Repairs continue at the Freeman water tower as workers from Maquire Iron prepare to tent the structure from top to bottom for the removal of led-based paint. Repairs are expected to continue well into August.

Assuming the South Dakota High School Activities Association approves a recommendation from a fall sports/activities task force later this week, the football field and other high school sports venues across the state will see action this fall. The SDHSAA announced Monday morning that the task force established to consider whether to play sports this fall amidst COVID-19 concerns is recommending the upcoming season begin as scheduled. A special meeting of the SDHSAA will begin at 11 a.m.

Amy Beck grills chislic from the corner of Main and Third streets Saturday afternoon, July 18 as part of the Chislic Block Party thrown by Doc's Bar. The event began at noon and featured a bean bag tournament, food and drink specials, inflatables and, later in the day, live music. 

Setup was underway Saturday morning, July 18, for the Doc's Bar Chislic Block Party, which begins at the corner of Main and Third streets at noon today. Activities include a bean bag competition, inflatables for kids, food and drink specials and live entertainment. The action is scheduled to continue into the morning hours of Sunday.

This photo from Menno's Fourth of July baseball game was included with The Courier's coverage of Independence Day earlier this month. The baseball field in Menno will be the site of the District 6B Amateur Baseball Tournament that begins next week. The Mad Frogs will be the No. 2 seed and will take on No. 7 Irene at 8 p.m. Friday, July 24. Here's the full schedule: No. 1 Tabor vs. No. 8 Scotland, 6 p.m. July 23 No. 4 Lesterville vs. No. 5 Wynot, 8 p.m. July 23 No. 3 Crofton vs. no. 6 Freeman, 6 p.m. July 24 No. 2 Menno vs. No. 7 Irene, 8 p.m. July 24

Workers from Maquire Iron of Sioux Falls are getting ready to finish up their first week of work on the city of Freeman’s water tower maintenance project, which is seeing general repair as well as a complete inside/outside overhaul of the paint job. Led-based paint that is chipping is partially what drove the city to take on the project, which is costing $50,000 annually for the next five years, and then $10,000 a year after that.

"Tree work ahead" signs have been common around Freeman the past could of months as Jacobsen Tree Experts out of Sioux Falls has been trimming and taking down trees. The project is one of NorthWestern Energy as a way to clear power lines. This photo was taken looking south on Wipf Street and shows the east side of the Freeman Regional Health Services campus.

The red of a stop sign contrasts with the green of summertime growth and the dark blue of a summertime sky Tuesday morning, July 14. While showers moved across much of the region overnight and early Tuesday, the local region saw just enough moisture to get the ground wet.

The lot on the northeastern corner of Main and Fourth streets is now an empty one following the removal of the building that many remember as the home of Kaufman Optometric/Eye Care. The brick building was taken down late last week after sitting empty since Vision Care Associates moved to the North County Road a decade ago. The former Kaufman Eye Care property is owned by the Johnny Stahl estate. 

Solomon Ortman takes an order from the walk-up window at The Chislic House Saturday night, July 11. Solomon, his brothers Liam and Christian and their parents Will and Sherilyn, have been serving up homemade ice cream from the otherwise closed restaurant the past few Saturdays and Sundays. Chislic was also available this weekend.