This photo shows the construction of Ampride in 1991, a convenience store at the corner of Sixth Street and Highway 81 today known as Total Stop. In the decades prior to the 1990s, this location was home to a Dairy Queen.

This photo shows Valley View Golf Course right after it was built in 1993. This is the ninth green — barely recognizable as such given the growth of the trees in the 25-plus years since.

These are the 2020 royalty candidates for next week's homecoming celebration at Freeman Public Schools. They are, from left, Clayton Smith, Taylor Fransen, Collin Helma, Madeline Hofer, Ethan Ortman and Madison Hofer. Coronation will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31 at the school's football field; no skits are planned. A community parade will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4 with the theme "Under the Sea." School themed days are as follows: Monday - Pirate, Tuesday - Fishing (Redneck), Wednesday - Florida Retiree, Thursday - Hawaiian, Friday - Spirit.

Freeman Academy was the last of are schools to return to class for the 2020-21 school year, with students and staff reporting for instruction Wednesday morning, Aug. 26. Masks and temperature checks are the new reality for the private school that saw its first term of education in 1903.

This photo clearly shows the work that has been done to replace the badly damaged intersection at Main and Third streets in Freeman. Workers from Koerner Construction spent the past weeks on the job, which closed the area to through traffic. The intersection was reopened Monday morning, Aug. 24.

Gregg Uecker, part of the custodial team at Freeman Public Schools, mows on the east side of the school Monday morning, Aug. 24.

There was plenty to cheer about for Rijjy Peterson, Mesa Mehlhaf, Taylor Fransen and Cara Maske as the Canistota/Freeman Pride faced Chester Area in the 2020 season opener in Canistota Friday night, Aug. 21. The top-ranked and two-time defending champion Pride wasted little time jumping ahead to a multi-touchdown lead just minutes into the game before blowing past the Flyers 46-0. Canistota/Freeman travels to De Smet next Friday before hosting Oldham-Ramona/Rutland in Freeman on Sept. 4 — Freeman's homecoming game.

Austin Unruh, head football coach for the Menno/Marion Razorbacks, takes height and weight checks during a practice in Marion last week. Tonight will be the season-opener for teams across South Dakota, including both the Razorbacks — who travel to Alexandria to play Hanson — and Canistota/Freeman, which hosts Chester Area in Canistota.

Freeman Superintendent Kevin Kunz asks a question of Dr. Shakil Hafiz at a special meeting of the Freeman School Board Wednesday night, Aug. 19. Hafiz was invited to share medical information and advice about ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as part of a larger discussion about the district's plan to deal with spectator sports. After more than two hours of discussion, the board agreed to acknowledge an action plan that includes the following provisions:  • Masks are highly encouraged, but not required

Freeman High School senior Madeline Hofer gets her temperature checked upon arriving at school for the first day Wednesday, Aug. 19. It's a half-day of instruction for public school students, who will go for their first full day tomorrow.