The Courier is once again collecting children’s items for Bethany Food Pantry Families from the larger Freeman and Menno communities are once again being invited to help make Christmas a little merrier for those less fortunate through The Courier’s Community Toybox Toy Drive.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER The city of Menno is continuing with plans to develop lots for housing immediately east of the Menno-Olivet Care Center. Mayor Darrell Mehlhaf told The Courier early this week that the city is providing infrastructure for 2 ½ blocks on the east side of Menno. That includes utility hookups going in yet this fall, with the construction of the roadway to follow. Alfalfa Street will be extended to the south and connect with Juniper going west. The development will provide new space for approximately a dozen homes.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER It was the third set of Freeman Academy/Marion’s Region 5B match at Centerville on Monday night and the Bearcats were winning. Players were covering the court, connecting at the net and cheering each other on, smiling through a lead that stood at 9-4, then 12-7, then 15-11. And then? Then it was over.

Players on the Freeman High School volleyball team come together after scoring a point against Viborg-Hurley in Region 5B action in Freeman Tuesday night, Nov. 2. The No. 2 Flyers defeated the No. 7 Cougars 3-1 to advance to the third and final round Thursday, when they will host No. 3 Irene-Wakonda. Action starts at 6:30 p.m., with the winner moving on to next Tuesday's SoDak 16. Irene-Wakonda advanced to Thursday's round by defeating No. 6 Menno 3-1.

No. 2 Freeman High School will host No. 3 Irene-Wakonda Thursday night, Nov. 4 in the third and final round of the Region 5B Tournament — with a return trip to the SoDak 16 on the line. The Flyers (18-9) advanced with a 3-1 win over No. 7 Viborg-Hurley (8-20) in the second round of the region tournament in Freeman on Tuesday. Freeman won in four sets, 25-15, 25-18, 15-25, 25-15.  Irene-Wakonda (14-12) earned its spot in Thursday's third round with a 3-1 win over No. 6 Menno (9-15). The Eagles downed the Wolves 25-12, 26-24, 20-25, 25-15.

Freeman Academy/Marion's volleyball team saw it's season come to an end in the opening round of the Region 5B Tournament Monday night, falling to Centerville in straight sets 25-11, 25-18, 25-21. But this season was about far more than a final 4-25 record or the outcome of a postseason match 45 minutes away; it was about optimism, perseverance and growth. And that's what had the coaches in tears following Monday's match in Centerville. Much more about that in this week's Courier, online Wednesday and in print on Thursday.

Canistota/Freeman head coach James Strang said earlier this week that, when his defense is firing on all cylinders, it can play with anybody. The Pride proved on Thursday night just how good that defense can be.

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JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER The city of Freeman and members of the Freeman City Council last week were threatened with a lawsuit by Lawrence West, owner of The Whiskey House, a new restaurant opening in Freeman. West appeared before the council at its Oct. 19 meeting and said he would sue the city for failing to address his application for a liquor permit.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER The Freeman City Council moved closer toward finalizing its Main Street project last week by approving a design throughout the business district that features extended curbs that slope to zero grade at the intersections of Third and Main and Fourth and Main. The design also includes a 3 ½ foot strip of aggregate concrete as part of the sidewalk from Railway to Fifth that adds both a visual cue and a decorative element.