A fugitive from justice out of Harmon County, Okla. wanted for felony child abuse was arrested in Freeman Friday afternoon, Oct. 10 after a strong police presence surrounded at a home at 901 S. Dewald Street. Gary Bunt, an enforcement supervisor with the United State Marshals Service for the state o...

Students from both Freeman Public and Menno are gearing up for what will be a big week to come at both schools — homecoming. Coronation will formally kick things off Monday night, Oct. 6, with Freeman’s set to begin at 7 p.m. in the FHS gym and Menno’s to start at 7:30 p.m. in the city/school audito...

More than three decades after becoming a four-time All-American wrestler with South Dakota State University, Freeman native and Flyers standout Mike Pankratz is properly recognized For those familiar with Freeman High School athletics in the 1980s, the name Mike Pankratz is easily associated with wr...

For the 39th time in as many years, Menno’s big Pioneer Power Show brings the past to life through like-minded volunteers and a work ethic not unlike their forebearers  You’ve got to believe that the forefathers — those pioneers who settled the land and made a new way for themselves all those decade...

A winding career has taken Steve Helgeland through various changes, but he’s happy to be where he is today — learning curve and all Signs hanging on the walls of his office inside Menno Public School indicate that Steve Helgeland is a thinker. One quotes Greek philosopher Socrates, reading: “The min...

Pioneer Acres, the rolling and picturesque grounds on the northern edge of Menno, was mostly quiet late Friday morning, Sept. 12. The distant sound of a lawn mower could be heard, accounting for the smell of freshly cut grass, and several ladies were setting up in the Women’s Building for this year’...

New Highway 81 restaurant will serve coffee only at first; food starting next month Nine months after beginning the process of turning warehouse space into restaurant space, the Susan and Keith Letcher family are planning to unveil to the Freeman community its latest venture — The Coffee Cafe. The n...

A boys varsity team from Freeman led by a pair of sophomores that is hopeful for a strong team finish in the postseason, and a young but hard-working group from Menno led by a junior who has been around for what feels like forever, is setting the stage for what is shaping up to be a fun 2025 cross-c...

School officials prepared to spend $4 to $4.5 million using capital outlay certificates; updated complex could be ready by fall of 2026 STORY HIGHLIGHTS School board hires Aberdeen engineering firm to begin design process Project would see new stadium built on current visitor’s side of the track and...

PHOENIX TREAT FANS TO 'CULTURE WIN' by Jeremy Waltner It might not be the ultimate goal of a state championship, but Friday night in Freeman was pretty fun for the Phoenix. Hosting No. 1-ranked Elkton-Lake Benton in its home opener on a cool but exquisite late-summer night, No. 3 Freeman/Marion/Free...