While most Americans observe the second Monday in October as “Columbus Day,” South Dakota became the first state to officially celebrate Native Americans’ Day in 1990 at the urging of Gov. George S. Mickelson. We celebrate Native Americans’ Day to recognize and honor the Lakota, Dakota, and Dakota people who called this place home long before European settlers arrived.

The Sunday morning sun lights up the Bethany Mennonite Church on a windy but mild fall day.

Elizabeth Anderson and her daughter Katelyn serve up a container of chili at the Friends of the Freeman Public Library Chilifest Friday, Oct. 9. Instead of its traditional Homecoming Friday Chili-Cook Off, the library chose to host its annual fundraiser via a drive-thru behind its Main Street building. Serving took place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Members of the Castlewood Warrior Marching Band march down Fifth Street during Menno Band Day Friday morning, Oct. 9. Menno led the way followed by eight area bands competing in three classes. The day concluded with a drumline battle at the football field.

Freeman resident Dr. Dennis Epp sets rocks at the foot of the newest bridge at the Freeman Prairie Arboretum connecting the area east of the interpretive center to the southeast portion of the grounds, near the amphitheater stage. Epp has volunteered his time to complete stonework elsewhere at the arboretum, a trade he learned as a Boy Scout 75 years ago. Watch for more on Epp's contributions to the arboretum in upcoming issues of The Courier.

Students and staff at Menno Public School and the larger Menno community will get their chance to celebrate homecoming this week under the slogan, “The Wolves will stun in 2021.” The traditional coronation will formally get things started Monday night, Oct. 12 and a parade on Friday, Oct. 16 will highlight the week. Coronation begins in the old city/school gym at 7 p.m., with the parade starting at 1:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “Roadtrip” — landmarks and destinations. A 1 p.m. pep rally will precede the parade.

Kaylie Schempp, the libero on the Menno High School volleyball team, is introduced prior to the Wolves' match against Canistota Tuesday night, Oct. 6 in Menno. Schempp and the Wolves survived a five-set scare from the one-win Hawks, outlasting them 16-14 in the fifth and final set. The win improved Menno to 5-8. Also in action Tuesday night was Freeman Academy/Marion, which dropped to 0-8 with a 3-0 loss to Andes Central/Dakota Christian, and Freeman Public, which improved to 11-6 with a 3-0 win over Bon Homme.

Second-graders run laps as a warm-up to their PE period at Freeman Elementary Tuesday morning, Oct. 6. Chris Sayler's PE instruction will be featured in the Freeman Public School page that will be part of the Oct. 8 edition of The Courier. The school pages are once again make possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Kelly Knodel and Knodel Contractors. 

This photo from a 1975 packet of photos that is part of the Courier archives shows a band concert by students from Freeman Junior College on the south side of what is commonly known as Music Hall on the Freeman Academy campus. The building was constructed as the original home to South Dakota Mennonite College, which began educating students in 1903.

Freeman grocer Bob Pidde helps a group of boys with the pop machine outside his Main Street store, Jamboree Foods, Saturday morning. Pidde is a second-generation grocer in Freeman; his dad, Ted Sr., owned a smaller store down the street and across the road to the south before Pidde moved into his current location in the mid-90s.