On Saturday, July 9, people from communities scattered across southeastern South Dakota — and beyond — will gather for the 33rd MCC Relief Sale held in South Dakota to support worldwide relief projects.

It's full speed ahead as Slowey Construction continues to work through Phase 1 of the city's Main Street Project. All storm sewer inlets between Third and Fifth streets have been installed and roadway grading was the order of the day early this week. Once completed, Reede Construction will begin installing concrete curb and gutter throughout the primary business district, which will be followed by fine roadway grading in preparation for paving. Also, further north between Well and Henry streets, utility work is underway.

Aaron Pendergast prices fireworks at Plus Fireworks, which is now open for its inaugural season in Freeman on the east side of Highway 81 just south of Knodel Contractors. The wholesale fireworks stand is owned by Josh Payer of Sioux Falls and is one of several pop-up shops he operates in smaller communities. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Firework sales are permitted in South Dakota from Monday, June 27 through Tuesday, July 5. The final day to legally shoot them is July 10.  

Ty and Carolyn Preheim serve up a rack of ribs at Freeman Academy's Ribs and More at the Ranch fundraiser Saturday evening, June 25. The annual event included ribs and other food options, music and a festive spirit in the school's boulevard. 

This Main Street business was originally built as First National Bank of Freeman and has been home to a number of businesses, including Stern Oil Company. This photo was taken in the late 1980s; note the lawn mowers out front and the telephone booth to the left. Today this fully renovated two-story brick structure is home to Vintage Vault Floral and Designs. Stern has operated from its Highway 81 home just south of Freeman since the 1990s.

This is how Zac Tenneboe, who goes by Magic Zac, ended his performance at the Freeman Community Center Thursday afternoon, June 24. The 30-minute entertaining show of tricks was the kickoff to the 2022 Summer Reading Program at the Freeman Public Library and drew about 40 people — mostly kids. This year's Summer Reading Program is using the theme "Oceans of Possibilities" is geared toward youth of all ages, including tweens and teens. It runs through July 25. To learn more, go to freemanlibrary.org.

Round alfalfa bales sit together on the South Dakota prairie near the Turkey Ridge Valley southeast of Freeman on a beautiful early summer morning. The farmland is flush with rich color these days as periodic rainfall and high heat have fed the rural environment, although dry conditions continue to be of concern inspire of the late-spring moisture. And there is but a slight change of moisture in the extended forecast.

Officer Jay Slevin and Police Chief Scott Brewer are tasked with leading the Freeman Police Department and are featured in the week's Courier as part of the latest on last week's pit bull attack, and also in an editorial acknowledging their efforts in responding to the situation. The June 23 issue will be available online early this afternoon and in print tomorrow.

The reflection of a FedEx truck making a delivery is pictured along with the agenda for the May 21 Freeman City Council meeting on the front door of City Hall Tuesday morning. It's a relatively light agenda for the city and its second meeting of the month, but it does include a review of the bids for the demolition of the vacated elevator on the west side of Main Street that is coming down in conjunction with the Main Street Project. 

The Freeman Post Office is among the federal institutions across the country that are closed in observance of the inaugural Junetheenth, the new federal holiday that commemorates June 19, 1865, when it was announced in Galveston, Texas that slaves had been freed. June 19 was declared a federal holiday by the Senate on June 15, 2021 when lawmakers Senate lawmakers unanimously passed the Junteenth National Independence Day Act. It had previously cleared the U.S. House by a vote of 415 to 14.