Freeman’s first responders were called to a structure fire 12 miles northwest of Freeman around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 5 and arrived to find a run-down ranch style home fully engulfed in flames. The property is owned by Leland Hofer of Bridgewater and was occupied by two individuals who were nearby at the time of the fire, according to law enforcement on the scene.

Heritage Hall Museum & Archives to introduce ‘Final Fridays’ April 30 This Friday, April 30, Heritage Hall Museum & Archives is introducing “Family-Friendly Final Fridays.” The museum will be open until 8 p.m. that evening and all children age 12 and under will be admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. The museum plans to continue these late hours the last Friday of the month through the summer.

The Menno Public School music department will be presenting its spring concerts the first week of May.  Students in grades K-6 will have their concert on Tuesday, May 4 at 7 p.m. in the Menno gym. The fifth- and sixth-grade band will perform several selections. Students in grades K-6 will be presenting a Disney-themed program with many familiar songs.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Whether or not streetscaping will be included in the city of Freeman’s multimillion dollar Main Street project remains to be seen. Meeting in regular session Wednesday night, April 21 at the Freeman Community Center, the Freeman City Council heard both opposition to, and support for, incorporating decorative elements into the infrastructure of a new downtown roadway, which is expected to be built in 2022.

BY JEREMY WALTNER When the coronavirus pandemic hit home in March of 2020 — and even in the months leading up to it, as the leadership at Freeman Regional Health Service (FRHS) began preparing for the worst public health crisis in 100 years and what that would mean for the local nursing home — everybody there was all in.

A Minnesota native who most recently served as the high school principal and principal of program development at Fairmont (Minn.) Area Schools will be the new superintendent at Freeman Public Schools.

Earlier this year, the city of Freeman gifted $150,000 in seed money for the future construction of ballfields for youth. That donation amount was incorrect in the editorial published in the April 15 print edition.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER An enchantment story that has mesmerized millions of children and delighted families around the world is coming to the Freeman High School stage this weekend. “Frozen Jr.,” an adaptation of Disney’s hit animated film of 2013, will be presented in the high school gym Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Admission will be at the door.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Despite hearing from a majority who spoke in favor of it, a five-sports, three-school cooperative between Freeman’s two schools and Marion failed to gain approval from the Freeman Public School Board last week.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER Dan Herrboldt, who has been with Freeman Lumber Company for more than 46 years and has been manager of the yard for the past 26, stood before the Freeman City Council last Wednesday, April 7 and shared with city officials his perspective on the housing needs in the community. “I can’t tell you how many times in the last 10 years — even longer than that — that I’ve had people in my office saying, ‘I’d love to build a home,’” Herrboldt told city officials.