The sky turned brilliant late Thursday evening as severe weather moved across the larger region. The Freeman community didn't receive much of it — it rained briefly — but the storm system was powerful enough to light up the community with warm summer colors.

Jessie Ahlers, head volleyball coach at Freeman Public, goes over the instructions for a serving drill during the first day of practice Thursday, Aug. 10. While football and soccer practices have been underway for a while, today is the first allowable practice for volleyball teams across the state. Ahlers, who was an assistant last year, replaces Kendra Peterson as head coach. She is assisted by Angele Letcher. Twenty-two girls in grades 9-12 reported to the first day of practice for the Flyers.

Work is being done by Koerner Construction in front of the Freeman Junior-Senior High School to build a wheelchair accessible ramp leading from the parking lot to the main entrance. 

As a way to drum up excitement for the upcoming season, head coach Scott Dent and the Freeman Academy soccer program is hosting a pep rally and new jersey reveal this Friday, Aug. 11. Events will begin inside the Sterling Hall gym at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a light meal and activities outdoors. Dent, who is in his third year as head soccer coach at Freeman Academy, said the program is also introducing a Bobcat Booster Club and Little Bobcat Club aimed at youth who play in various area clubs “so we can keep the sport growing.”

With Freeman Police Chief Jay Slevin standing by, Freeman resident Max Alderson explains the idea behind the Freeman Neighborhood Watch Program at an informational meeting held inside the meeting room of the Freeman Community Center Monday evening, Aug. 7. A better-than-expected crowd of close to 40 attended the 50-minute meeting, which highlighted the value of Freeman residents taking part in looking out for the safety of the community — not as vigilantes, but as eyes and ears when suspicious activity is observed. Watch for more on this start-up program in this week's Courier.

The public is invited to come to the Freeman High School practice football field west of the main complex Thursday evening, Aug. 10 to watch a Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy scrimmage. Phoenix head coach Dustin Tschetter said it will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. F/M/FA opens its second season as football cooperative at home against Burke Friday, Aug. 18.

This graphic by Heritage Hall Museum & Archives in included with this week’s “Monday on Main” Facebook post and shows the red markings for reference. The museum post includes the following text:

After beating Elton 7-4 in its opening game of the VFW 16U State Baseball Tournament in Parkston on Friday, Scotland/Menno fell to Alexandria 6-2 in the semifinals and then dropped a nail-biter to Tyndall in the 3rd/4th-place game. The Trappers trailed Tyndall 5-2 going into the sixth inning but tied the game with three runs to ultimately forced extra innings. Tyndall ended up scoring in the bottom of the 10th to come away with a 6-5 win.

As expected, an active weather pattern has moved across the region, bringing with it storms and heavy rain starting Saturday and continuing into Sunday. Rainfall reports vary, but 2.30 inches was reported in Freeman as of Sunday morning, with closer to 2 inches toward Menno. Rain is expected to continue for much of Sunday with cooler temperatures expected this coming week.

Dylan Lehr is greeted by teammates after he and Peyton Wieseler (Expos jersey), a pickup player from Wynot, come around to score in the top of the ninth inning against Northville Friday night. It was the opening round of the 2023 State Amateur Baseball Tournament in Mitchell and the Mad Frogs used four runs in the final inning to pull away from the Merchants and win the first-round game 8-3. Menno will next face Lesterville Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the quarterfinal round of the single-elimination, 32-team tournament.