Because of the wet, windy and cool weather, the Flyer Invitational scheduled for Thursday, April 20 has been canceled.

A group of golfers gets ready to tee off from the fifth hole at Valley View Golf Course north of Freeman on Wednesday. The Cornbelt Conference junior high meet it is town and is expected to continue through much of the afternoon. Freeman Public is along the teams taking part.

The “in like a lion” phrase typically applies to early March, but it is certainly fitting in this, the third week of April, as cool and blustery conditions continue to make the weather conditions feel anything like “a lamb.” Winds are expected to be sustained for much of the week, with highs reaching only into the 50s through the weekend. The statue pictured here stands at Freeman’s Lions Park.

Businesses, organizations, groups and individuals who would like to help support the Class of 2023 from Freeman Academy, Freeman Public and Menno may do so by sponsoring a graduate in another banner salute that will begin in May and continue through June. Fifty-seven seniors from the three schools — and their sponsors — will be highlighted on banners displayed on Sixth Street in Freeeman and on Fifth Street in Menno.

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JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER Maybe it’s because of the time of year or maybe it’s because of the increased cost of eggs, but Freeman Mayor Michael Walter told the Freeman City Council at its most recent meeting last week that he has been asked my multiple people whether raising chickens in Freeman city limits is permitted. No, the mayor said at the first of two regular monthly meetings held Tuesday, April 4: “You cannot have chickens in town.”

Challenger Joel Rempfer was the top vote-getter with 108 ballots cast in his favor and incumbent and current board president Jon Schempp was second with 79 in a close election among four candidates for Menno School Board Tuesday, April 11. Rempfer and Schempp will begin a new term this year. Challenger Jackie Vaith was third in Tuesday's election with 77 votes and Molly Huber drew 66 votes. Voter turnout was 16.5%, with 176 of the 1,066 registered voters weighing in.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER It was eight years ago that Freeman Academy instrumental instructor Donna Ries was standing outside a contest room with Brennan Haggerty, waiting for him to play his tuba solo. She was talking to the late Gene Kaufman, an enthusiast for music in general and brass, specifically, about the poor condition of the old Yamaha tuba that was part of the school’s inventory and that Brennan was playing, and what could be done about it. After all, a good tuba isn’t cheap.

Maurice Waltner, who began his first four-year term as Hutchinson County Sheriff in January, is pictured in the county police pickup on Tuesday. Waltner was in Freeman for The Courier's 5-Minute Interview, which is published in the April 6 edition. Below is a sampling. To read it in its entirety, check out this week's issue available online to subscribers later today and in print tomorrow. The first three months have been … Exciting. Not overwhelming, but busy. What’s your department’s primary focus?

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.