The four candidates running for two spots on the Menno School Board of Education have given voters living in the Menno School District a gift — they have given them a choice. In a textbook display of the democratic process, incumbent Jon Schempp is being challenged by Jackie Vaith, Joel Rempfer and Molly Huber in next week’s election, which will take place on Tuesday, April 11. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the fire hall on Menno’s Fifth Street.

A new and historic era dawned in Avon Monday night when the Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy Phoenix won their first game of this inaugural softball season. And F/M/FA didn’t just win; it dominated, downing the Pirates 29-6 in a game shortened to three innings because of the mercy rule.

The theater department at Freeman Public School is preparing “The Lion King Jr.” for a performance at the Freeman High School gym next Friday and Saturday, April 14 and 15 starting at 7:30 p.m. each night. It is under the leadership of artistic director Iwona Lewter, music director Sonja Waltner, technical director Sheila Wipf and student assistant Rylie Gossen, and features a cast of 15 and a company of 34 more.

A group of house finches enjoy a Monday afternoon meal one day before the weather turned less-than-ideal for eating outdoors. Cold, windy and wet weather will mark today and tomorrow before the conditions finally turn to more springlike weather. A beautiful weekend is expected with even warmer temperatures coming next week.

Paul K. Hofer, Jr. passed away at Freeman Regional Health Services on April 1, 2023 at the age of 75. Paul was born on July 24, 1947, at St. Joseph Hospital in Mitchell, S.D. He was the last of the 10 children born to Paul K. and Margaret (Gross) Hofer. He attended school in Spencer, S.D., graduating in 1965. After graduating high school, he started his career in farming with his brother Dwane Hofer while working part-time at the Spencer Elevator. In 1967, he bought his own farm where he raised crops, cattle and hogs for many years.

The April 3 landscape that includes Silver Lake and surrounding area shows that ice and snow are still the reality several weeks into the spring season, although considerable melting has taken place. And while the winter weather has been around for what feels like forever — and while another system is moving across the state Tuesday and Wednesday — it appears that a corner will be turned thereafter. Highs are expected to be in the high 50s and low 60s for the Easter weekend.

With temperatures climbing through the 40s and into the 50s this weekend, considerable meltIng is taking place. The result is standing water like this in a field on the edge of Freeman just east of Fensel’s.

Dog tracks in the snow show the dusting the Freeman community received in the overnight hours, and while winds were a factor, the impact of the latest weather event was minimal. The sun is out and temperatures are expected to be closer to normal through the weekend before another system is expected to move in on Tuesday.

A city garbage container is reflected in a puddle following an overnight shower — the beginning of what is expected to be a wet 24-hour weather cycle. Rain and high winds are expected to develop this afternoon with a chance of snow toward evening hours. While the region that includes Freeman won't see nearly the totals expected in the central part of the state, some accumulation is expected. And with wind gusts reaching into the 40s later tonight, it's going to look and feel like winter all over again.

Freeman High School juniors Cami Fransen and Torrie Zachariasen work on the Hollywood sign that will be part of the Hollywood-themed prom set for Friday, March 31. The popular social event is set to go on despite the incoming weather, with photos to be taken in the afternoon inside the school gym, a banquet set to start at 5:30 p.m. followed by the Grand March that is open to the public.