JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER The numbers are sobering. In World War I — the war that many thought would end all wars because of its horror — more than 20 million soldiers were killed, 116,000 of those Americans. That’s particularly staggering considering the U.S. involvement spanned just 17 months of what was a five-year war. Twenty years later, in World War II, 52 million were killed. Of those, more than 400,000 of them came from U.S. soil.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER There were a number of questions that accompanied the Freeman Academy/Marion boys to last week’s State B Track Meet in Rapid City. Would the 4x800 live up to expectations and run to a win? How would the sprint medley do in a competitive field? And what would senior Titus Roesler’s final act as a standout runner with the Bearcats look like? By 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon, there were but two questions remaining: How should the boys stand for the team photo, and who should hold the hardware?

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER The firing squad of the Rames-Bender Post 152 of the American Legion stood at attention as former commander of the post and Retired Staff Sergeant Shirlene Simonsen read the names of 354 men and women from the Menno area who served in the Armed Forces and have passed away — some of them in combat. Moments later the men in uniform raised their arms and fired off a volley of three rounds representing the 21-gun salute, the sound of gunfire piercing the air of what was a picture-perfect, 70-degree Monday morning, May 31.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER In the week leading up to the 2021 State B Track Meet, Menno girls coach Ryan Liebl was quietly thinking that his team could crack the top three in the team standings and even told that to the girls before action began in Rapid City last Friday. But Jesse Munkvold questioned her coach’s optimism. “We were lined up and ready to go and Ryan was telling us how things could pan out,” says Munkvold.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Students presented roses to family members in an always-emotional moment, those receiving scholarships were acknowledged in the program and over the public address system, and class valedictorian Madeline Hofer reminded those attending Saturday afternoon’s graduation at Freeman Public Schools that this was a class that always — always — had each other’s backs.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER One of the most academically accomplished classes in recent memory said goodbye to Menno Public School Saturday afternoon, May 15 at a commencement that revealed the work ethic, accomplishments and wide-ranging personalities of 19 graduating seniors. But much of the focus was on the high-level of achievement exhibited by Menno’s Class of 2021. Five graduated with 4.0 GPAs or higher.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER The city of Freeman last week held its first reading of a revised parking ordinance that aims to place stricter regulations on residents of Freeman who park their vehicles on the yards of their homes. Meeting in regular session Wednesday night, May 5, the Freeman City Council discussed Ordinance No. 2021-05, which if approved would be included in the city’s zoning guidelines and limits where on private property residents can park.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER No formal action was taken, but the Freeman School Board consented Monday night to move one step closer to what would be two major developments on school grounds. 1. Construction of a new wrestling facility east of the Freeman Elementary gym and west of the bus lane, and, 2. Support for new youth ball fields to be built on the east/northeast portion of school grounds, south of College Street and west of Stadium Drive.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER The Freeman School Board early this week made a number of notable staff moves, including hiring a new head boys basketball coach/social studies teacher and accepting the resignation of a longtime teacher and coach, and also the school counselor.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Seniors from Freeman Academy and Freeman Public were reminded on Sunday that, because of their relationship with God, they can be “more than conquerors” and surpass the accomplishments of some of the world’s most revered explorers, including Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great.