Two-time defending 9A champion Canistota/Freeman raced ahead to a 26-0 lead in the first quarter en route to a 46-0 win over Chester Area as the 2020 season got underway in Canistota Friday night, Aug. 21. Senior quarterback Tyce Ortman rushed for four touchdowns, Isiah Robertson ran for two and Blake Anderson carried the ball for one to lead a ground game that accounted for 282 of the Pride's 348 total yards. Canistota/Freeman's defense forced five turnovers and held the Flyers to just 127 total yards. Clayton Smith led the Pride defense with four solo tackles.

Austin Unruh, head football coach for the Menno/Marion Razorbacks, takes height and weight checks during a practice in Marion last week. Tonight will be the season-opener for teams across South Dakota, including both the Razorbacks — who travel to Alexandria to play Hanson — and Canistota/Freeman, which hosts Chester Area in Canistota.

Freeman Superintendent Kevin Kunz asks a question of Dr. Shakil Hafiz at a special meeting of the Freeman School Board Wednesday night, Aug. 19. Hafiz was invited to share medical information and advice about ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as part of a larger discussion about the district's plan to deal with spectator sports. After more than two hours of discussion, the board agreed to acknowledge an action plan that includes the following provisions:  • Masks are highly encouraged, but not required

Freeman High School senior Madeline Hofer gets her temperature checked upon arriving at school for the first day Wednesday, Aug. 19. It's a half-day of instruction for public school students, who will go for their first full day tomorrow.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER Randy Koerner, who has owned Koerner Construction since he founded the Freeman-based business in 1979, is the new housing inspector for the city of Freeman. Koerner, appointed by Mayor Michael Walter, was approved for the position by the Freeman City Council at its first meeting of the month Monday night, Aug. 10.

MaeBelle Gullickson age 85, of Sioux Falls, S.D. passed away Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. A celebration of her life was held Aug. 17 at Peace Lutheran Church, with burial at the Salem American Lutheran Cemetery, rural Freeman, S.D. MaeBelle Harriet Johnson, daughter of Harry and Helene (Trobak) Johnson, was born Feb. 10, 1935 in Sioux Falls. She was raised in Crooks, S.D., until the age of eight, when her family moved to Sioux Falls. She graduated from Washington High and then attended South Dakota State University.

Cora Marie Rabe, 83, of Sioux City, Iowa, passed away Aug. 9, 2020 at her residence. Memorial services will be Saturday, Aug. 22 at 2 p.m. at Morningside Lutheran Church, 700 South Martha, Sioux City, Iowa. Burial was in the Menno Cemetery, Menno, S.D. Due to the danger of Covid-19, the family will require that attendees wear masks at the service.

Levi Bender heads into the school building in Menno just after 8 a.m. Tuesday morning, Aug. 18. Menno Public School is beginning the 2020-21 term with a half-days Tuesday and Wednesday while Freeman Public starts with a half-day tomorrow. Freeman Academy begins its year with a full day of instruction Wednesday, Aug. 26.

Organizers of the Freeman Winter Fair, a craft and vendor show that has been held annually since 1977 as a way to support local causes and projects, have announced they are canceling this year’s event because of COVID-19. The Winter Fair was scheduled for Oct. 31.

A crane is used to reconfigure the silos at Associated Milk Producers, Inc. in downtown Freeman Monday morning, Aug. 17. Plant manager Bryce Morgan said the company is moving around silos among a number of facilities; while the production capacity in Freeman won't change, the arrangement of the infrastructure will be different. The silos are used to store milk that is brought in from area producers for a day or two before it is put into production.