A. Luikens, age 99 of Menno, S.D., passed away Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020 at the Menno-Olivet Care Center, Menno. A funeral service was held Thursday, Nov. 12 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Menno, with the Rev. Brian Mosemann officiating. Burial was in the Menno Cemetery, Menno, with Military Graveside Rites by Rames Bender American Legion Post # 152 Honor Guard and the SDARNG Honor Guard. Pallbearers were Jim Pesicka, Angela Pesicka, Emily Luikens, Melissa Weisser, Alycia Pesicka, Jaron Pesicka, Kaden Pesicka and Brenden Pesicka.

Three performers/groups from Menno, two from Freeman Public and seven from Freeman Academy have all qualified for the Region 2B oral interpretation competition. In a field of six competitors in the Non-Original Oratory division, Freeman Public’s Lily Wipf, Freeman Academy’s Samuela Ndongosieme and Menno’s Maggie Miller will each be competing for one spot in the state field.

JEREMY WALTNER  -  PUBLISHER Update: Since this story went to print, Menno Public School announced late Tuesday night that all students in grades 9-12 will be learning remotely and that all high school activities have been suspended until Nov. 30.

This sign of hope and encouragement is on display between the two wings on the south side of the Salem Mennonite Home in Freeman.

Freeman Public Schools is moving to remote learning only for students in grades 5-12 beginning Tuesday, Nov. 17 for at least the week. This comes after seven new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the building Monday and several other new cases confirmed over the weekend. District administration said it made the decision because of the number of new cases and the number of staff members impacted.

These signs outside Rural Medical Clinics in Freeman instruct visitors what to do amidst continuing precautions about the spread of COVID-19. Numbers continue their upward tick with local public schools dealing with the crisis on a constantly changing basis. Freeman Public is offering both in-person and remote instruction, with those choosing to come to school doing so on a rotation basis. Eight students and a half-dozen staff members have tested positive for COVID in the last 10 days, with additional confirmed cases coming Monday.

Tyce Ortman has been named the Class 9A/9B MVP of the Cornbelt Conference for his play during the 2020 football season. The announcement came Monday morning, Nov. 16 along with the all-conference selections for the season that wrapped up last week.

A strong wind has its grip on the American flag flying outside Great Western Bank Sunday morning, Nov. 15. It's sunny but brisk and cool as another weekend winds down.

Another banner will be hung on the wall of the Freeman High School gym following Canistota/Freeman's championship win over Warner in the 2020 9A title game. This photo is part of a gallery of images that show the Pride's third-straight football championship. Click here to see the photos.

A press release from Freeman Regional Health Services (FRHS) issued Friday afternoon, Nov. 12 confirms that a resident at Oakview Terrace Nursing Home has tested positive for COVID-19. The health care facility issued the release “in an effort to be transparent.”