Scenes like this were common late Friday afternoon as bicyclists taking part in the 2022 Ride Across South Dakota (RASDak) arrived for an overnight stay on the Freeman Public School campus. Participants left by motor vehicle for the western part of South Dakota Saturday morning to begin their trek back across the state. They will spend Saturday in Hill City and then leave for Rapid City on Sunday, with subsequent stops in Wall, Kadoka, Murdo, Winner, Armour and, finally, Freeman on Saturday, June 11. This year's RASDak is being called "Explore 44."

Lane McCune tries out an iron that's part of a golf club set being sold at Carolyn Waltner's rummage sale on Friday. Multiple sales are taking place through Saturday around the town as part of Freeman's citywide sales. Maps are available at the local grocery stores, the front entrance at The Courier office or by clicking here.

This photo shows the stretch of Highway 81 that runs along the eastern edge of Freeman on a beautiful June morning.

For an exclusive and fun look back at Freeman Academy/Marion, Freeman Public and Menno's participation in the 2022 State Track Meet, click here.

This was the scene Wednesday morning as work continues on Freeman’s Main Street project. Here’s the latest from contractor Slowey Construction:

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER Shirlene Simonsen read the names of 358 deceased soldiers from the Menno area; veterans saluted the flag as the Menno High School band played the national anthem; and Casey Hanson, commander for the South Dakota Sons of the American Legion, reminded about 200 people why they were gathering as the larger Menno community observed another Memorial Day Monday morning, May 30.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Voters living in Hutchinson County will elect a new sheriff and weigh in on a number of other national, state and district races — as well as Constitutional Amendment C — in the 2022 primary election next Tuesday, June 7. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Candidates for sheriff are Maurice Waltner, a Hutchinson County deputy; and Barron Nankivel, emergency manager for Hutchinson County. Both are Republicans. The winner of the June 7 election will replace outgoing sheriff Jim Zeeb, who is retiring.

This panoramic photo shows the sky south of Freeman on what was a stormy Memorial Day across eastern South Dakota. While damaging winds raised havoc in a number of communities, Freeman escaped relatively unscathed, only receiving was was welcomed moisture.

Members of the Rames-Bender Post 152 are seated during the start of Menno’s Memorial Day observance Monday morning, which was moved from the city cemetery to the city/school auditorium because of windy conditions and the threat of rain. 

This photo was taken some time after 1991 and shows the Huber Motor used car lot that once occupied the corner of Highway 81 and Sixth Street on the eastern side of Freeman. The corner was originally known as Freedom Corner and included a service station and restaurant and bar known for its beer, chislic and rowdy behavior demonstrated by some of its patrons. The location is today by Casey’s.